Newark Entrepreneur Finds Inspiration Through Grandma, Daughter

NEWARK, NJ — Ask Rasheedah Cook how she found the courage to take the leap into business ownership, and she’ll bring up the names of two people.

“Before my grandmother who raised me passed away, she encouraged me to start my own business,” the 36-year-old Newark native said. “Not just for my benefit, but also for that of my daughter.”

Cook, a patient care technician at University Hospital, is also the owner and CEO of Treats for the Streets, which serves up tasty treats such as Italian ice, chips and candy. Her success – which earned Cook a nod as “Millennium Entrepreneur Of The Year” from local nonprofit Girls; Live, Love, Laugh Inc. earlier this week – is the sort of story a community can be proud of, the group said.

• See related article: Newark Group Has Helped Girls 'Live, Love, Laugh' For 10 Years

Cook revisited her business’ modest roots to the nonprofit in a social media post.

“It was not until 2010 that I enrolled in a women’s empowerment program called, Lavendar and Lace. While there, the name, ‘Treats for Your Feet’ appealed to me as the perfect name for my new business because at the time, I was selling socks at my job. One year later, in 2011, I purchased an Italian Icee cart and decided to change my business name to ‘Treats for the Streets.’ I loved the business. I especially loved seeing the smiles on the faces of the children who I interacted with. That love moved me to purchase an ice cream truck with the help of the United Way.”

After her grandmother passed away, Cook decided the best way to honor her life was to keep giving back to the community, just like her grandmother did every month at church.

“So, every year for the past seven years, I host a ‘Fun Day’ at Weequahic Park with a DJ, face painter, hot dogs, drinks, giveaways and games,” Cook said. “I cannot fully express how much joy my contribution to my community continues to bring me.”

• See related article: Newark's HotDogLady Inspires 'Ujamaa' In Her Community

A glance at the Treats for the Streets Facebook page shows that the endeavor is something near and dear to Cook’s heart.

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