Kathleen grew up in a home with 3 brothers and 2 sisters raised by a single mother in a rough suburb of Chicago. She had a wonderful role model in her mother. She taught me how to be resilient, how to protect myself, and how to love others.
I left Chicago when I was 18 like the Beverly Hillbillies with friends I had only know 3 weeks. I had to get away from the drug and violent community where I lived. Houston was my first stop in what would be my life in Texas. Yep, never went back except for visits.
I married the love of my life, Bob, in 1986, moved to the country (yep no more city girl), and we adopted our daughter Savannah in 1990. It was because of Bob that I received an education and came to know Jesus as my Lord and Savior and it was the greatest loss of my life when we lost him to cancer in 1990. Those years and the years following would bring many experiences which I hope to share with you on our journey.
I began my career serving students and families when I graduated college. My first job was as Social Service Director for a housing authority. It was here that I designed and opened a NAEYC accredited child development center for marginalized students. I believed they deserved a high quality center as much as their more privileged peers.
From there, I went on to begin my career within the 21st Century Community Learning Center program, a federally funded grant to provide out-of-school time programs for marginalized students and their families. I led programs with budgets of over $5 million, serving as many as 1350 students in both urban and rural communities.
I also served as the State of Texas trainer and Federal training, techical assistance and e-learning developer and facilitator. In addition, I served as Project Director for the Office of Indian Education Technical Assistance project. My goal has always been to equip anyone who is serving a vulnerable group with the knowledge and skills needed to not only be personally successful, but to help those they serve prepare for a prosperous and meaningful life. Join me as we work wisely.
I begin my journey in True Colors in 2014. It started after I was assigned to support a facilitator who was offering the workshops to Texas grantees. Charlie, the facilitator, is such a joy. He made the material come to light and sold me to the idea that this was a fun, simple, and unforgettable way to better understand the world around me.
I received my first certification and began offering workshops. I will never forget offering to some co-workers and having one, who was so against it. That was until after she engaged. Today she would tell you it changed the way she interacts with not only her family but all of her peers. I know it might sound unbelievable and the pictures might make it seem corny, but you will just have to trust me that this training is life changing.
I trained a group of police officers and one of the detectives who was a huge, Black man who would scare the begibies out of you, put on my Tinkerbell headband and wore it so proudly. Once you take the workshop you will know what color both of these examples are. I am now an Elite Facilitator in the areas of Personal Success, Team Work, Conflict Management, Teaching and Learning and Communication. Ready to let your True Colors Shine?
We’d love to hear from you! Whether you have questions about our programs, need guidance on your learning journey, or are ready to take the next step, we’re here to help. Connect with us to explore how we can support your growth, development, and success. Fill out the form below, send us an email, or give us a call—we can’t wait to start the conversation and be part of your journey!
