Moments, stories, and impact from The Cooper Family Foundation

• Celebrating Over 50 Years of Leadership in San Diego’s Juneteenth Celebration
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  Honored by the City of San Diego, receiving accolades at the annual Juneteenth Celebration, one of the city's longest-running cultural events.
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  Recognized for hosting the largest gathering of the Black community in San Diego County.
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  Awarded official proclamations and recognitions by the City of San Diego for contributions to cultural preservation, community service, and civic engagement.
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  Celebrated as “Keepers of the Culture” by the San Diego African American Museum of Fine Art for efforts in preserving African American history and heritage.
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  Recipient of arts and cultural grants that support Juneteenth programming, performances, and community education.
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  Acknowledged by local leaders, council districts, and community organizations for fostering unity, healing, and cultural pride.
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  Featured in San Diego media outlets for ongoing community impact and leadership.
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  Provides free food, entertainment, health resources, youth programming, and cultural education to thousands of San Diego residents each year.
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  Serves thousands of San Diego residents annually, dismantling barriers and ensuring access for individuals from all backgrounds.
  

Who Is The Cooper Family?

Our story begins with our father, Sidney Cooper, who left Oklahoma at just 14 years old—an African American boy stepping into the unknown with determination, courage, and a commitment to self-improvement and service. In a time when the value of Black men was often overlooked, Sidney remained steadfast in uplifting others. Our mother, Thelma Cooper, traveled to San Diego with her sister Louise, carving her own path alongside siblings who made a way for themselves through resilience and entrepreneurship. In San Diego, Sidney and Thelma met, married in 1953, and built a life rooted in faith, family, and community.

Together, they became pillars of the neighborhood. Thelma owned the successful Powder Puff Beauty Salon, renowned for her press-and-curl services, while Sidney operated a barbershop and served as an unofficial mayor of Imperial Avenue. They owned and operated multiple businesses along 29th & Imperial Avenue, including a barber shop, beauty salon, produce stand, peanut roasting business, and the Smart Set program for young women. Until Sidney’s passing in 2001, they worked side by side—serving not just customers, but neighbors.

Their commitment to civic responsibility was unwavering. They extended store credit to families struggling to afford groceries, provided free haircuts and hairstyling for students and the sick, assisted teenagers with prom expenses, and established The Smart Set Social Club to support underprivileged families. When Sidney arrived in San Diego, he also introduced the tradition of celebrating Juneteenth with family and friends—planting a seed that would grow into a lasting legacy.

Following Sidney’s passing, The Cooper Family Foundation was born through perseverance, faith, and the lessons passed down from our parents and ancestors. Today, we are a family-run nonprofit dedicated to acts of service and community support. Each year, despite challenges, we organize a Juneteenth celebration that brings people from all walks of life together to reduce barriers such as food insecurity, health access gaps, and economic inequality.

Through year-round fundraising, we provide free meals, vaccines, health screenings, education, and entertainment, while creating affordable vendor opportunities for local small businesses. The joy on children’s faces, the relief felt by families receiving services, and the gratitude of community entrepreneurs reflect the impact of this work. Our volunteers and team are the backbone of this effort, embodying dedication, unity, and service.

As we move forward, we are dedicated to broadening our influence, reinforcing partnerships, and continue to honor the legacy of Sidney and Thelma Cooper. These two remarkable individuals paved their own paths, instilled in us the significance of ownership, family, hard work, and community, and championed the idea of collective uplift. They demonstrated the immense power of unity for the greater good.