WHO WE ARE
FAKS is an ambitious, active, and progressive food allergy advocacy team aimed to educate and empower food allergic families within school settings. FAKS teams up with schools nationwide to heighten awareness and communication among staff so together we might find ways to keep food allergic kids safe in school. Clients hire FAKS to draft safety communications for teachers and classrooms, host educational / empathy workshops and assemblies for kids, parents, teachers, and school administration and more.
FAKS aims to replace food allergy fears with...the facts.
FOUNDER BIO
FAKS: Families of Allergic Kids at School was founded by Kristen Duncan Williams.
Kristen was born with a food allergic sibling in the early 80s. For the past 30+ years, Kristen has become very familiar with the critical communication and awareness required to keep food allergic children safe at home, in the outer world, and specifically in school settings.
Kristen is a mother to two food allergic children born with combined food allergies to: peanuts, tree nuts, dairy, soy, shellfish, sesame, mango, peaches, strawberries, and more.
Since creating FAKS…
Kristen has worked with the top pediatric allergists in New York in order to share various allergy advancements with other allergic families.
She has gone classroom to classroom conducting workshops for kids on tips to help keep food allergic friends safe at school.
Kristen has written and produced food allergy awareness packets for administration and teachers educating them on food allergy signs, symptoms, etc.
Kristen has worked closely with school nurses on tightening communications with food allergic families.
She has worked closely with school lunch staff on increasing safety measures in food settings.
Kristen has held multiple empathy workshops for parents and school wellness committees to help change stereotypes of food allergies.
She has served as emotional support for over 50+ newly diagnosed food allergic families helping them with 504 Accommodation paperwork, Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Emergency Care Plans and more.
Kristen has served as an advisor on the development of the food allergy APP called BELAY.
Kristen has been a contributing writer on several articles on the subject of food allergies for HEALTHLINE.COM.
Kristen is also the Founder of a brand creative agency called Leeway located in Brooklyn, NY. Leeway creates written/digital content aimed to educate and inspire women and young girls. She is a graduate of Hollins University. Kristen resides in Brooklyn, NY.
WHAT WE DO
Clients hire us to increase critical and life-saving communication on the topic of food allergy awareness among school settings.
Our team can:
walk through schools to strategize ways to better keep food allergic kids safe
conduct food allergy awareness workshops for kids
write and produce literature/safety signage for teachers
host empathy workshops for parents/staff ...and more.
FAKS aims to replace food allergy fears with...the facts
TESTIMONIALS
I’ve been the doctor to Kristen's two, food allergic children for several years. Kristen is a compassionate, educated, and caring parent that has been an influential advocate for food allergy awareness among her community. I’ve worked closely with Kristen on various initiatives for her advocacy group FAKS answering questions on food allergy advancements and more. Kristen is a pleasure to work with. She is knowledgeable and informed in the areas of food allergies. I highly recommend her as a voice in the food allergy community.
Dr. Amanda Cox, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
Pediatrics, Allergy and Immunology, Mount Sinai, New York
For the last 3 years I have worked closely with Kristen and the FAKS: Families of Allergic Kids in School group at PS32 school in Brooklyn, NY. Kristen is a passionate advocate on a quest to spread more food allergy awareness in a school setting. Kristen is a highly organized and mission-driven leader who is truly a pleasure to work with.
-Kyle Dine, Food Allergy Educator and Musician
(KYLE DINE performs at schools across North America raising food allergy awareness. Over the past 6 years, he has performed at over 700 schools and reached over one million students. He has grown up managing his own allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, seafood and mustard. His songs help empower, support, and educate all children. He has released two professional CDs.)
Shortly before my son enrolled in public school, he had his first severe allergic reaction. As any parent to a food-allergic child knows, it was terrifying. He was rushed to emergency care and prescribed a generic epinephrine autoinjector to be carried with him at all times. I dealt with multiple allergist appointments while my son wailed through uncomfortable diagnostic tests, I navigated our insurance policy, and I filled out piles of paperwork. And after all that, the school nurse refused to accept his medication. This was my breaking point. I don't know what I would've done if Kristen hadn't swept in, led me through the medical paperwork and helped me secure a brand-name EpiPen. Most importantly, Kristen and her work with FAKS gave me moral support and a sense of calm as I sent my 5-year-old out into a nutty world that could trigger a life-threatening reaction at any moment. Kristen's advocacy for food-allergic children (and their panic-stricken parents) is truly a godsend.
-Kara Zuara, Parent of Allergic Child
CONTACT
