GOLDLAW and Inner City Innovators Present Ernecia Littlejohn The Coach Fox ‘I CAN’ Award

On Tuesday, March 3, Craig Goldenfarb, Esq., founder and CEO of GOLDLAW, was honored to present Ernecia Littlejohn, a dedicated senior and Hope Dealer mentee with Inner City Innovators, with the 2026 Coach Fox ‘I CAN’ Award at GOLDLAW’s office in West Palm Beach. GOLDLAW funded a $1,000 scholarship to accompany the honor.

At the award ceremony, Littlejohn shared her inspiring story in front of her family and friends, GOLDLAW’s team and Inner City Innovators’ team, including Founder and Executive Director Ricky Aiken, Programs Director Norman Austin, and Program Mentors David Rae, Mavis Pettway, Naason Allen and Shacoya Key.

The Coach Fox Resilience Award was established to honor and recognize an exemplary Hope Dealer mentee who demonstrates outstanding commitment to Inner City Innovators’ core values of resilience, empathy, authenticity, and leadership. The award also acknowledges their embodiment of the organization’s anti-violence workshop principles of being SAFE (Smart about who they surround themselves with, Alert to their surroundings, Fearless about getting out of life-threatening situations, and Engaged in the fight to end gun violence in their communities).

Ernecia joined the program in 2024 facing significant academic and personal obstacles. Raised in a single-parent household in the inner city, she entered the program academically behind by three grade levels and navigating circumstances that often sideline young people before they reach graduation.

Instead of allowing those challenges to define her, Ernecia made the decision to redefine herself. Through consistent mentoring, discipline and a relentless commitment to improvement, she steadily closed academic gaps and rebuilt her confidence. Along the way, she stepped outside her comfort zone and earned a spot on the Girls Varsity Flag Football Team at Palm Beach Gardens High School, a milestone that reflects not only athletic growth but personal transformation.

Today, Ernecia is on track to graduate with the Class of 2026 and has set her sights on higher education. Following graduation, she plans to attend Palm Beach State College in the fall, where she intends to study pre-law.

Ernecia will use the $1,000 scholarship to open her first savings account, taking an intentional step toward building long-term financial stability. Rather than focusing on immediate spending, she has chosen to invest in her future, demonstrating maturity and forward-thinking beyond her years.

At the ceremony, Inner City Innovators Founder and Executive Director Ricky Aiken reflected on her journey, noting how her growth embodies the heart of the Hope Dealer Mentoring Program.

“We are honored to partner with Inner City Innovators to support young leaders like Ernecia,” said Goldenfarb. “Her story is proof that when mentorship meets determination, transformation follows. She represents the resilience and strength that Coach Fox stood for, and we are proud to help invest in her future.”

The award was named after Coach Fox, who was a revered mentor and community leader who dedicated his life to uplifting and guiding the youth in our community. His legacy is marked by his unwavering commitment to fostering resilience, leadership, and a spirit of unity among young people. Coach Fox’s efforts have left an indelible mark on countless lives, inspiring the next generation to rise above challenges and contribute positively to their communities.

Littlejohn embodies everything Coach Fox stood for such as resilience in the face of adversity, leadership amid challenges and an unbreakable commitment to making a difference. Her dedication is proof that real change happens when those who need it most take the lead.