About Us
Every child deserves a fair start.
We believe every family in our community deserves a fair start. Decode Project exists to close the gap between where kids start and where they deserve to end up — one classroom, one mentor, one neighborhood at a time.
What we stand for.
Access
We believe in access to literacy for everyone — removing barriers and providing resources necessary to ensure all young people can achieve their individual best.
Collaboration
We believe the greatest achievements take place in community, and that those most directly affected by injustice and inequity should be centered when addressing and overcoming them.
Accountability
We believe every member of our community is equally valued — student, volunteer, staff, donor, or board member — and each has a responsibility to help create a more just, equitable world.
Equity
We commit to treating everyone justly according to their circumstances, and to co-creating a world where opportunities for literacy are equitable.
Action
We embrace literacy as a means of liberation, work to shift narratives that shape our current context, and push for systems-level change that leads to equity in education.
Meet the team.
Latoya Whitlock
Co-Founder, Executive Director
Nile Rowe
Program Administrator
Janica Ramientos
Program Administrator
Sophie Perry
Program Administrator
Bria Garner
Program Administrator
Nakia Strickland
Associate Director, Diversity Engagement at the University of Louisville
Geri Kipp
Administrative Assistance, Bellarmine University
Carey Goldstein
Board of Directors
Alayna McDade
JCPS School Psychologist
Rafael Stewart
Semonin Real Estate Agent
Anthony Trotter, Jr.
JCPS
Lori Trexler
Teacher-Louisville Collegiate
Nina Smith
LMFT
Lisa Petry
JCPS
Lawrence Nagel
Merrill Lynch
[Priya Nair]
Volunteer Coordinator
[Liam Carter]
Literacy Mentor
[Sam Brooks]
Literacy Mentor