About Drive Forward Academy
Rooted in transportation education, Drive Forward Academy has grown into a Workforce Education Group dedicated to helping individuals discover their strengths, earn meaningful credentials, and create brighter futures.
Drive Forward Academy was founded on the belief that education should do more than prepare people for a test. It should prepare them for life.
Rooted in transportation education, Drive Forward Academy has grown into a Workforce Education Group dedicated to helping individuals discover their strengths, earn meaningful credentials, and create brighter futures.
As our work evolved, so did our mission. Today, we partner with schools, government agencies, employers, nonprofits, and community organizations to design experiences that inspire confidence, develop skills, and expand opportunity.
While transportation remains one of our core areas of expertise, our purpose has always been much bigger: helping people discover their potential and create lives they are proud to build.
We believe every person has inherent strengths, unique talents, and limitless potential. Our role isn't to define who someone can become. It's to create opportunities for them to discover it for themselves.
At Drive Forward Academy, we create environments where every individual builds confidence, discovers their strengths, develops practical skills, and gains the courage to pursue opportunities they may never have imagined possible.
When individuals grow, families grow. Communities grow. Everyone moves forward.
We exist to help people discover what's possible.
Through meaningful learning experiences, mentorship, and real-world experiences, we help every individual we serve uncover hidden talents, build confidence, earn valuable credentials, and develop the skills to create futures they can be proud to build.
Our work isn't defined by programs alone. It's measured by the confidence we inspire, the strengths people discover, and the opportunities they create for themselves and their communities.
Our North Star
We believe every person deserves the opportunity to discover their potential and build a future that reflects their strengths, purpose, and aspirations.
Opportunity in Action
Individuals Served
Program Completion & Pass Rate
Starting CDL Salaries
Committed to People
Our Family of Organizations
Although each organization serves a distinct purpose, they share one mission: creating pathways to opportunity for individuals and communities.
Our Workforce Education Group partners with schools, employers, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations to deliver career-connected learning, workforce solutions, professional development, and transportation education.
Explore programsOur 501(c)(3) nonprofit expands access to education, community partnerships, scholarships, and initiatives that remove barriers to opportunity while strengthening communities.
Learn moreOur transportation education division provides driver education, CDL training, and mobility-focused programs that help individuals build confidence, earn credentials, and access meaningful career opportunities.
Learn moreOur team
Chief Operating Officer
Nijah is a Bronx, NY native, former collegiate athlete, and dedicated healthcare leader with a passion for mentorship and community impact. She holds dual degrees in Psychology and Nursing, bringing over a decade of experience in the nonprofit sector and five years in clinical practice across diverse healthcare settings.
Chief Strategist Officer
Shannon is a NJ native and daughter of Howard University. With a myriad of experience rooted in the retail industry, Shannon's expertise ranges across management, business strategy, marketing, omnichannel, digital initiatives, and organizational design. Shannon has led complex retail transformations, navigated business turnaround, and developed digital upskilling programs to support organizational growth. Committed to the advancement of historically marginalized communities, Shannon works to broaden access to professional development, skills training, mentorship, and technology.
Founder & CEO
Haleem Saddiq Livingston Jr. is an accomplished entrepreneur and visionary leader with over a decade of experience building successful ventures across multiple industries. Growing up as an inner-city youth determined to unlock the secrets of financial literacy and business ownership, Haleem's journey is one of resilience, relentless self-improvement, and unwavering commitment to empowering others. He began his career in the health and wellness industry, helping hundreds of clients transform their lives. From there, he co-founded and sold his stake in one of the city's few minority-owned security firms, proving his ability to succeed in competitive spaces. Driven by this mission, Haleem launched Drive Forward Academy to equip inner-city men and women with the skills, mentorship, and entrepreneurial mindset to succeed.
Our Promise
We are committed to creating environments where every individual can grow with confidence, develop meaningful skills, and pursue opportunities that align with their strengths, purpose, and aspirations.
Everything we build is guided by one belief:
People thrive when they are seen, supported, challenged, and given the opportunity to grow.
