Executive Director of TYDF – Carolyn West .

She founded and established the organization as a public charity with 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt status in Chicago, Illinois. In 2004, she expanded the organization’s footprint by launching operations in Fort Worth, Texas. Carolyn brings 25-plus years of experience to this position. Under her leadership, the organization has grown from providing arts and literacy-focused programming for a small group of five students to impact hundreds of students annually.

Carolyn studied business administration at Loyola University while exercising her passion for performance arts, singing in theaters country-wide. Her diverse background also includes managing theatrical groups and directing top financial services businesses, where she earned numerous awards for productivity, quality service, and profitability.

Her transformation to heading a nonprofit organization was inspired by a desire to honor her mother’s legacy of helping others. Her passion for literacy was inspired by Frederick Douglass, who gained his freedom from enslavement by honing essential communication skills, including reading, writing, and public speaking. Ms. West’s work with young people reflects her belief that these skills are critical to emancipating and elevating individuals today. She lives her own credo, recently returning to school to earn her Bachelor of Arts degree at Texas Woman’s University.

Carolyn is masterful. She lives her life giving voice to vulnerable youth and is responsible for implementing art programs in 30 North Texas public schools and publishing eight poetry anthologies. In addition, she has led our organization to become an award-winning youth art and education service provider in Fort Worth, Texas.