LBW - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Cecilia Lester is wife to Terence and mother of Zion and Terence II. Love Beyond Walls would not have been possible without the support, organization, and care that Cecilia has contributed.
She currently serves as the Co-Starter & Organizer for Love Beyond Walls. She is known for putting details together and her amazing planning skills. Cecilia volunteers and serves the community in her spare time as well.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Georgia Power, Board Member
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- CEO of Northwestern Benefit, Board Member
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- US Postal Service, Board Member
Job Titles:
- Advisor
- Fierce Consulting Group
With over 7 years of experience in professional office executive assistant positions and a track record of strong performance in high-volume, high-pressure environments, Melanie skillfully manages administrative duties and client relations for her colleagues.
As Executive Assistant, she ensures the smooth operation of those she supports by helping with office management and efficient handling of inquiries.
In her free time, Melanie loves playing tennis or going for a long run. She loves cheering on The University of Alabama in any sport setting as well as cheering for the Cleveland Browns. She is passionate about helping others, especially children and you can find her volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House in Atlanta. Melanie recently joined the Love Beyond Walls team as the administrative assistant.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Founder of Love Beyond Walls
Terence Lester is a speaker, activist, author, and thought leader in the realm of systemic poverty. He's known for nationwide campaigns that bring awareness to issues surrounding homelessness, poverty, and economic inequality.
His awareness campaigns have been featured on MLK50, CNN, Good Morning America, TVONE, Creative Mornings, USA Today, NBC, AJC, Black Enterprise, Rolling Out, Upworthy, and have been viewed by millions of people worldwide.
In 2018, Terence led the March Against Poverty as he walked from Atlanta to Memphis (386 miles). He finished the march and spoke at the historic Lorraine Motel for the 50th Anniversary of MLK's assassination.
He has spoken on the same platform as other civil rights activists such as: Bernice King, Roland Martin, Gina Belafonte, Michael Eric Dyson, Tamika D. Mallory, and many others. Terence's unique approach combines storytelling and digital media to help illustrate social justice issues with practical approaches to solving these ailments.
In 2013, Terence founded the non-profit, Love Beyond Walls, and has helped hundreds of individuals experiencing homelessness and poverty rebuild their lives. In 2019, Terence launched the first museum in the U.S. that represents homelessness out of a shipping container called, Dignity Museum.
Terence has written four books and his new book, "I See You: How Love Opens Our Eyes To Invisible People" released August 13, 2019 with InterVarsity Press. He also holds four degrees and is working towards his PhD at Union Institute & University in Public Policy & Social Change.
He is happily married to his best friend, Cecilia Lester and they have two amazing children, Zion Joy and Terence II.
Today, we got a chance to train a group of young men at Woodward Academy on what it means to be servant leaders in the twenty-first century (and how they can make an impact in the world around them). We are grateful that this group of young men will get involved with our work and do three projects with our organization! LBW Team