A Passion for Service

 

Born on the south side of Chicago, Laurie Collier has been committed to learning and helping others since her earliest days. Whether in the classroom or the community, she was always an eager learner, and budding advocate, and entrepreneur. Since starting her very first business – a lemonade

stand – to rescuing stray animals (and hiding them in her room) during harsh Chicago winters, that passion for business and community has only grown over time.

While starting a community organization-based business, Laurie also worked in the Mayor's Office of the City of Chicago as the Deputy of Public Engagement where she was responsible for cultivating and maintaining relationships between residents, community stakeholders, and local officials as well as organizing large-scale initiatives and events. 

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Laurie holds a doctorate in Community Psychology, and it is while undertaking this course of study that she has zeroed in on her desire to do something now that will assist children and young people in underserved communities thriving today and every day.

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Laurie’s brainchild, the Train up a Child Project (TUACP) seeks to assist our young people considered at-risk youth through programs and mentoring using an aggregated approach aimed at developing their potential while developing the skills necessary to compete with their peers and become productive citizens.