What is Down North Treehouse?
What is Down
North Treehouse?
Our Mission.
Our Core Values.
Our Vision.
We anchor ourselves in our fundamental vision: to create safe, inclusive community centered places, plot by plot. Down North Treehouse seeks to bridge the digital divide in Black and Brown communities.
Our Vision.
We anchor ourselves in our fundamental vision: to create safe, inclusive community centered places, plot by plot. Down North Treehouse seeks to bridge the digital divide in Black and Brown communities.
Our Mission.
Down North Treehouse’s mission is to provide a post-secondary education experience to underprivileged Philadelphia youth that will help them land purpose- driven and financially rewarding careers in the tech sector
Our Vision.
Our Cored Values.
Down North Foundation Tree House believes empowered youth and young adults become dreamers and doers. Down North Foundation Tree House strives to promote a culture of empowerment through its programs and services.
Down North Treehouse believes in the power of healthy collaborative circles. The organization also believes that the positive outcomes are far more significant when people work together to pursue common goals and interests.
Down North Treehouse seeks to provide quality STEM-based post-secondary education to underprivileged youth and young adults, with equal opportunities and brighter tomorrows all around. A major goal is to provide paths to financial independence- to give all youth access to education which can help them advance economically and within STEM careers if they choose. One thing observed, especially in STEM fields, is MAJOR discrepancies in opportunities and extreme under-representation of certain groups. Down North Treehouse aims to provide a place for safety in which all youth are welcome to learn, grow, experiment, create, and make mistakes.
Down North Treehouse values the power of self-esteem and the undeniable effect it has on propelling people forward in life.
Down North Treehouse encourages excellence by fostering new ideas, creative thinking, and change through innovative processes and products.
Growing Freedom Project
We are seeking local, regional, national, and international partners who share our vision to innovate and grow with us.
Urban farming in Brewerytown, Philadelphia.
Community Healing Garden in Gray’s Ferry neighborhood of Philadelphia
Healing Garden Project
Community Healing Garden in Gray’s Ferry neighborhood of Philadelphia
Board Members
Our Board of Directors include some most the most
influential and resourceful professionals in Philadelphia.
Muhammad Abdul-Hadi
Muhammad Abdul-Hadi is the Co-Founder of Down North Treehouse and the owner of Down North Pizza, the mission-driven restaurant that exclusively hires formerly incarcerated individuals and serves up pies with a purpose in the Strawberry Mansion community in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Down North Pizza is the culmination of Abdul-Hadi’s 13-year vision as a serial entrepreneur. It’s a concept that has long been ingrained in him; a place where he’s contributing to the economic improvement of underserved communities through excellent food and quality customer service. Through fair wages, innovative hiring practices, and community building, Abdul-Hadi is looking to reduce recidivism rates in the Black community on a wider scale.
Muhammad Abdul-Hadi
Muhammad Abdul-Hadi is the Co-Founder of Down North Treehouse and the owner of Down North Pizza, the mission-driven restaurant that exclusively hires formerly incarcerated individuals and serves up pies with a purpose in the Strawberry Mansion community in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Down North Pizza is the culmination of Abdul-Hadi’s 13-year vision as a serial entrepreneur. It’s a concept that has long been ingrained in him; a place where he’s contributing to the economic improvement of underserved communities through excellent food and quality customer service. Through fair wages, innovative hiring practices, and community building, Abdul-Hadi is looking to reduce recidivism rates in the Black community on a wider scale.
Momin Sheikh
Momin Sheikh is the Co-Founder of Down North Treehouse and a serial entrepreneur and real estate developer in Philadelphia. Having started his first business when he was 17 years old, Momin has started and funded multiple start-ups across various sectors. He most recently sold his creative agency, MerakiCMO in 2018. Prior to the formation of MerakiCMO, Mr. Sheikh held numerous senior finance positions at JP Morgan, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo. Having worked in Investment Banking, Private Equity and Commercial Lending, Mr. Sheikh brings years of experience in financial underwriting, deal structuring, and investor relations. He holds a degree from Rutgers University.
Outside of the office, Mr. Sheikh loves to travel, collect art, and is integrally involved with multiple non-profits including CareLink Community Support Services, Justice for Our Neighbors, Down North Pizza and Big Brothers Big Sisters, where he volunteers his time as a board member and mentor. Mr. Sheikh Co-Founded Philadelphia based non-profit Friends For Good, working to bring together young professionals in support of local charitable organizations. Additionally, Mr. Sheikh was a recipient of the 2019 Philadelphia Business Journal 40-Under-40 award.
