Meet the 2027 Read in Color Cohort Selection Committee

Jake Adams

Jake Adams (he/him) is the Chief Development Officer for Southwest Human Development where he oversees agency fundraising, community outreach, volunteer engagement, special events and marketing communications. Jake grew up in Pennsylvania before moving to Washington, D.C. in 2002, where he worked on the campaigns of U.S. Senate candidates. In 2005, a political campaign brought Jake to Arizona. Jake started working at Southwest Human Development in 2014 as Chief Development Officer. He enjoys photography, fishing, woodworking and spending time with his family.

Toni Bower

Toni Bower (she/her) joined the Little Free Library team in March 2026 as the Individual Giving Coordinator. Born and raised in South Minneapolis, she is proud to see how this community (and many others!) has created a resilient network of care and support in the wake of the 2020 civil unrest. The roots of the Read in Color program are steeped in that social reckoning and demonstrate a beautiful, community-driven act to create a more inclusive and understanding world. She is humbled to be a part of this initiative working to ensure that everyone can feel the joy of community and belonging through books.

LaTreena Felegy

LaTreena Felegy (she/her) is the Impact Library Program coordinator at Little Free Library where she helps grant library-sharing boxes to communities where books are scarce. Additionally, she was a 2023-2024 Loft Mentor Series Fellow where she had the opportunity to work intensively with eight nationally acclaimed writers of prose and poetry. Based near St. Paul, MN, you’ll find LaTreena eating her way through the city, engulfed in a mystery book, or at home watching her shows.  

Meyada Hassan

Meyada Hassan (she/her) is the Read in Color Program Intern at Little Free Library, where she helps support initiatives that bring diverse books and perspectives to communities across the country. She also works as a Library Aide at the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library, assisting with library services and resources that support the work of the Minnesota Legislature. Meyada is currently pursuing her Master of Library and Information Science at Simmons University and hopes to build a career in digital preservation. Based in Minneapolis, MN, you’ll find Meyada walking around the lakes, spending time with friends, or finding any excuse to be around cows.

Paulann Kirkland Jenkins

Paulann Kirkland Jenkins (she/her) is HYPE about HYPE Freedom School’s participation in Little Free Library’s Read in Color program which helps to expand access to diverse books that reflect the voices, and lived experiences of scholars and families in Houston’s Sunnyside / South Park community. Through HYPE’s stewardship of multiple Read in Color libraries, it gives us the opportunity to help eliminate book deserts, share the love of reading and share amazing books where readers see themselves represented. Paulann is honored to serve on the Read in Color Selection Committee, helping identify the next cohort of organizations committed to this important work.

Lexie Neeley

Lexie Neeley (she/her) has been a member of the Little Free Library team since 2019 and now serves as the Read in Color Program Manager. In this role, she works with community partners across the United States to share books that celebrate the beauty of our unique and diverse communities. Lexie lives and works in St. Paul, MN, with her husband, Cory, and her dog, Petunia. She enjoys reading, cooking, and writing.

Rose Carr Schwartz

Rose Carr Schwartz (she/her) is an evaluation and impact strategist who helps nonprofit and philanthropic organizations better understand, strengthen, and communicate their impact. She recently worked with Little Free Library on a landscape analysis to inform the organization’s new strategic plan, exploring the broader environment in which Little Free Library operates and opportunities for its future direction. Through that work, she developed a deeper understanding of Little Free Library’s mission, programs, and impact, including Read in Color and its role in expanding access to diverse books and perspectives. Rose brings a strong commitment to equity and believes deeply in the power of stories to build understanding, connection, and belonging.