About The Forsythe Foundation
The Forsythe Foundation – Reboot with JuJu was founded to honor the life and legacy of Jawuan "JuJu" Booker by promoting mental health awareness, suicide prevention, organ donation education, and community healing.
My Story: Turning Pain Into Purpose
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Born from love and loss, The Forsythe Foundation – Reboot with JuJu was created to honor the beautiful life and lasting legacy of Jawuan "JuJu" Booker.
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In April 2025, I lost my son to suicide, and my world changed forever. Like many families, we faced challenges that often go unseen. JuJu lived with depression, anxiety, autism, and ADHD, yet he was also kind, compassionate, creative, and always willing to help others. Even in his final act of love, he became an organ donor, giving the gift of life to others and leaving behind a legacy of hope.
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What began as a mother's grief became a mission. I created The Forsythe Foundation because I never wanted another person or family to feel alone in their struggles. Too often, people suffer in silence because they are afraid, embarrassed, or worried about what others may think. We want people to know that there is no shame in asking for help, sharing your story, or speaking openly about mental health. You are not alone.
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By sharing our experiences, my hope is that through this foundation we can break the stigma surrounding mental health, promote suicide prevention, Through mental health awareness, suicide prevention education, organ donation advocacy, community outreach, and meaningful connections, create understanding, and help prevent other families from experiencing the same heartbreak. we work to create safe spaces where healing can begin and hope can grow.
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Every conversation started, every resource shared, and every life touched is a reminder that hope still exists, healing is possible, and asking for help is a sign of strength.
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JuJu's light continues to shine through this work. Together, we turn pain into purpose, spread awareness, build connection, and inspire others to keep going one heart, one life, and one reboot at a time.
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Because when one person finds the courage to speak up, another person may find the strength to keep going.
A MOTHER’S PROMISE
Never in 18 years did I imagine that my son, Jawuan “JuJu” Booker, would die by suicide. If someone had told me that this would become part of my story, I would have never believed it. Since that heartbreaking day, I made a promise;
I WILL NEVER STOP SAYING HIS NAME.
I WILL NEVER STOP SHARING HIS STORY. AND
I WILL NEVER STOP WORKING TO CREATE HOPE FOR OTHERS.
Through my grief and my willingness to share my journey, I have learned something I never fully understood before that Suicide has touched far too many families. Behind every statistic is a person, A name, A smile, A dream, and a family whose life has been changed forever.
Mission Statement
The Forsythe Foundation – Reboot with JuJu is dedicated to promoting mental health awareness, suicide prevention, organ donation education, and community healing through education, advocacy, outreach, and direct support. Inspired by the life and legacy of Jawuan "JuJu" Booker, we create safe spaces where individuals and families feel supported, empowered, and connected.
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Through partnerships with schools, churches, businesses, and community organizations, we provide educational programs, speaking engagements, resources, and lived-experience storytelling that reduce stigma, encourage help-seeking, and foster hope. We also work to remove barriers to care by connecting individuals with mental health resources and providing financial assistance for therapy, counseling, and wellness services when possible.
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By transforming pain into purpose, we strive to ensure that no one faces mental health challenges, grief, or suicidal thoughts alone. Together, we inspire others to Live. Love. Give.
Vision Statement
We envision a future where mental health is treated with the same urgency, compassion, and understanding as physical health; where no individual feels alone in their struggles, and every person has access to the support, resources, and opportunities they need to thrive.
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We strive to build communities where open conversations replace stigma, lived experiences inspire hope, and seeking help is viewed as a sign of strength. Through education, advocacy, and meaningful connections, we envision families strengthened, lives transformed, and communities united in promoting mental wellness, suicide prevention, and the gift of organ donation.
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By empowering individuals to share their stories, support one another, and embrace healing, we aim to create a lasting legacy of hope, resilience, and compassion one where pain is transformed into purpose and every life is valued, supported, and given the opportunity to reboot.
The Meaning Behind Our Name
The name The Forsythe Foundation – Reboot with JuJu was chosen with great intention and love.​
Throughout his life, JuJu was creative, unique, and always finding ways to express himself. One of those ways was through changing and creating different names for himself. Of all the names he used, "Forsythe" was one that always stood out to me and remained close to my heart.​
When I later learned that Forsythe means "man of peace," I knew it was meant to be. The name perfectly reflects who JuJu was at his core a kind, compassionate soul who cared deeply about others.​
The phrase "Reboot with JuJu" honors another important part of who he was. JuJu loved technology, computers, and problem-solving. In the technology world, a reboot means to restart a system and begin again. For our foundation, it represents hope, healing, resilience, and the courage to keep moving forward through life's challenges.​
Together, The Forsythe Foundation – Reboot with JuJu represents both JuJu's legacy and our mission: to bring peace, hope, healing, and support to individuals and families navigating mental health challenges and life's difficult moments.​
Meet Our Founder
My name is Saresa Taylor, Founder and President of The Forsythe Foundation – Reboot with JuJu and a proud Retired U.S. Army Veteran with 22 years of service.
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After losing my son, Jawuan “JuJu” Booker, to suicide at the age of 18, I made a promise that his life and legacy would continue to make a difference. What began as a journey through grief became a mission to turn pain into purpose.
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This foundation is more than a nonprofit.​
It is a mother's promise.​
A promise that JuJu's life, love, and legacy will never be forgotten.​
Every event, every program, every conversation, and every act of kindness helps carry his light forward.​
Thank you for joining us on this journey of hope, healing, and purpose.
Saresa Taylor
Founder & President | Army Veteran