We are excited to announce that A2S is bringing in a past A2S intern, Vision Trip participant, and long-time supporter, Laura Knight, as our full-time Development Manager! Laura will be strengthening and building relationships with our A2S family. Her love for the organization and skillset is a perfect combination to move her from volunteer to staff. In addition to Laura’s Davidson roots and history with A2S, she also has a BA from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill in Global Studies, focusing on International Politics, a BA in Psychology, and a Minor in Hispanic Studies. She has worked alongside Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development as a clinical research specialist and an education lead for the Racial Equity Task Force. If you’ve met Laura, you know that she has an incredible ability to make friends wherever she goes. She is no stranger to our U.S. and Nigerian teams and has been contributing to the growth of the organization for years.
“A 7th grader once told me after I spoke to her class at the Community School of Davidson that she would change the world. She later interned with A2S, volunteered in different capacities, and even traveled to Nigeria on our Vision Trip. Her journey since then has been about changing the world, and I am so happy that we get to welcome her home. With Laura, we are not just getting an employee. We are also getting a member of our family who has her own A2S story, understands the A2S DNA, and shares our passion for people. I am thrilled to work with Laura and the rest of our team to strengthen already existing relationships and develop new ones, especially during this exciting time of our evolution and growth as an organization. I am excited that we get to strive to change the world on the same team.” -A2S President and Founder, Andrew Lovedale
I am overjoyed to join the A2S team during this exciting time of growth! Since the first time I learned about ‘Kicks for Cats,’ I have been a long-time fan and supporter of Access to Success. In 2017/2018, I interned alongside the A2S team in the U.S. and then traveled to Nigeria for nearly a month. Seeing A2S in action in Benin city, I came to understand the actual depth of love that exists in these programs. The staff and kids are AMAZING, and I can’t wait to learn and share the stories of the kids, the team, the entrepreneurs, and all the new things coming to this organization. The A2S community in the U.S. and Nigeria is genuinely incredible. I have long since felt like I have a home with A2S and cannot wait to dedicate my time to strengthening and growing this community. A2S has a knack for finding truly good and genuine people. It’s a warm, loving, supportive, and welcoming environment – I can’t wait to come home!” – A2S Development Manager, Laura Knight
