For nearly three decades, Fred and Cora Reed have dedicated their lives to proving that a child’s future should never be defined by where they come from. What began as a desire to help young people has grown into Reed’s Refuge Center, a Wilmington nonprofit committed to empowering youth through education, mentorship, entrepreneurship, and the arts.
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Fred Reed, who grew up in Wilmington’s Riverside community, says his life stands as proof that “your beginning does not determine your destiny.” Alongside his wife, Cora, a proud Wilmington native from the city’s West Side, the couple has raised nine children while building an organization that has become a safe haven for countless young people throughout Delaware.
The Reeds say Reed’s Refuge was born after recognizing that too many children lacked positive role models, safe spaces, and opportunities to discover their talents. Rather than focusing on the challenges facing local youth, they chose to become part of the solution by creating programs centered on mentorship, education, creativity, and encouragement.
That mission has expanded far beyond traditional youth programming. Reed’s Refuge embraces the belief that creativity can be a pathway to healing, confidence, and purpose while also teaching young people valuable business and leadership skills. The organization encourages youth to think beyond simply developing artistic talent by inspiring them to become entrepreneurs, business owners, and community leaders.
Fred’s own music career helped shape that vision. Having shared stages with artists including 112, Jagged Edge, Dru Hill, Mary J. Blige, Run-DMC, and others, along with recording background vocals for Gerald Levert and Jon Bon Jovi, Reed says those experiences inspired the creation of Industry Level Studios, where students can gain hands-on experience in music production, podcasting, broadcasting, and media.
Today, Reed’s Refuge is preparing for its next chapter. The organization’s new facility will feature expanded classrooms, technology labs, workforce development programs, counseling services, entrepreneurship training, arts education, media production spaces, and a black box theater. Construction is already underway, with approximately $1.8 million raised toward the center’s $4.5 million fundraising goal.
Despite the organization’s growth, the Reeds say their foundation has never changed.
“God has always been the foundation of our marriage, our family, our businesses, and our ministry,” they shared, explaining that faith has guided them through nearly three decades of service while helping them remain aligned as partners, parents, and community leaders.
When asked what legacy they hope to leave behind, their answer reflected the heart of Reed’s Refuge:
“We hope people will say Reed’s Refuge believed in children before they believed in themselves.”
And for Wilmington’s youth, their message remains simple but powerful:
“Never let your circumstances define your future… We’ll believe in you until you believe in yourself.”
To make a donation for the new Reeds Refuge Transformation Center, call (302) 482-2286
