OUR STORY
Built Together.
Growing with Purpose.
Purpose in Motion Stride Academy began with a simple idea: a mother and daughter wanted to build something meaningful together.
For Sheree, that meant being intentional about creating experiences with her daughter, Amari, that allowed them to spend meaningful time together, do something they both enjoyed, and create something that could give back to others.
Sheree brought her own experiences as a mother, former competitive track and basketball athlete, and experienced youth coach and mentor. Amari brought the imagination, perspective, energy, and joy of a seven-year-old girl.
Together, they began building Purpose in Motion Stride Academy.
A Journey We Are Living, Too
From the beginning, Sheree and Amari realized that building something together would require many of the same qualities they hoped Purpose in Motion Stride Academy would nurture in girls.
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It took courage to turn an idea into something real and meaningful.
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It took confidence to believe in their vision and what they were creating.
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It took resilience to overcome challenges and keep moving forward.
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It took leadership to listen, decide, take responsibility, and learn together.
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It took joy to celebrate the journey and remember their purpose.
These are lessons that extend far beyond movement or sport. They are qualities girls can carry with them into their friendships, classrooms, communities, future leadership, and everyday lives
Meet Our Founders
Sheree Ohen
Founder & Chief Stride Officer
Sheree is a wife, mom, attorney, higher education executive, former competitive track and basketball athlete, and experienced youth coach and mentor. Her connection to sports and youth development began long before Purpose in Motion Stride Academy. Sheree spent nine years coaching with E-Soccer, an inclusive California sports program for children with and without special needs. She also coached youth basketball through a local Boys & Girls Club and spent seven years mentoring middle and high school students.
Sports were an important part of Sheree’s own life, helping her develop discipline, grit, and a strong work ethic. But her experiences as an athlete and coach taught her something equally important: movement alone does not build character. The environment, encouragement, and intentional lessons surrounding the experience matter.
Becoming a mom brought those lessons into sharper focus. Sheree began imagining an experience for her daughter—and other girls—that would intentionally use movement to build confidence and character, navigate challenges, experience belonging, encourage others, and discover their own ways of leading.
That vision became Purpose in Motion Stride Academy, where movement is the vehicle, character is the journey, and purpose is the destination—and where Sheree gets to build it alongside her daughter.
Amari Ohen
Co-Founder & Chief Joy Officer
Amari co-founded Purpose in Motion Stride Academy with her mom at just seven years old. From the very beginning, she has been more than the inspiration behind it—she has brought her own ideas, her voice, her perspective, and plenty of personality to what they are building together.
Movement is already a big part of Amari’s world. She participates in gymnastics, dance, swimming, and other sports and brings her own experiences of learning new skills, practicing, trying again, and having fun to Purpose in Motion Stride Academy. Curious and energetic, Amari contributes ideas that help shape activities, program experiences, and how Stride Stars connect and have fun together.
As Chief Joy Officer, Amari brings something that comes naturally to her: encouraging others. She loves cheering girls on, celebrating their efforts, and helping them feel included, supported, and part of the fun.
At the heart of Amari’s journey is a simple but powerful belief: you are never too young to dream big or make a difference. As a young founder, she is proof that age does not determine the size of your dreams. Together with her mom, she continues to dream, imagine, and bring Purpose in Motion Stride Academy to life. For Amari, the adventure is just beginning!
From Our Journey to Theirs
Purpose in Motion Stride Academy may have started with one mother and daughter, but the vision reaches far beyond the two of them.
We are building a community where girls can experience for themselves what Sheree and Amari continue to learn together: that growth takes courage, challenges can strengthen us, leadership takes many forms, our strengths can serve others, and there is joy to be found along the way.
This is our journey—and we are just getting started.