Quinton Sankofa was born in a working class, racially segregated neighborhood on the eastside of Cleveland, Ohio. A strong work ethic with a loving and supportive family helped him navigate the challenges of racism and poverty. His love of geometry and science led him to Michigan State University, where he initially studied Civil Engineering. While there, Quinton became active in many student-organizing groups. During a trip to Detroit he met revered community activist Grace Lee Boggs and was so inspired by the Boggs Center that, he switched his major to Urban Planning. His desire was to build healthy communities in solidarity with poor, marginalized, and oppressed people. He brings an array of skills to his work, including community organizing, youth leadership development, training, strategic planning, meeting facilitation, grant writing and individual donor cultivation (Quinton is a graduate of the fundraising academy for communities of color).