TaHara Cooper

TaHara Cooper is a visionary leader, educator, and community advocate with more than 15 years of experience advancing youth development, mental health support, and social justice initiatives. She is the Founder and Executive Director of Lyrik Place, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering young people through mentorship, emotional skill-building, leadership development, and access to educational opportunities. Under her leadership, Lyrik Place has grown into a trusted community resource with both local and international impact.

In her role at Lyrik Place, TaHara provides strategic direction, oversees fundraising and organizational growth, and designs innovative programming, including the signature Living Beyond Existing initiative, which cultivates resilience, social-emotional learning, and leadership among youth. Her work extends beyond Chicago, as she manages international scholarship and support programs for underserved girls in Ghana. In addition, TaHara serves as a Grassroots Educator with Illinois Solar for All, where she has successfully secured funding to expand renewable energy access and sustainability education in underserved communities, further advancing environmental justice.

TaHara’s professional background also includes over two decades as an educator with Chicago Public Schools, where she supports incarcerated youth ages 18–21 in achieving academic success and diploma completion. Her experience spans family intervention, mental health counseling, and program development through roles with Youth Villages, Inc. and The Salvation Army Kroc Center. TaHara holds a Master of Business Administration in Nonprofit/Public/Organizational Management from Keller Graduate School of Management and a Bachelor of Arts from Aurora University. She is widely recognized for her compassionate leadership, community-centered approach, and unwavering commitment to empowering youth and families to thrive.

• Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University - MBA
• Aurora University - BA