Zakiya Kahlid is the founder of Harmonize Family Services, a warm, capable leader whose deep care for children and families is embodied in everything she does. When her team is in the office, they bring genuine joy to the space—even their hallway meetings add life and energy to Gibbard Block. Harmonize is a truly local, homegrown business. When Zakiya saw a gap in Edmonton’s child welfare system, she didn’t wait for someone else to act. She stepped in, and literally opened her own home as their first group home. This is a small example of her deep commitment to make a lasting difference in the community.
Today, Harmonize provides group home services and after-school programs across six locations, with a seventh in development and plans for daycare expansion. Their caregivers support children through daily activities, field trips, and supervision, creating stable, nurturing environments.
The fit with Sparrow Cowork’s village mentality is natural. Zakiya, her mother (both nurses), and her sister (a social worker) brought deep experience in care—but needed support on the business side. That’s where Sparrow stepped in, providing guidance on best practices and interfacing with city governmental agencies. In turn, Harmonizes excellent work culture, including quarterly parties, and group initiatives has inspired similar programs within Sparrow itself.
If you are looking to interface with city government, or see a similarities to Zakiya’s path for your own business, don’t hesitate to reach out to Sparrow.