Through The Lens: “Warriors” exposes the human condition and the extraordinary people who persevered and beat the odds. Aitina Fareed-Cooke, award winning photographer, artist and owner of Get Fokus’d Productions knows the element of struggle and perseverance very well after losing her mom to drug addiction at a young age and being told she would be a failure to thrive. She ended up in the foster care system along with her two older siblings and later adopted. This experience is channeled through her life’s work in telling the stories of other people who went through pain and came out on the other side.

The exhibit “fokuses” on 8 Warriors comprised in a collection of portraits, literature, and short videos of women and men within the Buffalo community and even outside the area in Montreal, who persevered through extraordinary challenges. Attendees will view several portraits, from a baby who was born premature to Cooke’s own 86-year old adoptive mother who fostered over 33 children in her lifetime. “I wanted to capture their stories and highlight them so that the community can be enlightened, moved and encouraged to endure their circumstances and share their stories with others to create a domino effect,” Cooke says. 


Warriors was the first of several exhibitions from Get Fokus’d Productions premiered in 2019. The company has also featured stories ranging from motherhood to local businesses and their impact on surrounding communities followed by in-depth discussions events giving audiences a behind the scenes look at the heart behind the exhibit work.

The Warriors exhibition premiered on January 25–February 23, 2019 at CEPA Gallery (617 Main Street) Buffalo, NY. The event was free and open to the public.

About Get Fokus’d Productions: Get Fokus’d Productions is dedicated to capturing project based stories through the lens, teaching youth about the magic of freezing time, and a giving back to next generation of creatives. So simply put we, capture, teach, and give back. Aitina Fareed-Cooke, Creative Director of Get Fokus’d Productions is a CEPA 2018 Members’ Exhibition winner and People’s Choice Winner of Ignite Buffalo.