Latreese Cooke is the founder of MELJ Center and the Executive Director. She has a demonstrated history of working in the civic & social organization industry. She is skilled in research, non-profit organizational management, and human resources. This includes specialized expertise in professional ethics, racial disparities, event planning, management, and fundraising.
Latreese Cooke has made a quantifiable impact in her field by creating an organization of this type. She has developed and created programs that are designed to support participants, reduce recidivism, and provide a beacon of hope for those that would otherwise be hopeless.
Under Latreese’s leadership, The MELJ Center has also been involved in helping to advance several different women as business owners and leaders. She has helped assist numerous up-and-coming organizations to become 501(C)3. She not only encourages entrepreneurship for people who have been formerly incarcerated but helps them form a business model that will provide a basis that will help these organizations to succeed.
Latreese Cooke
Latreese was elected President of the Central Texas National Action Network (NAN), which is regarded as: “One of the leading civil rights organizations in the nation with chapters throughout the entire United States”. NAN was founded in 1991 by Reverend Al Sharpton and has a demonstrated history of working in the civic and social organization industry.
In addition, Latreese has been serving on boards and committees and is currently a member of the CAPCOG and Criminal Justice Advisory Committee (CJAC).
Latreese Cooke’s focus is “How can we continue to uplift others?” So, she sets her priority on the balance of sustaining the organization and maintaining the community’s needs. Latreese Cooke is not only the Founder and Executive Director of MELJ, but she is also the heart and soul of this business, and she tirelessly supports the needs of this organization, staff, and the community.
Latreese has attended St. Edwards University to receive her Master’s in Public Administration. She is also a veteran radio talk show host of a show she developed called “Iron Sharpens Iron” which airs on KAZI 88.7 FM every Wednesday this month at 12pm-1pm!
ironsharpensiron@kazifm.org