MEET OUR FOUNDER

Hollis E. Thomas is a dynamic leader, inspirational speaker, and dedicated philanthropist, boasting over two decades of expertise in business management and a decade-long commitment to leading non-profit organizations focused on empowering women, children, and families.

With a keen focus on business planning, execution, and fostering meaningful relationships, Hollis is renowned for her strategic acumen and her ability to cultivate high-performing teams geared toward success. In 2021, she embarked on a groundbreaking endeavor by founding Kool Kidz Read, an organization dedicated to nurturing the leaders of tomorrow, with a special emphasis on early learners.

Driven by her personal experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, Hollis recognized the importance of providing her child and others with a supportive community that blends a love for reading, socialization, and age-appropriate leadership training.

Today, under the banner of AEI.Us (Acknowledge, Encourage, Inspire Us), Kool Kidz Read has evolved into a rapidly expanding, nationally recognized resource for leadership development, catering to students from Pre-K through Third grade across the Midwest, North, and Southeastern regions of the United States.

At its core, Kool Kidz Read aims to ignite the spark of leadership in young minds, acknowledging their thirst for knowledge and their longing for a sense of belonging within their communities.

 In a time when the destinies of women, children, and families intersect through education and community, Hollis E. Thomas shines as a symbol of visionary leadership and unwavering commitment. With years of adeptly navigating the spheres of business management and non-profit direction, she has meticulously woven her expertise into the tapestry of strategic planning and team cultivation. In the eye of the storm that was the COVID-19 pandemic, Thomas birthed “Kool Kidz Read” in 2021—a visionary organization with its rooted intention in kindling the flames of leadership and the passion for literature within the minds of early learners. Her efforts have not merely erected educational programs; they have built bridges across communities, transforming “Kool Kidz Read” into a flagship of AEI.Us, renowned and revered for propelling forward the young, eager leaders of various U.S. regions. By merging educational ambition with the rich threads of societal unity, Hollis E. Thomas has sculpted a legacy that promises to empower generations to come, championing a future lit by the lantern of knowledge and the warmth of community bonds.  - February, 2024 via Sway's Universe