Shakeel Ali, (revolutionary educator, social entrepreneur, conscious entertainer, gun violence survivor), and Amro Radwan, (technologist, social entrepreneur, youth mentor), met at Log Cabin Ranch Juvenile Detention Center while Shakeel was Director of Youth Development for a non-profit organization working to reduce the high recidivism rate of incarcerated youth. Born and raised in San Francisco, Mr. Ali is familiar with the diverse needs and services available to Bay Area youth of varying socioeconomic backgrounds. In 2004, along with previously incarcerated youth, they founded ASK Academy to utilize education, economics and entertainment in addressing critical issues such as high drop out rates, high incarceration rates, increased violent incidents in schools and women and children comprising the majority of the population under the poverty line.