Leah is a wife, mother, and MSW student at the University of Maryland where she working to obtain her Master of Social Work (LCSW). She currently serves in the DC Air National Guard as a First Sergeant and has a passion to serve her Country and Community. She is the youngest of three siblings and was born in Washington State. Throughout her adolescent years she played many sports and was a two-sport high school standout. Playing varsity sports as a freshman in high school she learned many leadership and follower-ship skills that prove beneficial in her adult years. She has volunteered in her community since the age of 17 holding roles such as: Community Accountability Board member for juvenile courts, volunteer coach for youth basketball, Big Brothers Big Sisters Mentor, feed the homeless programs, Youth Mentor with Northern Virginia Family Services, and certified Foster Parent. She started LYTE Kids to continue her passion to serve and influence our future leaders. She believes that self-love, cultural sensitivity, self-motivation, and mentorship shape children into great leaders. Leah understands that children do not like to lose. I mean really who does? Teaching them that it is okay to lose and what matters is how you handle the loss. Resilience after a loss is where the growth really happens. She also believes that participation accolades do not serve our youth any justice; understanding what it takes to earn success and working hard for what you want is the way to go. Believing in yourself and setting aggressive goals is the start to great beginnings for our youth.

Jessica currently works as an attorney and loves to be involved in her community in her free time. She currently sits on the Greater Crofton Chamber of Commerce as a Board Member and volunteers with the Anne Arundel County Bar Association and Maryland Attorney Grievance Peer Review Committee. Throughout her childhood, Jessica was an avid swimmer and soccer player, and worked as a lifeguard and swim coach. Despite her love for sports, she didn’t find her passion for running until many years later, in law school. With the stress of moving to a new state, not knowing anyone and the constant pressure of law school, she – on a whim – decided to join a running group. From there, she was hooked. After joining her first running club, Jessica progressed – racing 5Ks then 10Ks and eventually 10 milers to half marathons. Running continues to help her manage the stress of daily life and builds a stronger sense of self, confidence and accomplishment. Jessica expanded her coaching experience when she went on to coach a 5K/10K running group in Annapolis. Her passion to pass along the fun, joy and adrenaline that is created in the running community continues to grow. Being able to share her love for running and the outdoors is something that Jessica strives to accomplish, especially in our youth. It is important to pass along the healthy practices of movement, friendship, and friendly competition to help our youth find their joy in running and build their confidence. Positive reinforcement and encouragement are key to helping build strong individuals, and it all starts with our youth.

Coach Alex is currently a student at Howard University where she is working towards a career in dentistry. She grew up in Atlanta Georgia with a loving mother and two siblings. She is a firm believer in southern hospitality and takes pride in philanthropy and advocating for her community. Alex enjoys music and nature in her spare time. She enjoys hobbies such as swimming, biking, and playing the viola. Throughout her life, she has been encouraged to value kindness and self-empowerment. She understands that speaking positively plays a major roll on children’s development and is a firm believer of affirmations. While growing up, Alex had a gleeful childhood, but unfortunately struggled with health disorders. Although weight gain was common in her family, she was not affected until hospitalization. At the ripe age of 11 it became this young girl’s goal to lose weight not for an image, but because she understood the importance of having a healthy body and mind. She started first by taking long walks in the summer which elaborated into jogs in the fall, and so her passion for running began. Throughout her middle and high school years, she maintained a prominent roll on student the council, cheered competitively, and was the captain of her cheer team for 7 years. She held first chair in her viola section for 6 years and ended her high school career with a beaming 3.9 GPA. Alex understands the impact on children is everlasting and is passionate about sharing empowerment and healthy lifestyle habits with our youth.