Momin Sheikh is the Co-Founder of Down North Treehouse and a serial entrepreneur and real estate developer in Philadelphia. Having started his first business when he was 17 years old, Momin has started and funded multiple start-ups across various sectors. He most recently sold his creative agency, MerakiCMO in 2018. Prior to the formation of MerakiCMO, Mr. Sheikh held numerous senior finance positions at JP Morgan, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo. Having worked in Investment Banking, Private Equity and Commercial Lending, Mr. Sheikh brings years of experience in financial underwriting, deal structuring, and investor relations. He holds a degree from Rutgers University.
Outside of the office, Mr. Sheikh loves to travel, collect art, and is integrally involved with multiple non-profits including CareLink Community Support Services, Justice for Our Neighbors, Down North Pizza and Big Brothers Big Sisters, where he volunteers his time as a board member and mentor. Mr. Sheikh Co-Founded Philadelphia based non-profit Friends For Good, working to bring together young professionals in support of local charitable organizations. Additionally, Mr. Sheikh was a recipient of the 2019 Philadelphia Business Journal 40-Under-40 award.
Allen King
Allen King is Chairman on the Board at Down North Treehouse and a serial entrepreneur and seasoned philanthropic board member. Allen has deep roots in east coast construction, having direct experience in construction, property management, development, acquisitions, and financing. Allen has developed and sold over $11,000,000 worth of real estate and is currently developing $20,000,000+ worth of property across several projects in the Grays Ferry, University City, Port Richmond and Kensington neighborhoods of Philadelphia.
Allen previously served as the Director of Backstage Capital’s Venture Fund raising $15M+ across portfolio companies in under six months. He also was a founding partner and Chief Product Officer for JetSense.AI an AI powered conversational marketing platform from which he built the first chatbot for the NFL. Prior to this, he served as Head of Marketing for Bank of America Merrill Lynch, where he developed a business roadmap that directly drove the business unit to $75M+ annual revenue target. He also spent time leading the marketing efforts at Calvin Klein, Kate Spade and Lucky Brand. Allen holds a MBA as well as a Bachelor’s of Science from Villanova University.
Allen King
Allen King is Chairman on the Board at Down North Treehouse and a serial entrepreneur and seasoned philanthropic board member. Allen has deep roots in east coast construction, having direct experience in construction, property management, development, acquisitions, and financing. Allen has developed and sold over $11,000,000 worth of real estate and is currently developing $20,000,000+ worth of property across several projects in the Grays Ferry, University City, Port Richmond and Kensington neighborhoods of Philadelphia.
Allen previously served as the Director of Backstage Capital’s Venture Fund raising $15M+ across portfolio companies in under six months. He also was a founding partner and Chief Product Officer for JetSense.AI an AI powered conversational marketing platform from which he built the first chatbot for the NFL. Prior to this, he served as Head of Marketing for Bank of America Merrill Lynch, where he developed a business roadmap that directly drove the business unit to $75M+ annual revenue target. He also spent time leading the marketing efforts at Calvin Klein, Kate Spade and Lucky Brand. Allen holds a MBA as well as a Bachelor’s of Science from Villanova University.
Farah Kapoor
Farah Kapoor is Executive Coordinator at Down North Treehouse and serves on multiple boards of Philadelphia charity and non-profit organizations, including Reading Terminal Market, Historic Philadelphia, and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Her passion for bringing communities together and enhancing their quality of life is a primary driving force behind her many pursuits of helping underserved populations in the area. Originally from Singapore, Farah comes from a family where the value of philanthropic giving is a cherished tradition.
With a background in science, education, and the arts, Farah exhibits a wide-range of expertise and versatility of skill and intellect. It has propelled her to “give back” in service to others. As a mom of two, Farah is a compassionate family advocate. Additionally, she is a reading specialist and yoga instructor. She has lived in Barcelona, Spain, and Fontainebleau, France. Farah makes three-dimensional art out of paper, and also indulges in limoge style of painting.
Farah Kapoor is Executive Coordinator at Down North Treehouse and serves on multiple boards of Philadelphia charity and non-profit organizations, including Reading Terminal Market, Historic Philadelphia, and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Her passion for bringing communities together and enhancing their quality of life is a primary driving force behind her many pursuits of helping underserved populations in the area. Originally from Singapore, Farah comes from a family where the value of philanthropic giving is a cherished tradition.
With a background in science, education, and the arts, Farah exhibits a wide-range of expertise and versatility of skill and intellect. It has propelled her to “give back” in service to others. As a mom of two, Farah is a compassionate family advocate. Additionally, she is a reading specialist and yoga instructor. She has lived in Barcelona, Spain, and Fontainebleau, France. Farah makes three-dimensional art out of paper, and also indulges in limoge style of painting.
