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Staff
Alexandra Blackwood
Philanthropy Manager
Alexandra joined Freedom School Partners in December 2024 and serves as the Philanthropy Manager.
Alexandra Blackwood, Philanthropy Manager
Alexandra joined the Freedom School Partners team as the Philanthropy Manager in December of 2024. In this role, Alexandra strengthens relationships with community stakeholders bringing them into the impactful mission of inspiring scholars.
Her career focusing on equity and social justice began in the summer of 2015 when she served as a Site Administrative Intern with Freedom School Partners. Alexandra is a passionate relationship builder and nonprofit leader. She advocates for equitable access to education and believes in the limitless potential within each child.
Alexandra earned a BA in Voice Performance from Salem College. She is an active member with the Junior League of Charlotte and is an avid community volunteer.
In her spare time, Alexandra enjoys going to the theater, trying new restaurants and traveling with her husband, Nick. She also sings, bakes and loves being outside. Alexandra’s favorite childhood book is Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Clement Hurd.
Email: [email protected]
Anna Eaton
Chief Development Officer
Anna joined Freedom School Partners full-time in summer of 2024 and serves as the Chief Development Officer.
Anna Eaton, Chief Development Officer
Anna is an accomplished executive with over 20 years of experience advocating for children in the nonprofit world. Her expertise in fundraising, strategic planning, and relationship building has made a significant impact on the organizations she has led.
Anna holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration with a focus on Nonprofit Management from UNC Charlotte and a Bachelor’s degree in Criminology and Sociology from Johnson C. Smith University. She is a proud Rotarian who believes in “Service Above Self.” Passionate about equitable access to education, Anna has dedicated her career to securing funding and fostering strong connections with donors, board members, staff, parents, and community partners. Her commitment to social and educational justice drives her professional endeavors.
Outside of work, Anna loves reading, traveling, and creating memories with her family. She is an adventurous spirit and dedicated mother to her 7-year-old daughter, Callie. Together, they share a love for travel, with a goal to visit all continents before Callie turns 18. Anna’s favorite childhood book is The Berenstain Bears Series by Stan and Jan Berenstain.
Email: [email protected]
Amber Jackson-Holston
Director of Partnerships and Enrichment
Amber joined Freedom School Partners full-time in spring of 2023 and serves as the Director of Partnerships and Enrichment.
Amber Jackson-Holston, Director of Partnerships and Enrichment
Amber is a former elementary and middle school educator and instructional coach. She previously taught grades 3, 4, and 7 in North and South Carolina schools. As a classroom teacher and instructional coach Amber worked with over 600 children and their families in her 12 year career in public schools. She also previously served as an Impact Leader for Profound Ladies, a North Carolina based non-profit that recruits and mentors Black, Indigenous, Women of Color educators.
Amber Jackson-Holston joined Freedom School Partners in the summer of 2011 serving in several roles including, Servant Leader Intern, Site Coordinator, Regional Operations Manager, and Enrichment Manager. Amber joined the Freedom School Partners team full-time in the spring of 2023 and now serves as the Director of Partnerships and Enrichment. In her role Amber leads partnerships and enrichment for the Freedom School program.
Amber holds a BS in Elementary Education from Winthrop University and a MAT in Teacher Leadership: Curriculum and Instruction from Gardner-Webb University. She is member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sorority Incorporated. She avidly continues her research of instructional practices regarding teacher leadership, the science of reading, social studies curriculum, and instructional strategies for students of color and multilingual learners.
As a family, Amber and her husband Jonathan are currently revisiting their childhood favorite stories to share with their newborn son. Amber’s favorite childhood book is Socrates by Rascal and Geert Bogart’s.
Email: [email protected]
Leah Jones
Scholars and Families Manager
Leah joined Freedom School Partners in January 2019 and serves as the Scholars and Families Manager.
Leah Jones, Scholars & Families Manager
Leah Jones joined Freedom School Partners in January 2019 and currently serves as the Scholars & Families Manager. In this role, she manages the functionality of Freedom School Partners’ scholar registration and strategy for family engagement. She is also responsible for supporting strategy development for high school students’ engagement, including, but not limited to the Freedom School Academy.
