Meet the Team
Co-Founder & Owner
Sharika Comfort
Sharika Comfort is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Educated Hoodlums Brand, a consulting firm that supports nonprofit organizations and small businesses by using data to drive strategies in communications, community engagement, and fundraising.
A native of Richmond, Virginia Sharika grew up in marginalized communities which inspired her passion for service. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in English and Communication Arts from Johnson C. Smith University she taught for three years in underserved communities through the national nonprofit organization, Teach For America. Sharika then earned a Master of Arts in English and African American Literature from North Carolina A&T State University where she published research on The Need to teach Black Panther Narratives at Historically Black Universities to Mobilize Students. She became entrenched in community organizing and social justice having been trained through the National Organizing Workshop, Midwest Academy, Race Matters for Juvenile Justice (RMJJ) and more. Sharika also holds a certificate in Nonprofit Management from Duke University and a certificate in Women’s entrepreneurship studies from Cornell University.
Comfort leveraged her experience in community organizing to work with and lead several grassroots nonprofit organizations while also serving as a university professor. She has spent more than a decade working in the nonprofit sector, focusing on education, affordable housing, and food security. Sharika has led several issue-based organizing campaigns that contributed to policy changes in Charlotte and across North Carolina, and she has developed and facilitated numerous community-organizing trainings for grassroots and nonprofit groups. Most notably in her last role as an Executive Director for a local grassroots organization in Charlotte, NC she successfully raised over $5 million in funding for the organization before resigning after fourteen months to focus full-time on supporting other nonprofit groups and leaders as a strategic consultant.
As CEO of Educated Hoodlums Sharika guides the strategic direction of Educated Hoodlums Brand and oversees service delivery in communications, community engagement, and fundraising strategy. Her background in nonprofit leadership, community organizing, and education informs a practical, data-driven results-focused approach to helping organizations strengthen their presence, operations, and overall impact.
Our Team
Meet the Team
Educated Hoodlums Brand, uses a contractor consultant business model. This means that most of our team members have additional and/or independent ventures, with niche focuses. Unless you request a particular individual, the team members on your project will be based on project type, budget, needs, and timeline.
TJ Jones
Co-Founder/Business Development & Finance Consultant
A seasoned Business Development Specialist with extensive experience in driving organizational growth and strategic innovations. TJ has proven expertise in goal setting, strategic planning, and developing efficient standard operating procedures. Adept at budget planning and financial management, with a strong foundation in credit and financial literacy.
TJ's technical skills include strategic planning and execution, budget management and financial a analysis, operational efficiency, and SOP development, along with credit risk analysis and financial literacy education.
Zena C.
Business Start-Up Development & AI Technology Consultant
A veteran in supporting individuals who want to bring their ideas through actualization to monetization. Zena's extensive experience as a
strategist, educator, and communicator equips her with a nuanced approach to problem-solving, blending empathy with actionable insight to guide her clients toward realizing their full potential. Zena believes in the power of strategic innovation and the importance of a holistic approach.
Zena has a knack for identifying opportunities in challenges, helping her clients navigate through
their own journeys of self-discovery and strategic planning to achieve and sustain success.
