Literacy is access & opportunity. Literacy is equity & justice. Literacy is liberation.

Gloria Chapman is the Assistant Director at the Office of Partnership Districts for the Michigan Department of Education, Office of Partnership Districts. She serves on the steering committee for 313Reads.

Cindy is the co-founder and CEO of Brilliant Detroit, a nonprofit organization that builds kid success neighborhoods where families with children ages 0-8 have what they need to be school-ready, healthy and stable. They do this by establishing and operating Brilliant Detroit home-based hubs in high-need neighborhoods that provide proven programming to families with children. During the first four years of her time as CEO, Cindy grew Brilliant Detroit to serve 7,500 children and caregivers with more than 80 organizational partners operating out of 12 home-based hubs. Her work has earned her numerous recognitions, including Crain’s 2018 Notable Women in Nonprofits and AARP’s 2020 Purpose Prize. She sees this as the work of her life and is committed to growing this impact to affect population-level change in Detroit. Cindy serves the 313Reads Coalition as a Backbone, Fiduciary, Coordinating Council Co-Chair, and a Co-Chair of the Early, Family, and Community Literacy.

Ellen Gilchrist is the Senior Director of K-12 Education for United Way for Southeastern Michigan (UWSEM). She serves on the Steering Commitee, the Early, Family, & Community Literacy Table, and the Evaluation for Equtity & Impact Tables for 313Reads

Kim Johnson is the CEO and Founder of Developing K.I.D.S. It is a nonprofit organization in Detroit that serves over 600 youth annually through afterschool and summer programs. Mrs. Johnson is a native Detroiter, Detroit Public School graduate and first-generation college graduate. Professionally, she mentors executive directors of grassroots organizations in Detroit. She has served and serves in leadership roles, such as a founding member of the Black Executive Director’s Alliance of Detroit (BEDAD) and on a subcommittee of the Governor’s Student Recovery Advisors Council. Within her church and community, Kim serves as the Youth Department Director, member and Secretary of the Clergy Guild, and member of the Tech Team. She is also an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. Kim serves the 313Reads Coalition as a Co-Chair of the Summer and Out of School Time Learning Table, a member of the Coordinating Council, and a member of the Collective Action Team for Healthy Readers.

Dr. Carmen Kennedy-Rogers serves as the senior program officer of K-12 Education for The Skillman Foundation. She leads the Foundation’s efforts to improve educational opportunities in Detroit. Carmen most recently served as the assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction at Avondale Schools in Auburn Hills. She oversaw the District’s federal programs, career and technical education services, assessments, research and educator evaluation services. Prior to that role, she served in five different Michigan school districts as a high school basketball coach, physical education teacher, athletic director, and high school principal at a turnaround school. Carmen currently serves as a board member for Wayne State University College of Education Board of Visitors and the Michigan Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development Board of Directors. Previously, she served on the Michigan High School Athletic Association Representative Council. Carmen holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and three degrees from Wayne State University, including a Master of Arts in Sports Administration, School Counseling and an Education Specialist Degree. She earned her doctorate in Educational Leadership at the University of Michigan-Flint in 2020. Carmen is married to Alex Rogers, Jr. and together they gratefully raise their son, Alexander Rogers, III. They reside in the Detroit Metro area with their rescue dog, Molly. Outside of work, she focuses on self-care by meditating, reflective journaling, living a healthy lifestyle, and spending quality meaningful time with family and friends. Carmen serves the 313Reads Coalition as a member of the Coordinating Council. “Children DESERVE to receive every opportunity to be leaders of their learning and advocates of their lives. Along with many others, I assign myself to make meaningful contributions to dismantling the inequities to liberate education for Detroit children. I unapologetically and boldly stand for children in gratitude to all the individuals who stood for me during my childhood and educational journey.”

Jametta Lilly is hte CEO of Detroit Parent Network. She serves on the Steering Committee for 313Reads.

Andrea Meyer is the Executive Director at the Center for Success. Andrea has been engaged in the field of education since 2005, and has worked to develop the Center for Success after school program since January of 2015. Prior to that, Andrea gained experience as a classroom teacher for 10 years. Andrea holds certifications in Evidence Based Literacy Instruction (EBLI) and English Language Development (ELD) which support her role in creating meaningful, individualized lessons for struggling readers at the Center. Andrea sits on the Board of Directors for both the Center for Success Network and the Grosse Pointe Old Devils. As the Executive Director of the Network, Andrea oversees the implementation of the strategic plan of the organization, leads staff and defines culture and oversees donor cultivation, grant writing and financial stewardship. Andrea holds a Bachelor of Science in Education from Western Michigan University, gaining her degree through their Urban Education program. In addition to her role at CFSN, Andrea is a co-chair for the Summer and Out of School Time Table for 313 Reads, and is a member of the Improvement and Impact Committee for the Youth Development Resource Center. She also serves the 313Reads Coalition as a member of the Coordinating Council, the Collective Action Team for Healthy Readers, and the Early, Family, and Community Literacy Table.

Rosalyn Shahid is an English Language Arts Consultant at Wayne RESA. Dr. Rosalyn Shahid supports the 313Reads Coalition through her seat at the Steering Committee. She has also co-facilitated 313Reads Community Conversations and is a member of the 313Reads Collective Action Team for the Family Literacy Community of Practice.

Denise Smith is the Implementation Director for Hope Starts Here. She serves on both the Steering Committee and the Early, Family, and Community Literacy Table for 313Reads.

Kenyatta Stephens has 27 years of experience in the Human Service industry. She serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Black Family Development, Inc., a family-centered, behavioral health organization headquartered in Detroit, Michigan. She holds a Master’s Degree in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing – Child and Family from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor. Kenyatta believes education is the gateway to each person’s success. She has a passion for implementing excellence in the human service industry that empowers children, individuals, families, staff, and organizations to be their best. For this reason, the LENA models (i.e., LENA Start, LENA Home) promoting family-centered at-home, early childhood literacy have held a special place in her heart since her organization, Black Family Development, Inc, began partnering to bring LENA Start to Detroit in 2017. Kenyatta believes that everyday she is surrounded by agency colleagues, and partnering families in Michigan’s Wayne and Washtenaw Counties who want the best for their families and those they serve. Kenyatta also believes LENA Start is one way of creating equity, by giving parents some of the best early childhood literacy tools available to their children. Kenyatta serves the 313Reads Coalition as Co-Chair of the Early, Family, and Community Literacy Table, a member of the Coordinating Council, and a member of the Collective Action Team for Family Literacy.

Eileen Storer Smith is a Program Officer at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. She serves on the Steering Committee for 313Reads

Adrea Truckenmiller is an Assistant Professor at Michigan State University. She sits on the Evaluation for Equity and Impact Table for 313Reads.