Additionally, Ashley is the President of a campus organization called the Juvenile Urban Multicultural Program (J.U.M.P Nation) whose mission is to decrease high school drop out rates while increasing enrollment into higher learning institutions. Ashley said, "We do this through one of our largest events, J.U.M.P. Weekend, which is an all expense paid four-day trip to Binghamton University for at risk 8th grade inner city youth. We have social and educational forums throughout the four-day trip and pair Binghamton University students with these youth, based on similar interests, allowing the Binghamton University students to become mentors to them.”

Ashley recognized that the important work she does with J.U.M.P. Nation relates to READ as both strive to help under-resourced youth connect with people that "look like them, come from similar backgrounds, and are thinking of going to college. Both READ and J.U.M.P. help individuals to push forward through challenges that they face within their communities" - Ashley Martinez.

Trevor's passion for tutoring and commitment to helping others distinguished him among his peers. He was promoted to senior teen leader for two years, and in 2017, Trevor was named the Teen Leader Honoree at READ's 9th Annual Spring Benefit.

Making an impact on his younger peers helped Trevor with his confidence, and the responsibilities of tutoring helped Trevor develop organizational skills. As a teen leader for two years and a senior teen leader for two years, Trevor practiced how to balance his personal commitments along with his job at READ, a skill he still uses today as an Entrepreneurship Major at Hampton University. 

"I used to get out of school at 2:20, and I knew I had to be at READ by 3:00 when the church bells started to ring. I wouldn't just waste that small window of time—I would schedule appointments with teachers and guidance counselors, time to get a snack, and other tasks between school and READ. I still implement that same system of scheduling my commitments in college. We have church bells on campus, and when I hear them, I always think about going to READ after school."

Katy's Story

Katy's passion for education and opportunity started early. Katy grew up in the Ridgewood neighborhood of Queens where her academic achievements distinguished her among her peers. "As smart as you may be, what goes on in your neighborhood still affects you," she says about growing up in Ridgewood.

Her experience with Prep for Prep, a program that identifies New York City's most promising students of color and equips them with the tools necessary to get into private schools, enriched her academically and sparked in her a desire to help other students succeed. Armed with a passion to mentor younger kids, Katy launched her journey as a READ Teen Leader at a school in Bushwick, Brooklyn. She worked there for two years during the summer and school year before being promoted to Senior Teen Leader. 

"At the time, I didn't really have an idea how much being a READ tutor would actually affect my career path." Working for READ sparked an interest in education and literacy for Katy that continued through college and her career.

Katy went on to study English at the University of Pennsylvania where she also took several writing courses that focused on children's literature. After graduating from Penn and working at a nonprofit in Philadelphia, Katy moved back to New York where she has worked in community affairs for Google, been appointed to her local Community Board, and continued her focus on education as the Deputy Executive Director of the Siegel Family Endowment.

Upon returning to NYC, Katy knew she wanted to reconnect with READ. "I wanted the opportunity to be a role model for people who are smart and motivated." Katy continues to serve as an advocate for READ today because she feels passionately that READ helped spark her story of success. She is an important part of the newly established Read Alliance Advisory Council composed of thought leaders and experts in the fields of education, youth development, research, community programming, and philanthropy.

We are proud to announce that as of July 2022, Katy is the first READ Teen Leader Alum to be elected to the Read Alliance Board of Directors.

Michelle’s Story

Now a teacher in NYC for nine years, Michelle Coleman began working for Read Alliance as a “teen tutor” in 2004 when she was just 13 years old. Read Alliance (at the time called the READ Foundation) was Michelle’s first paying job. She worked for READ from 2004-2008 until her high school graduation. 

Following her graduation from high school, Michelle went on to study Education at St. Johns University. She then received her Master's degree in Special Education at St. Johns while continuing her dedication to tutoring and the methods she learned at Read Alliance. In her senior year of college, Michelle and her sister created a tutoring service called “Coleman Learning.” Their program centered around test preparation and strategies for 3rd-6th graders with a focus on math and reading. “Coleman Learning” even garnered attention from City World Ford and Toyota who offered locations for the tutoring services to be conducted in the Bronx. 

Currently, Michelle works for the Department of Education as a Special Education Teacher. She provides services such as reading and math intervention for Special Education students in the 1st-5th grade during the school day. Outside of the classroom, Michelle provides Special Education Teacher support services.