Tia Mackey Leathers,Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Writejustness, LLC, truly cares about people. She is a Jacksonville-native with 20+ years in the nonprofit and public sectors and is a proud graduate of William M. Raines High School.
Tia earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Communications with a focus in Public Relations from the University of North Florida. She has since earned her Master of Business Administration degree, completed a Developing Managerial Effectiveness program at The Pennsylvania State University, a Strategic Frameworks for Nonprofit Organizations program at Harvard University, and holds a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace Certificate from the University of South Florida. She has national certifications in Cultural Intelligence and Unconscious Bias from the Cultural Intelligence Center, is a Phase II Facilitator for the National Parent Leadership Training Institute, is a graduate of Leadership Jacksonville’s Class of 2017, and was awarded a “40 under 40” award by the Jacksonville Business Journal.
Tia served many years as a Duval County Public Schools administrator, where she began as the inaugural Director for the Parent Academy. She then served several years as the Executive Director of Family and Community Engagement where, in addition to the Parent Academy, she provided oversight for volunteer services, faith-based and business partnerships, extended day and summer programs, district athletics, JROTC, and the 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project. Under her leadership, the Retired Educator and Support Team (REST) was created, the Parents Who Lead program was brought to Jacksonville, city funding was secured for the 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project’s expansion to all high schools, and “Project 17,” an initiative securing an Athletic Trainer at each participating high school while also securing an Athletic Training Supervisor to lead the expansion, was completed. Tia also represented the district as an ex-officio board member for the Board of Library Trustees.
Tia enjoys consultant work with local organizations such as the Boys and Girls Clubs, the Blue Zones Project, the Partnership for Child Health, the 5000 Role Models Foundation and the MyVillage Project (among others). She is an adjunct professor at Edward Waters University and a self-published author.
Tia’s community involvement includes membership in the Alpha Beta Eta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, she serves as the Corresponding Secretary for the Bold City (FL) Chapter of the Links, Incorporated, is a co-creation team member for the MyVillage Project, a member of the NAACP’s education committee, a member of Leadership Jacksonville’s poverty day committee, and is a board member for Educating Minorities about Transplants (EMAT), Teen Leaders of America, and the Board of Library Trustees. Tia is the proud mother of one amazing daughter, Taige, who is her constant motivation.
As a change-agent, Tia has positively influenced leaders, systems, and policies through compassionate communication with a pleasant yet direct demeanor, and believes her purpose is to help others do the same. As her life's story unfolds, she enjoys shaping the stories of others and helping to provide the strategies, support, and training necessary to make the world a better place for us all.