Leah is a servant leader passionate about promoting upward mobility and resource equity for our communities. She advocates for the youth, our future community leaders, and brings four years of experience in adolescence mentorship, academic coordinating, and educational nonprofit programming. She is proud to support the impact Freedom Schools are making on children.
Leah graduated with her bachelor degree in Psychology from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and is now a candidate for master of Nonprofit Management and Leadership at Walden University. In her spare time, she enjoys bonding with family, cooking, reading and practicing art therapy. She is a proud mother to one daughter. Leah’s favorite childhood book is When God Made You by Matthew Paul Turner.
Email: [email protected]
Nikki Keith
Chief Executive Officer
Nikki joined Freedom School Partners in Spring of 2024 and serves as the Chief Executive Officer.
Nikki Keith, Chief Executive Officer
Nikki joined Freedom School Partners in Spring of 2024 and serves as the Chief Executive Officer. In her role she oversees and directs all operations of Freedom School Partners, ensures proper fiscal management, guides strategic thought leadership, and leads all advocacy measures in alignment with FSPs’ mission.
Nikki is a seasoned professional deeply committed to advancing educational equity and justice. With over 25 years of strategic leadership in the nonprofit sector, Nikki has consistently showcased her proficiency in spearheading impactful initiatives.
Prior to her tenure at FSP, Nikki served as Vice President of Partnerships and Development at Road to Hire, a local nonprofit dedicated to fostering economic justice through education and apprenticeships. She has also led development teams at Freedom School Partners and the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African American Arts + Culture.
Nikki holds a Master of Business Administration from Wake Forest University and earned her undergraduate degree from Western Kentucky University.
Beyond her professional journey, Nikki treasures spending time with her husband, son, and daughter. Her commitment to fostering a more equitable society transcends her professional endeavors, as she also actively cultivates an environment of compassion, inclusion, and growth in her personal life.
Her favorite book is To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.
Email: [email protected]
Justin Lane
Data Evaluation and Impact Manager
Justin joined Freedom School Partners in September 2023 and serves as the Data Evaluation and Impact Manager.
Justin Lane, Data Evaluation & Impact Manager
Justin joined Freedom School Partners in September 2023 and serves as the Data Evaluation and Impact Manager. In this role, he oversees FSP data, measurement, analysis, evaluation and collective impact. A sociologist of education by training, Lane began his career in finance and market research before pivoting into academic and community-based research.
Prior to joining FSP, Justin has served as Data and Research Associate for the Urban Institute, Associate Director of the Institute for Social Capital, and Director of Impact for Goodwill Industries of Southern Piedmont. In these various community research and leadership roles he has designed and conducted impact studies for Habitat for Humanity, the Relatives, Heart Math Tutoring, Augustine Literacy Project, and SmartStart of Mecklenburg County. Lane has authored articles on summer learning loss, the relationship between dropping out and school socioeconomic and racial composition, and the needs of working parents. He co-authored the annual community reports focusing on long term impacts of various aspects of housing instability—evictions, family homelessness, youth academic and behavioral outcomes, and ease and frequency of community resource access by veterans experiencing homelessness—as well as the Housing First Charlotte Mecklenburg Research and Evaluation.
Former community service includes the North Carolina DHHS Emergency Solutions Grant Review Committee, the Char Meck Homelessness and Housing Strategy Innovative Analytics team, the Charlotte Regional Researchers Collaborative, and the Housing Advisory Board Research and Evaluation committee. He is a graduate of CBI’s Leadership Development Initiative (Class 19) and has previously led the community Data and Research Oversight Committee.
He holds a Masters degree in Sociology from UNC Charlotte and a BA in Sociology from East Tennessee State University. His completed PhD coursework includes Public Policy, Educational Research, Geography, and Urban Economics. His prospective dissertation will investigate the longitudinal outcomes associated with education policy decisions on individuals throughout the life course.
Justin enjoys traveling, hiking, and kayaking with his wife Heather and their three wild dogs Pearly, Ripple and Jed. His favorite childhood book is Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective.
Email: [email protected]
Ieeshah Mackey
Supplies and Materials Coordinator
Ieeshah joined Freedom School Partners in May 2023 and serves as the Supplies and Materials Coordinator.
Ieeshah Mackey, Supplies and Materials Coordinator
Ieeshah Mackey joined Freedom School Partners in May 2023 and serves as the Supplies and Materials Coordinator. In this role, she manages Freedom School Partners’ offsite storage location, supply drives, and in-kind donations. She is also responsible for coordinating the purchase and delivery of supplies and materials during the summer.
Ieeshah has a passion to see our scholars grow and discover new possibilities. She is a strong believer that everything in life is in a book. She is inspired by reading and always desires to learn something new. Ieeshah is an advocate for her community and proud to be a part of the Freedom School Partners movement.
Ieeshah was born in Charlotte, North Carolina. She graduated from DeVry University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Technical Management. She also has an Associates of Applied Science degree in Medical Office Administration from Central Piedmont Community College.
Ieeshah was born in Charlotte, North Carolina. She is married to her husband and has two sons, Kyle and Kollin. Her favorite childhood book is Are You There God, It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume.
Email: [email protected]
Necole Watts
Year Round Engagement and Outreach Coordinator
For over 23 years, Necole Watts has been shaping the lives of children. Through her work as a group home counselor and an…
Necole Watts, Year Round Engagement & Outreach Coordinator
For over 23 years, Necole Watts has been shaping the lives of children. Through her work as a group home counselor and an advocate for children, there is no doubt that there are children who will become better adults as a result of their time spent with Ms. Watts.
As the third child of four, she is often described as a team player who loves being a part of the family whether at home or at work.
As school-year engagement coordinator, Necole continues to use her gifts to provide mentorship for children of all ages. She collaborates with community partners, supporting their involvement with scholars and their communities into the school year after Freedom School ends each summer.
Necole graduated from Pfeiffer University (formerly Pfeiffer College) with a degree in criminal justice and sociology. Her favorite childhood book is Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss.
Email: [email protected]
Tiffany Williams
Chief of Program Operations
Tiffany joined Freedom School Partners in 2007 and serves as the Chief of Program Operations.
Tiffany Williams, Chief of Program Operations
Tiffany Williams began her work at Freedom School Partners in the summer of 2007 as a Servant Leader Intern. Since then she has served as an intern at both the Highland Renaissance and Avondale Freedom School sites, as well as worked in the Freedom School Afterschool program at Sedgefield Elementary.
Tiffany was able to continue her work with Freedom School Partners in 2011 when she joined the Program Team as Program Assistant. She now serves as Chief of Program Operations and is responsible for the comprehensive leadership for overall programmatic operations.
Her sincere passion for community building and working with families drives her work to help Freedom School Partners in its vision for a “Freedom School for every child who needs one.”
Tiffany graduated from UNC-Greensboro with a degree in Spanish with a concentration in Education. She also has extensive training in Human Development and Family Studies. She is fluent in Spanish and plays three musical instruments.
Her favorite childhood book is Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein.
Email: [email protected]
Annalise Wilson
Marketing and Communications Manager
Annalise joined Freedom School Partners in February 2022 and serves as the Marketing and Communications Manager.
Annalise Wilson, Marketing and Communications Manager
Annalise Wilson joined Freedom School Partners in February 2022 and serves as the Marketing and Communications Manager. In her role, she stewards all marketing both internal and external communication efforts associated with Freedom School Partners.
Prior to joining Freedom School Partners, Annalise worked for Christian Services, a direct services agency located in Lancaster, SC for over two years. She also worked with Girl Scouts of NE Kansas and NW Missouri as a volunteer coordinator.
