The mission of The Literacy Alliance is to encourage the residents of the greater Orlando and Tampa areas to reach their highest potential by increasing literacy through diverse educational resources, programs, and training opportunities.
 Diane Keyes, President
diane@thelitalliance.org
Education: Masters in Library Science; Teacher certification, Secondary English
Positions: Children’s Librarian; Author; Teacher; Child Care Provider
Experience: Present/evaluate lesson plans; present story programs; create/implement educational craft projects; supervise teen volunteers; develop/present booktalks; order books, provide reference services
Volunteer Activities: Seminole & Orange County Juvenile Detention Centers; Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida; Heart of Florida United Way; Jackson Heights & Lawton Chiles Middle School Literacy Night; Friends of the Library, Seminole County; The Sapphire Foundation; Take Stock in Children Mentor Program; Sunday School Teacher; Former PTA Board Member |
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 Emily Bellairs-Romero, Board Member
emilyb@thelitalliance.org
Education: Masters in Education; Bachelors in Public Communication; Certified Master Yoga Teacher
Positions: Yoga Teacher; Family CEO
Experience: Radio and Television Reporter; Assistant Director of Legal Services Communication Department in Puerto Rico; Flight Attendant for Major Airline; Yoga Instructor in Seminole and Orange Counties; Child rearing
Volunteer Activities: Humane Education presentations in Elementary, Middle and College level; ¡Viva Español! Story Times at the Oviedo Library; Founding Member of Central Florida VegFest and Central Florida Earth Day; Dog and Cat Shelter; Free yoga and meditation classes |
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 Christine Frascarelli, Board Member
christine@thelitalliance.org
Education: Masters of Library and Information Science [University of South Florida]; Bachelors of Arts in English Language and Literature and History [Smith College]; Youth Development Practitioner Certification [Hartford, CT], TEFL Certification [i-to-i online]
Positions: Librarian, Educator, United States Fulbright Fellow, Program Manager, Grant Writer
Experience: Provide reference services, supervise teen volunteers and interns, develop, facilitate, and teach urban programs and classes for all ages, write grants, review books, manage social media platforms
Volunteer Activities: YALSA TTT Committee Member, Eugene Gregory School, NetGalley Professional Book Reviewer |
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 Mario Gunawardena, Board Member
mario@thelitalliance.org
Education: Masters of Arts in Instructional Technology; Master of Business Administration in Information Technology
Positions: CIO Advisory Group, PwC, IT Architect, The Carlyle Group; IT Manager, Pricewaterhouse Coopers; IT Manager, University of Central Florida
Experience: IT infrastructure design and implementation; IT training materials creation and delivery; mentor for IT interns and students |
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 Kathleen Poole, Board Member
kathy@thelitalliance.org
Education: Masters in Library Science
Positions: Training Coordinator, Research/Admin Support; Consultant, Website/Graphic Design; Research Associate/Designer; Coeditor, Florida Media Quarterly; Media Specialist
Experience: Web/graphic design; desktop publishing; database creation/maintenance; workshop instructor; organize/maintain software lending library
Volunteer Activities: Orlando City Ballet; Dance Center; Central Florida Dance Festival; Oviedo High School Fine Arts Department; Friends of the Library, Seminole County; Seminole County Library; Church |
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Emily Williams, Board Member
emily@thelitalliance.org
Education: Bachelors in Art History
Experience: Program presenter/storyteller/performer, reading tutor, teen coordinator for literacy programs, audio visual manager, program scheduler, social media consultant, grant writer
Volunteer Activities: Circulation assistant for Seminole County Public Library; Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida; Florida Children's Hospital; Give Kids the World |
