Meet Deidra Mayberry | Co-Founder & Executive Director, Reading to New Heights

We had the good fortune of connecting with Deidra Mayberry and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Deidra, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
It all began with identifying the passion I had around adult literacy and the unique idea that has the potential to solve the problem around adult illiteracy.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Reading to New Heights is a non-profit based in Dallas, Texas. Our mission is to create a safe place for adults to learn and improve their literacy skills to maximize their potential in society and gain the confidence that ensures a better quality of life. We provide literacy training for adults as if they’re learning to read for the very first time. We will help identify gaps in the adult learners’ reading skills and fill those gaps with the corresponding skill set necessary. We can create a space where they don’t have to feel shame or embarrassment but embrace and have the willingness to correct the problem. Professionally, I had to first learn to embrace my own truth around my literacy journey and not feel as I wasn’t qualified to do the work I have been called to do. Secondly, starting a business involved careful planning, research, and a willingness to take calculated risks. It’s required dedication , perseverance, adaptability, and the ability to learn from both successes and failures and let me share it hasn’t been easy at all. We have overcome the challenges by being open to asking for help, learning and when we do fail, we’ve learned the important of recovering quickly. The one thing I would want the world to know is “It doesn’t matter how late you start, its never too late to live out your dreams”.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend is coming in town first stop is The LIP LAB so we can customize our own lip stick and then head to paint the town. We would stop a Summer Moon coffee shop to grab a latte on our way to Pencil on Paper which is a Black Woman-Owned art gallery. After that we would stop by Klyde Warren Park. Enjoying the outdoors and the wonder food trucks for light snack before we head to one of my all time favorites “The Henry” enjoying the roof top view and a fabulous meal.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Lauren,

Thank you for giving me a safe place to share my truth, my pain, years of shame and the desire to want better for myself. You selflessly poured into me during a season of your life when things were complex for you. You gave me hope with new possibilities and my life has forever been changed for the better. Not only am I reading to new heights and flourishing. But hundreds of adults have found hope, encouragement and a better quality of life all because you poured into me. Thank you!

Website: https://readingtonewheights.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/readingtonew_heights/?igshid=hvidw7svkusl

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/reading-to-new-heights

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReadingtoNewHeights