Gregory Smith • Executive Director
smithg@floridaliteracy.org |
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Greg Smith has served as the Executive Director of the Florida Literacy Coalition since 2002. Prior to joining the Coalition, Greg served for 13 years as Executive Director of the Literacy Council of Northern Virginia, Virginia’s oldest and largest community based literacy organization. He holds a Master’s Degree in Adult and Continuing Education from Virginia Tech and currently serves on the Adult Education Cabinet of the Florida Department of Education, ProLiteracy America’s Public Policy Committee and as Chair of the Council of State Organizations. Greg, his wife and two children live in Casselberry Florida. |
Erin Balleine • Resource Specialist
balleine@floridaliteracy.org |
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Erin Balleine is the Statewide VISTA Supervisor and Resource Specialist for the Florida Literacy Coalition. She holds a Master’s Degree in Sociology from Boston College. Prior to joining FLC, Erin worked on Capitol Hill influencing legislation and policy about third world debt relief and AIDS in Africa. Following her time in DC she opened the Miami branch of National Farm Worker Ministry (NFWM) and founded the National Youth and Young Adult Network of NFWM.
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Yari Payne • Education and Training Coordinator
payney@floridaliteracy.org |
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Yari Payne is the Education and Training Coordinator for the Florida Literacy Coalition, and is a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) with 8 plus years experience in meeting management. Her background includes educational meeting and conference planning from her time as the Education Program Manager for the Association of Clinical Research Professionals in DC. Most recently she worked locally with Dynetech within the event planning department, MyMediaWorks, as a Seminar Coordinator negotiating for meeting space. When she’s not at work, you can find her spending time with her family and dogs. |
Hope Lynn •AmeriCorps*VISTA Volunteer
lynnh@floridaliteracy.org |
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Hope is from Sitka, Alaska where she taught high school, giving her the opportunity to work with Alaska Natives from remote rural villages. She attended City University of New York, and has a MS in Special Education from Hofstra University. She also studied at the University of Arizona with Reading specialist Yetta Goodman in the Language, Reading and Culture Department. She enjoys hiking, kayaking, running, and of course, reading. |
Annie Schmidt • AmeriCorps*VISTA
schmidta@floridaliteracy.org |
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Annie was born in Detroit, Michigan and received her Bachelors from DePaul
University in International Studies and Peace Studies. During her time at
DePaul, Annie worked at immigrant and refugee organizations around the city,
participated in community service, and organized social justice events on
campus. She enjoys biking, learning new things, and playing board games. |
Maribeth Buie • Health Literacy Coordinator
buiem@floridaliteracy.org |
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Maribeth, a native Floridian, received her Doctor of Philosophy degree in Health Education and Maternal & Child Health from the University of South Florida. She also received her MPH in Health Education from USF and her MS in Pathology from the University of Florida. Prior to joining FLC, Maribeth has worked developing a statewide social advertising campaign evaluation, co-writing an IRB tutorial regarding ethical research involving children, and conducting behavioral research related to an HPV diagnosis. In her free time, she enjoys exercising, baking, and reading. |
Jonathan Cajigas • Referral Specialist
referral@floridaliteracy.org |
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Jonathan is from Arecibo, Puerto Rico, and received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of South Florida. Jonathan has worked as a teacher with Orange County Public Schools, and has also worked in nonprofit consulting. His areas of professional interest include ESOL education, civic education and family literacy. He enjoys cooking, running and reading, and is an avid supporter of the North London soccer team, the Arsenal Football Club. |
