ARSHAY COOPER is a Rower, Benjamin Franklin award-winning author, A Golden Oar recipient for his contributions to the sport of rowing, motivational speaker, and activist, particularly around issues of accessibility for low-income families.

Arshay grew up on the West Side of Chicago, witnessing family and friends become products of their environment. But a chance encounter changed Arshay's life. In 1997, he joined (and later became captain of) the first African-American high school rowing team at Manley High School, an experience that changed Arshay life. He dedicated two years of his life to AmeriCorps, focusing on diversity and inclusion, and soon after that, Arshay attended Le Cordon Bleu, becoming a personal chef for events and professional athletes.

After years of working in the foodservice industry, Arshay returned to his true passion, working with young people. He coached rowing at the Chicago Urban Youth Rowing Club and worked as the youth program guidance counselor for the Victory Outreach's Midwest/Gulf Coast region. Arshay has also started several rowing programs for low-income youth across the country, anywhere a puddle of water exists, so that other young people can experience the profound change that can happen on the water.

After self-publishing his memoir, Suga Water, which is now the basis for a new documentary (narrated by Common, executive produced by Grant Hill and Dwyane Wade and directed by Mary Mazzio) called "A Most Beautiful Thing" and a republished memoir of the same name from Macmillian). Arshay is now speaking at events and venues far and wide, from prisons to colleges, to professional sports teams, and appears on various media outlets.