Mary Renee Presley

Mary Renee was born and raised on Chicago’s West Side, where she quickly recognized education as her pathway to success. An exceptional student, she was a member of the National Beta Club and competed in Academic Decathlons, demonstrating her commitment to learning. Her hard work earned her acceptance to Lane Technical College Prep High School. 

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Her academic excellence led to a full-ride scholarship to University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Advertising with a minor in Theatre. While in college, she traveled to Canada to perform in a medieval festival and produced and wrote a short film that premiered at The Feminist Film Festival in Urbana. She became the first in her family to graduate from college and studied abroad in South Africa, marking a significant milestone. 

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Driven by a passion to serve, Mary Renee began mentoring youth at Grip Outreach for Youth, building Christ-centered relationships. Since joining Ladies of Virtue in 2022, Mary Renee has guided and empowered young Black and Brown girls across the Chicagoland area to realize their potential and strengthen their leadership skills. She has played a key role in developing and executing LOV events and P2P curriculum. 

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Mary Renee is trained in restorative justice communication, holds a Mental Health First Aid certification, and is CPR certified. She is also a devoted wife and mother, committed to being a positive role model in both her home and community.