The Founder
Rafiah Maxie-Cole
What began as a mother’s response to unimaginable loss has grown into a movement dedicated to healing, awareness, and hope. Through Soul Survivors of Chicago, Rafiah Maxie-Cole works to support individuals and families impacted by suicide, trauma, and loss while advocating for stronger mental health resources in underserved communities.
A Story Rooted in Purpose
On May 27, 2020, Rafiah Maxie-Cole’s life changed forever when her 19-year-old son, Jamal, died by suicide. Faced with profound grief, she made a decision to honor his life by helping others navigate the challenges of trauma, loss, and mental health struggles.
That decision became Soul Survivors of Chicago.
What started as a deeply personal journey evolved into a nonprofit organization dedicated to suicide prevention, mental health education, trauma-informed support, and community healing. Today, the organization serves individuals, families, youth, and underserved communities throughout Chicago through outreach, advocacy, education, support groups, and innovative community programs.
Turning Grief Into Action
As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with more than 25 years of experience, Rafiah combines professional expertise with lived experience to create meaningful pathways to healing. Her work focuses on reducing stigma, increasing access to mental health resources, and helping communities have honest conversations about suicide, trauma, and emotional wellness.
Through Soul Survivors of Chicago, she continues to advocate for culturally responsive care and community-based approaches that meet people where they are.
Storytelling as a Tool for Healing
Rafiah believes that stories have the power to create connection, spark understanding, and inspire change.
As an executive producer and community storyteller, she has helped bring critical conversations around mental health and suicide prevention to broader audiences through projects including:
- We Cry Your Tears: The Jamal Clay Story
- Makes Me Wanna Holla: Healing From Loss, Learning From Tragedy & Finding Recovery
- While the Children Fade, an award-winning documentary exploring mental health disparities and suicide within the African American community.
These projects help amplify voices that are often unheard while encouraging communities to engage in conversations about healing and resilience.
Leadership Beyond the Organization
In addition to leading Soul Survivors of Chicago, Rafiah is a sought-after speaker, panelist, educator, and advocate. She has presented and collaborated with organizations, universities, conferences, and media outlets across the country, helping advance conversations around suicide prevention, trauma-informed care, and mental health equity.
Her work has been featured by organizations and media outlets including:
- PBS NewsHour
- ESSENCE Magazine
- Chicago Sun-Times
- NAMI Illinois
- American Psychological Association
- Harvard University Alumni of Color Conference
- National Association of Social Workers
- University of North Carolina
- Illinois Children’s Mental Health Partnership
Education & Professional Background
A native of Chicago’s Auburn Gresham community, Rafiah is a graduate of Southern University and A&M College, where she earned her Bachelor of Social Work, and Southern University at New Orleans, where she completed her Master of Social Work.
Her decades of clinical experience continue to inform her work as an advocate, educator, and community leader.
Through Soul Survivors of Chicago, she continues to advocate for culturally responsive care and community-based approaches that meet people where they are.
A Legacy of Hope
Today, Rafiah continues to build partnerships, mentor young leaders, expand community programs, and advocate for a future where no family has to face suicide, trauma, or loss alone. Through every initiative, event, documentary, and conversation, she remains committed to transforming tragedy into purpose and creating spaces where healing can begin.
“It takes a village to raise a child
… and a child to teach a village.”
