In her most recent endeavor, Tia founded Equipped4LifeNow, a nonprofit organization established in 2019 to combat generational illiteracy by improving foundational literacy skills for underserved youth in Cleveland and throughout Cuyahoga County. The organization supports students from kindergarten through high school, focusing on reading, writing, and essential academic development.

Equipped4LifeNow was created in response to the urgent need for equitable access to quality education in historically marginalized communities. Under Tia’s leadership, the nonprofit has provided targeted literacy programs, parent empowerment workshops, and school-community partnerships to address learning gaps and support family engagement.

In the summer of 2021, Equipped4LifeNow partnered with Cuyahoga Community College to deliver virtual programming for families impacted by COVID-19. These programs included literacy support, career pathway exploration in healthcare, and online parent training to help caregivers implement evidence-based strategies like sight word review at home.

Equipped4LifeNow continues to stand as a beacon of educational equity, dedicated to equipping students, families, and communities with the tools to thrive academically and beyond.

Programs & Impact

Under Tia’s leadership, the organization has:

• Delivered targeted literacy intervention and skill-building programs
• Hosted parent workshops to increase home-school engagement
• Partnered with local schools and community stakeholders to close achievement gaps