Ashley Allen is currently the Co-Executive Director of a local literacy nonprofit called Read 2 Succeed. Read 2 Succeed is on a mission to help close the race-based opportunity gap through community-powered literacy programming that engages children, families, and community partners. As Co-Executive Director over Programming, Ashley uses her prior experience as a public school educator to connect knowledge to access and implementation.
Ashley’s diverse professional background includes equity in education policy and practice, designing and leading education and literacy training, academic data analysis, intervention development, operational and executive leadership, cross-sector collaboration, and organizational culture building.
A firm believer in community power, Ashley approaches her work with a focus on individual honor and collective strength, and the courage necessary for transparent communication. Her classroom mantras were, “community is give and get” and “you can do hard things,”and these refrains continue to guide her professional endeavors. Fostering authentic relationships, even when they require navigating complex challenges is a personal and professional ethos.
Beyond her professional pursuits, Ashley enjoys reading, DiamondArt, rollerblading, reptile husbandry, and playing Dungeons & Dragons. She’s thrilled for the opportunity to learn more about advocacy, policy, and how to best support the next generation of learners.