10/01/2026
30 years ago, Dr. Lori Maldonado believed something deeply. That every young person deserves someone in their corner.
Someone to see them, believe in them, and help them recognize the potential in themselves that they may not be able to see yet.
In 1996, that belief became Teach One to Lead One®.
There was no way to know then just how far that vision would reach. How many classrooms we'd enter, mentors that would choose to step in, how many young people would discover hope, confidence, character, and a different vision for their future because someone took the time to invest in them. But Lori believed it was worth building.
For 3 decades, she has given so much of herself to doing exactly that. She has led, taught, written, spoken, encouraged, prayed, advocated, and continued to believe in the potential of young people through every season of this organization. What began as a vision in her heart has grown into something so much bigger...a community of people committed to showing the next generation that their lives matter and that who they become matters.
There are things you can measure after 30 years like how many students we've reached, mentors trained, communities served, programs launched, but then there are the things you can't.
The student who made a different choice because a mentor's words stayed with them. The young person who realized their circumstances didn't have to determine their future. The families impacted, the leaders developed, and the ripple effects that will continue into generations we may never see.
That is part of Dr. Lori's legacy, too.
As we officially celebrate 30 years of Teach One to Lead One this month, we want to honor the woman who had the courage to begin it, and the commitment to keep showing up for it year after year.
Because she chose to invest in the next generation, that impact will reach far beyond these first 30 years.
From all of us at Teach One to Lead One®: thank you, Dr. Lori. What an extraordinary legacy you have built. 🩷
