LaToya Reed currently serves as the Director of the South Carolina National Guard Youth Challenge Academy under the Adjutant General’s Office. She previously served as the State Coordinator for the Independent Living Program at the South Carolina Department of Social Services (DSS). She is also a former employee of the Department of Juvenile Justice, where she served almost 10 years in several different capacities; Assistant Chaplain, Youth Specialist, Spiritual Development Volunteer Coordinator, and Director of Volunteer Services. She completed her undergrad studies at Columbia International University (CIU) in Youth Ministry & Bible and truly enjoyed her experience as an undergrad student. She obtained her master’s degree from Liberty University in Human Services – Marriage & Family.
LaToya enjoys working with youth and has over 20 years of experience. She has developed, assisted, and worked with youth in various settings, such as mentoring programs, at-risk youth in communities, juvenile justice system, foster care system, churches, dance ministries, and after-school programs. She has over 15 years of public speaking experience, and has performed training on many topics such as “breaking bad habits, self-esteem, and why faith matters.”
She currently serves on the Advisory Committee for the Town of Lexington, a board member on Katrina’s Kids (a non-profit organization that serves youth in foster care), and a board member at Emmaus Church.
Her mission is to inspire and motivate others to become better than their circumstances, recognize their greatness, and make the impossible possible. LaToya believes there are two decisions in life: Allow your strengths to become your weaknesses, or your weaknesses to become your strengths.
