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Dear Friends,
I have some personal news to share. In early July, I'll step down as CEO of BeLit to start a new chapter of service in global nonprofit leadership.
Before working in adult education, my career was focused on children's literacy programs. Along the way, I kept encountering the same reality: literacy success starts with the adults in children's lives. Again and again, I saw parents working to support their children while facing education barriers of their own. As I dug into the data, one finding stood out: a parent's literacy level is the strongest predictor of a child's educational success - even more than income or neighborhood.
Adult literacy goes beyond earning a GED, improving English, and gaining workforce skills. It strengthens entire families, creates economic mobility, and changes outcomes across generations. When the opportunity arose in 2019 to lead the merger that launched Beyond Literacy, it felt serendipitous - a chance to help raise the visibility, resources, and impact of a field I’d come to believe was the most powerful, yet under-appreciated, in education.
Helping grow BeLit into our region's leading 100% tuition-free adult literacy and upskilling nonprofit has been an honor. Thanks to the commitment and talent of our team, partners and supporters, thousands of Philadelphians have transformed their lives through education, workforce training, digital skills, English language learning, family literacy, and second chances.
What gives me confidence about this transition is knowing that BeLit’s future is bright - guided by an engaged board, extraordinary staff, dedicated volunteers, strong financial footing, and a mission that changes lives every day. The board has put a thoughtful succession plan in place, with our most senior executives, Dawn Hannah and Sara Manning, serving as co-interim leaders following my departure. If you have any questions or thoughts to share, our Board Officers would be pleased to connect with you at board@beyondliteracy.org.
Please join me at BeLit250 on June 30 as we honor our graduates, our community of literacy champions, and the exciting next chapter of Beyond Literacy. I can't imagine a more fitting way to celebrate everything we've built together.
Thank you for being part of my story - and, more importantly, for helping write BeLit's.
In heartfelt gratitude,
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