Mary Renee Presley

Mary Renee was born and raised on the west side of Chicago, where she quickly realized that education was her pathway to success. As an exceptional student, she was a member of the National Beta Club and traveled to participate in Academic Decathlons, demonstrating her dedication to learning. Her hard work paid off when she earned acceptance to one of Chicago's top high schools, Lane Tech.

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Her academic excellence led to a full-ride scholarship to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she earned a bachelor's degree in Advertising with a minor in Theatre. While in college, Mary Renee traveled to Canada to act in the Medieval Festival and also produced and wrote her own short film, which premiered at The Feminist Film Festival in Urbana. She became the first sibling in her family to graduate from college and study abroad in South Africa, marking a significant achievement in her life.

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Driven by her passion to serve and empower others, Mary Renee entered the mentoring space at Grip Outreach for Youth, where she poured into the lives of Chicago’s youth through Christ-centered, life-on-life relationships. With her passion calling, she bravely stepped into her new role as a Program Facilitator at Ladies of Virtue, where she loves to guide and encourage the next generation of young Black girls, helping them realize their potential and develop their leadership skills.

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Throughout her time as a Program Facilitator, Mary Renee has been hyper-focused on creating meaningful relationships with the youth and meeting them where they are. She has also participated in several leadership training programs to further hone her skills. She is trained in restorative justice communication, holds a Mental Health First Aid certification, and is CPR certified.

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Mary Renee is also a wife and mother to a beautiful daughter, and she is committed to being a loving and dedicated role model both at home and in her community.