Annalise holds a BA in Communications from Loyola University and a MBA in Nonprofit Leadership and Management from Liberty University. Annalise is a native of Augusta, GA, and has lived in four additional states. Annalise has always held education equity as an integral part of her personal drive and continues to seek spaces to be a voice for those who need to be heard.
In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, traveling, hiking, reading, playing piano and spending time with her cat, Blue. Her favorite book is Uncle Tom’s Cabin, by Harriet Beecher Stowe.
Email: [email protected]
Mai Yang
Program Operations and Office Coordinator
Mai Yang joined Freedom School Partners in January 2024 and serves as the Program Operations and Office Coordinator.
Mai Yang, Program Operations and Office Coordinator
Mai Yang joined Freedom School Partners in January 2024 and serves as the Program Operations and Office Coordinator. She was born and raised in Charlotte, NC. Mai enjoys spending time with her family. One of her goals is to travel across the world and explore cultural diversity.
She is committed to creating an environment where our scholars have a desire to learn. Mai is inspired by shared experiences that can help educate her in any way. She is grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the Freedom School Partners experience. Her favorite book is The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister.
Email: [email protected]
Alexis Young
Volunteer and Special Projects Manager
Alexis joined Freedom School Partners in February 2016 and serves as the Volunteer and Special Projects Manager.
Alexis Young, Volunteer Coordinator
Alexis Young joined Freedom School Partners in February 2016 and serves as the Volunteer and Special Projects Manager. In her role, she ensures that Charlotte community connects with our scholars and staff in meaningful and intentional ways. Additionally, Alexis manages special projects that support the work of Freedom School.
Alexis graduated from Davidson College in spring 2015 with a Hispanic studies degree. In college, her best friend exposed her to Freedom School and Alexis would visit almost every day and build relationships with the kids. She was then inspired to tutor at the local community center, Ada Jenkins, where she kept up the relationships between the kids she met over the summer and during the school year.
Since June 2018, Alexis has been married to her husband who is also a native Carolinian. They also have a cute Maltese dog named Milo. She is fluent in Spanish and English and loves to eat anything that is salty! Her favorite day of Freedom School is Jubilee and her favorite childhood book is a Pocket for Corduroy by Don Freeman.
Email: [email protected]
Mary Nell McPherson
Founding Executive Director
From January 2000 – December 2019, Mary Nell McPherson served as the founding executive director of Freedom School Partners…
Mary Nell McPherson, Founding Executive Director
From January 2000 – December 2019, Mary Nell McPherson served as the founding executive director of Freedom School Partners working toward their mission to engage, educate, and empower children to succeed in school and in life through quality, year-round educational enrichment programs.
McPherson has been a leader in Freedom School Partners’ growth from one site serving 100 children to seventeen sites serving 1,200 children.
McPherson has worked in the nonprofit sector for over 20 years. Her substantial history in nonprofit management includes serving as the director of operations for Habitat for Humanity in Charlotte and support specialist for Crisis Assistance Ministry.
McPherson also served on the Friendship Trays Board of Directors and has remained a Meals on Wheels driver for the past 20 years. McPherson also served on the Johnson YMCA Advisory Board for a short time in the early 1990’s. In October 2009, McPherson received Mecklenburg Ministries’ honorable Community Leader Award for ten years of service in the Charlotte community.
Due to the success of Freedom Schools in Charlotte, McPherson was appointed to the national Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools Advisory Board in 2011. An ordained elder in the Presbyterian Church (USA), she believes that education and the knowledge of God’s love are the keys for children growing into their potential.
She graduated from Mary Baldwin College 1979 and moved to Charlotte, NC to work for then, Duke Power and made a move to the nonprofit sector in 1985 to work for Crisis Assistance Ministry. After 10 years she worked for Habitat for Humanity and was hired as the executive director of then, Seigle Avenue Partners in 1999.
Mary Nell is married to Kevin Strawn with whom she has two daughters, Mollie and Rosemarie. In her free time she enjoys practicing centering prayer and yoga. Her favorite childhood book is Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder.
Special thank you to Daniel Coston Photography for the images.