We’re looking forward to introducing you to Quin Levy-Flemings. Check out our conversation below.
Quin, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. Have you stood up for someone when it cost you something?
Yes, I stood up for my daughter, Maylaysia Ariel Levy, after her life was taken by domestic violence. It cost me everything. What made it even harder was learning five years later that the detective who interrogated her killer had given him a story. Though he was found guilty, he only received seven years, a sentence that felt like another injustice.
Speaking out about it is painful, but I do it because silence changes nothing. I founded the M. Ariel Love Foundation in her honor to educate others, push for reform, and teach young people what healthy love looks like. Standing up for her has been the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but it’s also my purpose, and through God’s strength, I’ve turned pain into purpose.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Quin Levy-Flemings, and I’m the founder and CEO of the M. Ariel Love Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to domestic violence prevention, education, and survivor support. The foundation was created in memory of my daughter, Maylaysia Ariel Levy, whose life was tragically taken by domestic violence. Turning that pain into purpose has become my life’s mission.
What makes our work unique is that it comes from real experience, not theory. I’ve walked through the heartbreak of loss and the frustration of a justice system that failed my family. That journey fuels my commitment to educate law enforcement, the courts, and the community about the many forms of abuse because domestic violence isn’t always physical.
We also focus heavily on youth education, teaching young people what healthy love looks like before they ever enter a relationship. I believe prevention starts early, and knowledge can truly save lives.
Through faith, advocacy, and community outreach, I’ve turned my personal tragedy into a movement of hope and healing. The foundation continues to grow, creating spaces where survivors can feel seen, supported, and empowered. Every time we bring awareness, we honor my daughter’s name and help ensure that another family doesn’t have to experience what mine did.
To learn more about our mission or get involved, visit www.mariellovefoundation.com
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Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
The moment that truly shaped how I see the world was losing my daughter, Maylaysia Ariel Levy, to domestic violence. I always knew life wasn’t easy, but I never realized how early abuse begins for so many young people. That wasn’t my experience growing up. I saw manipulation and heartbreak, but not physical violence or gunplay.
It opened my eyes to a reality I hadn’t known that our youth are enduring toxic, dangerous relationships far too soon and far too often. They’re confusing control for care and mistaking pain for passion. It made me see just how lost the world has become when it comes to understanding what love really is.
That realization changed everything for me. It showed me how vulnerable our communities are, how unprepared our systems are to respond, and how the justice system often lacks the compassion or urgency these cases deserve. It’s why I now dedicate my life to educating others, especially our youth, about healthy love and the many forms of abuse — because awareness can save lives.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me what success never could, that the world desperately needs help. My daughter was not raised in an abusive home, but she crossed paths with someone who had lived in that cycle, and he took her life. That opened my eyes to how deeply rooted this issue is and how many people are walking through life in danger without even realizing it.
Suffering showed me that comfort can make us complacent, but pain pushes us to act. It taught me that every day we have breath is both a gift and a responsibility, to make a difference, to speak up, and to protect others. Something must be done, and someone has to do it. For me, that “someone” is now me.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What truths are so foundational in your life that you rarely articulate them?
A foundational truth in my life is that God can bring purpose out of pain, even the deepest tragedies. I also believe that silence changes nothing; speaking up is the only way to create real change. And finally, I know that love should never be abusive; real love heals, it doesn’t destroy. These truths guide how I live, how I advocate, and how I honor my daughter’s memory.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What do you think people will most misunderstand about your legacy?
I think some people might misunderstand my legacy as being only about my daughter’s tragedy or the foundation itself. The truth is, it’s about turning pain into purpose and using my story to protect others. My hope is that people see it as a legacy of awareness, education, and advocacy, that through loss, something meaningful and life-saving can rise. It’s not just about remembering what was taken from me, but about ensuring others don’t have to endure the same.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mariellovefoundation.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariellove501c3/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/m.ariellovefoundation/
