Anike Sakariyawo worked as a teacher for 15 years, teaching kindergarten through third grade in Title 1 schools.

When she noticed shortcomings in the education system, including inadequate equipment and programs that disadvantaged many children, she knew there had to be a better way.

Sakariyawo's passion for education began when she used to play school with her sister, who was autistic, teaching her how to write her name.

Her grandmother taught her how to braid hair, and she began practicing with her best friend. By the time she was in college, she was negotiating prices for braiding hair.

Today, Sakariyawo uses her entrepreneurial background to run an educational non-profit organization, the S.E.E.K Foundation. S.E.E.K stands for "seeking education to empower knowledge."

In an interview with Women of Color magazine, Sakariyawo shares her vision of exposing children to the world of science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) and its potential impact.

SEEK Foundation, Inc. provides children with various activities and programs such as coding clubs, robotics competitions, and youth-led workshops.

Founded in 2012, SEEK reaches approximately 1,500 children in Miami, 500 children in Atlanta, and 100 youth in the recently launched program in Washington, D.C. Their programs are presented in an after-school format as clubs, summer camps, or workshops.

Recently, they held a student-led youth summit involving K-12 student vendors demonstrating and teaching such specialties as esports, how to make temporary hair dye, and how to operate an artificial intelligence (AI) robot using a cell phone.

SEEK's programs are founded on education, health and fitness, and community involvement.

Sakariyawo sees a ripple effect when young people gain STEAM knowledge. They develop critical thinking skills and become comfortable with public speaking. "When you impact the child, you impact the parent," she said.

Building SEEK into an organization serving communities across states and the District of Columbia has come with challenges. She has had to exhaust her financial reserves, and securing grants can take months for reimbursement.

SEEK operates with a core team of 10–12 program managers, instructors, and staff, but during the summer, when the organization's partnership programs are in full force, the team increases to 28.

Despite the challenges, SEEK has attracted partners such as the City of Miami Gardens STEM Liaison, Blackstone, Microsoft, T-Mobile, Formula, the Miami Dolphins, Best Buy, Florida International University, The Miami Foundation, and Wade's World Foundation.

Sakariyawo's endeavors have also caught the attention of other leaders. She's in the rare position of being named BEYA's 2023 recipient of a Community Service Award as well as a 2023 Women of Color Visionary Award honoree.

The Bethune Cookman University and Cambridge College graduate is pursuing a Ph.D. in engineering and computing at Florida International University. She views the work of SEEK as a lifetime commitment.