Meet JoAnna Farrakhan–CEO & President of Strength and Flight

 A Legacy of Strength, A Vision for Flight

From the very beginning, JoAnna’s life has been defined by both extraordinary challenge and unshakable resilience. Born in the heartland of the Midwest, she entered the world 3.5 months ahead of schedule, weighing only one pound and five ounces—so small she could fit in the palm of a hand. Doctors gave her a ten percent chance to survive. At just two days old, she underwent a life-saving open-heart surgery. Where many would have faltered, JoAnna fought. Her will to live marked the first of many times she would embody strength—not just physical endurance, but spiritual and emotional fortitude.

Her early beginnings were humble. Raised in Kansas during a time when medical technology and resources were limited, JoAnna’s survival alone was a triumph. But she was never one to settle for survival—she wanted to thrive. As she grew, so did her awareness of the struggles around her: families like hers that lacked access to support, guidance, or hope. Her family eventually moved west to California, where she was exposed to the realities of urban life and the deep disparities that affect underserved communities. But even in the midst of adversity, she held onto a quiet determination to rise.

 Education became her flight. JoAnna became the first in her family to graduate from college—not once, but twice—earning an Associate’s degree in Human and Behavioral Sciences, and later a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology. Her academic studies gave her more than knowledge; they gave her insight into systems, inequality, and the complex web of social dynamics that often hold people back. As a sociologist, she learned how to analyze human behavior and social structure, which later became the framework for her vision: to build something that could transform lives from the inside out.
 

In time, JoAnna moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, bringing with her not just life experience and education, but a powerful sense of mission. It was in Las Vegas that her nonprofit, Strength and Flight, was born. She founded it on the two core values that had carried her through life—strength, for the grit it takes to survive and grow through adversity, and flight, for the freedom and transformation that comes when individuals are empowered with the tools to soar.

Under her guidance, Strength and Flight became far more than a local organization. What began as a grassroots effort to support struggling families in Nevada has expanded into a global mission. Today, the organization serves a diverse range of people: veterans and their families, foster youth aging out of the system, domestic violence survivors, seniors, youth, and formerly incarcerated individuals seeking reintegration. The programs are holistic—combining wellness, education, life skills, housing, employment assistance, and emotional healing.

JoAnna ensures the organization reaches beyond borders, delivering resources and hope to underserved communities not just in Las Vegas but across the world. Whether it’s a vision screening in a local neighborhood, a mentorship program for foster teens, or virtual workshops reaching individuals globally, Strength and Flight stands as a beacon of possibility.

Through every phase of her journey—from a fragile newborn given a slim chance to live, to a scholar, community leader, and visionary—JoAnna has turned pain into purpose. Her story is a living testament to what can happen when someone refuses to give up and chooses instead to rise, lead, and lift others with them.

She didn’t just survive—she soared. And through Strength and Flight, she’s helping others do the same.