Granddaughter of the late Episcopal priest Rev. Charles Somers, Falaka Fattah's first career choice was to serve the poor and bring God's Word as a missionary. As her natural talent in writing later developed, she changed her goal to literary pursuits.

Queen Mother Falaka Fattah was born Frances Ellen Brown in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. From South Philadelphia High School for Girls, she went on to study writing at Temple University.

She obtained a GS-9 rating as a writer in the federal government and worked as writer and editor for the Philadelphia Tribune, the Philadelphia Independent, the Philadelphia Afro-American, the Philadelphia Bulletin and Open Mike, a national disc-jockey magazine. She wrote a music column and was a press agent for singers. She's also an urban youth consultant, specializing in violence prevention from gang warfare. Fighting against housing discrimination, Falaka Fattah walked the picket lines side by side with her brother, the late Carl A. Brown. Not wanting to carry a "slave" name both she and her husband, David took the last name Fattah in the late sixties.

Queen Mother Falaka Fattah co-founded the Black United Front with the late State Representative David P. Richardson to empower the Black community.

Her greatest working endeavor is as the founder and CEO of the House of Umoja, Inc. In 1968 she founded UMOJA Magazine as a communication product of the 3rd Black Power Conference which was held at Church of the Advocate. In 1970, UMOJA Magazine was extended into the House of Umoja Boystown. At that time gang warfare was a horrendous problem and governmental authorities and community agencies were struggling to cope with the problem. Upon discovering that one of her six sons had joined a gang, Queen Mother Falaka and, her husband, David Fattah took the bold step of inviting the gang to become a part of the family. With a promise to keep them alive and out of jail, the Fattah home became the House of Umoja Boystown, and initially operated for three years without public or private support.

The House of Umoja is an internationally known dedicated organization with a comprehensive program that provides a positive living environment for boys ages 15-18 who unfortunately lack a sufficient family structure and it operates on the principle of the extended family, guided by the African-American concept of Nguzo Saba, which provides a therapeutic methodology through which the lives of residents are successfully redirected. Since inception, over 3,000 youth have resided at the House of Umoja.

In 1984, Queen Mother Falaka Fattah began the realization of a dream. As a tribute to our ancestors' cultural and educational ideals, the HOU began replicating in appearance and essence the ancient African city of Djenné on the 1400 block of Frazier Street. In its 37th year, the HOU is working to raise one-million dollars to complete this project.

In 1994 she contributed to a book, World Without Violence, in which world leaders shared their commentaries of world harmony, peace and justice. She was selected to contribute by Dr. Arur Gandhi (grandson of Mohandas Gandhi).

Over the past 37 years the House of Umoja has caused a reduction in gang deaths in the city of Philadelphia as documented by law enforcement, academia and the news media. Indeed, the success in transforming and working with youth has led to numerous governmental organizations, universities and institutions seeking out the expertise of Queen Mother and David Fattah in the fields of gang reduction, youth programming and community organizing, including the Office of Juvenile Justice and Prevention and the Center for Disease Control. UMOJA's work has been recognized by former Presidents Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan and William Clinton.

Her membership and past affiliations also include: Executive Committee of Greater Philadelphia Partnership; Commissioner for Mayors Commission For Women and Mayors Drug and Alcohol Commission; Task Force Leader for School District of Philadelphia's Task Force on School Safety; Philadelphia Past, Present and Future Project; Board Member, Senate Business Advisory; National Center for Neighborhood Enterprise; Eisenhower Foundation; National Center on Institutions and Alternatives; Life Member, The Historical Society of Pennsylvania; Board Member, West Philadelphia Counseling Center; Advisory Board, The Bridge; Vice President Philadelphia Council For Neighborhood Organizations; Co-Founder, Philadelphia Black United Front.

Queen Mother Falaka Fattah has received over one hundred national and local awards for community service and journalism. If one would attempt to sum up her life and life’s work, one would say her greatest desire is shared with that of the leader of the Ancient African city of Djenné, that everyone who comes her way and passes through Umoja would leave better than they came.