BUILDING LEGACIES
THROUGH LITERACY
Teaching Today’s Children To Be Tomorrow’s Leaders
Building Legacies Through Literacy (BLTL) is a nonprofit organization founded in 2022, that desires to enhance career readiness amongst school-aged learners through targeted programming, relevant, real-world experiences and wellness, as well as parent education and advocacy.
BUILDING LEGACIES
THROUGH LITERACY
Teaching Today’s Children To Be Tomorrow’s Leaders
Building Legacies Through Literacy (BLTL) is a nonprofit organization founded in 2022, that desires to enhance career readiness amongst school-aged learners through targeted programming, relevant, real-world experiences and wellness, as well as parent education and advocacy.
Building Legacies Through Literacy (BLTL) is a nonprofit organization founded in 2022, that desires to enhance career readiness amongst school-aged learners through targeted programming, relevant, real-world experiences and wellness, as well as parent education and advocacy.
01
WHAT WE BELIEVE
1
Success
Every child can experience success in learning.
2
Celebrate
Growth in learning is to be celebrated at every stage.
3
Success
Whole child support is necessary to success in learning.
4
Collaboration
Parent and school collaboration is essential to the success of our learners.
02
Mission
THE REASON WE EXIST
Our mission is to combat poverty by expanding literacy and access to education. Through scholarships for middle and high school students who struggle with reading, and support for their families, we open doors to brighter futures.
Building Legacies Through Literacy empowers middle and high school students with scholarships and literacy support, helping low and non-readers build the skills needed for academic success, career readiness, and lifelong opportunity.
02
Mission
THE REASON WE EXIST
Our mission is to combat poverty by expanding literacy and access to education. Through scholarships for middle and high school students who struggle with reading, and support for their families, we open doors to brighter futures.
Building Legacies Through Literacy empowers middle and high school students with scholarships and literacy support, helping low and non-readers build the skills needed for academic success, career readiness, and lifelong opportunity.
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03
Team
Meet Us
founder + Executive Director
Selena is a trained school psychologist who has a passion for reading and remediating reading disabilities.
She believes that building reading skills is the key to changing the lives of people of color who live in disadvantaged communities or live in rural communities.
Selena’s goal in founding Building Legacies in Literacy is to provide systematic research-based instruction in reading to youth, in 6th through 12th grades who have struggled to develop functional reading skills in school. Through high-quality literacy instruction, her hope is to empower students and level the playing field by removing one significant barrier to achieving the life they dream of.
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Marcus is an established Engineering Technician and Community Liaison. He has built a solid and dependable reputation as a project manager and team leader through his varied work experience.
Marcus’s experiences span from Operations Manager for a cash services and
logistics company and Inventory Specialist to Engineering Technician III.
The collection of these
experiences shows his value of integrity.
He was responsible for the management of a team of 10 or more personnel as well as thousands of dollars daily to his most recent
experiences as an engineering technician where he serves as the lead for multiple projects.
Board Chair
DeZyre, School Psychologist and Licensed Clinical Mental Health Associate.
DeZyre holds a Bachelor of Arts in both Child Development & Family Studies and Psychology, along with a Masters in School Psychology, both from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Treasurer
Gregory Wesley-Shanks, Financial services professional.
Greg holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from North Carolina A&T State University.
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Adewale, Senior Accountant at the Institute of Higher Education Policy (IHEP). Managing accounts payable, accounts receivable, account reconciliations, and other monthly reports, drawing on his more than 15 years of accounting experience in multiple industries.
Adewale holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics with a concentration in Finance as well as a Master of Arts degree in Economics, both from Virginia State University.
BOARD MEMBER AT LARGE
Katisha Paige is the Manager of Major Gifts for the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina, raising funds to make sure no one goes hungry.
With nearly 25 years of fundraising experience, she has been a development officer for Hill Learning Center, NCCU, and UNC-Chapel Hill.
She joins the BLTL board to assist in fundraising efforts.
Katisha and her husband
Justin has a daughter who is an avid reader and singer.
YOUTH AT LARGE BOARD MEMBER
Kendall Waite is a passionate young individual committed to positively impacting their community.
As a dynamic youth board member, Kendall brings fresh perspectives and innovative ideas.
Kendall is a dedicated college freshman and baker, using their creativity to bring attention to important issues with a genuine enthusiasm for creating positive change.