The Founder
Ms. Kenya S. Lee founded Parents with Power in 2003 while working as an office assistant for Sanitation Enforcement. As a single parent of five children attending Baltimore City Public Schools, she knows first hand about the troubles throughout this system.
Ms. Lee experienced many hardships early on trying to get special education services for her eldest child which prompted her to become the Advocate she is today.
"I didn’t know how to fight the right way," she said. "I didn’t know that as a parent I had rights. ( insert from OSI website www.osi.org)
Ms, Lee attended a parent teacher association meeting on election night and was elected PTA President of Thurgood Marshall Middle School. Ms. Lee discovered that there was an overwhelming need for parental involvement and decided to establish Parents With Power. She stepped out on faith and resigned her full time position to volunteer and serve the parents of Baltimore City.
“It is not just my mission to provide services and resources to families, it’s my responsibility” Kenya Lee 2006
Ms. Lee currently volunteers on many boards throughout Baltimore City and county including:
PCAB Board – www.bcps.k12.md.us
Baltimore Medical Systems - www.bmsi.org
Belair Edison Healthy Community Coalition - www.becoalition.org
Baltimore County Healthy Start Advisory Board
Recognition and Awards:2006
OSI Fellowship Awardee Recent Graduate of B’more Leaders Program Graduate of The Maryland Parent Leadership Institute
“Kenya Lee exemplifies the reason why the Open Society Institute developed its Baltimore Community Fellowships program.”
Ron Cassie, Baltimore Examiner
“I am expressing my strong support for Parents With Power, which comprehensively addresses the growing problem of a lack of parental involvement among Baltimore City School parents and adversely affects many in our community.”
Kevin Slayton, Chair, Thurgood Marshall Middle SIT Team
“Ms. Lee is very passionate about her work and she is very dedicated to the parents of Baltimore City”.
Grandmother Edna, Partner
