Advocate. Author. Civic Innovator.
Creating Change Through Literacy and Language
Meet Lizzie Shacklett—Founder and CEO of Literacy Is Lit, 13 Under-30 honoree, U.S. Senate Youth Program Delegate, and a global achiever on a mission to make an impact.
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Meet Lizzie Shacklett
Lizzie is the Founder and CEO of Literacy Is Lit, a nonprofit through which she has distributed over 70,000 books worth $350,000 to underserved children and Title-I schools across the Mid-Atlantic region. She is the author of a children’s book, I Read Before Bed, published in English and dual-language English-Mandarin editions, which she has shared in schools, libraries, and community centers across Pennsylvania as part of her “Learning With Lizzie” program, aiming to inspire a love of reading and learning in the next generations. Through Literacy Is Lit, Lizzie strives to improve literacy rates, close educational gaps, and work toward a future where all children are empowered with the skills and confidence they need to succeed. Having served as Miss Pennsylvania’s Teen in 2023, Lizzie traveled across the state and participated in over a hundred service engagements to further her cause. At her high school, Lizzie is the President of Service Council, the Secretary General of Model United Nations, a Student Ambassador Leadership Team Head Tour Guide, an appointee to the Honor Council, and a member of the a cappella group, the Bel Cantos. Along with interning for State Senator Cappelletti and serving as a Junior Member of the Delaware County Council, Lizzie also led a public speaking workshop for middle and high school students at a summer camp in Changsha, China, and studied Mandarin Chinese through the National Security Agency’s STARTALK immersion program. Having attended elementary school in Singapore, Lizzie plans to study Chinese and Political Science and hopes to pursue a career in foreign service. Her passion is serving others, and her purpose is to do so through government leadership and global collaboration.
Xoxo, Lizzie
Literacy Is Lit
Founder & CEO
Recognizing low literacy rates in her community and driven by her personal love of reading, Lizzie founded Literacy Is Lit in 2021. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Literacy Is Lit expands access to books for children in underserved communities, working to close literacy gaps and advance educational equity. Since founding the organization, Lizzie has led drives to collect and distribute over 70,000 books to children across the Mid-Atlantic region, partnering with schools, community centers, shelters, and food pantries to place books into the hands of those who need them most. Through these efforts, Literacy Is Lit has helped children build home libraries and strengthen critical literacy skills. To expand impact, Lizzie launched “Literacy Leaders,” a mentorship program supporting the service initiatives and civic leadership efforts of 10 students across four states. Lizzie also speaks to elementary students in schools and libraries through her “Learning with Lizzie” program to spark intellectual curiosity, alongside sharing her children’s book, I Read Before Bed. Literacy helps people navigate life and empowers academic, career, and personal success. Lizzie’s mission is to ensure that all children are equipped with the literacy skills and educational opportunities to reach their full potential, because today’s readers are tomorrow’s leaders.
BookSmiles
Lead Ambassador
Collaborating with BookSmiles to address the illiteracy crisis from multiple angles, Lizzie hosts drives that collect preloved books in the city and suburbs of Philadelphia, leads Ambassador meetings at the BookSmiles headquarters, and speaks at events and fundraisers about youth civic leadership. She has also helped establish and maintain partnerships for BookSmiles, including Main Point Books and the Kiwanis Club of the Main Line.
Philadelphia Alliance to
Restore School Librarians
Youth Advocate
Librarian-led programs help students not just learn to read, but read to learn, yet library access is not a reality for all, including the 114,000 students in the School District of Philadelphia. As an advocate with PARSL, Lizzie testifies at Philadelphia School Board Meetings in support of ensuring all Philadelphia schools have a functioning library and certified librarian-led program. She also volunteers at community outreach events to share PARSL’s mission, collect petition signatures, and increase community engagement.
Civic Engagement
Junior Member, Delaware County Council
Lizzie represents over 60,000 students, providing a youth perspective to critical dialogues and policy priorities of the County Council. Working closely with the Chairwoman and fellow Junior Members, Lizzie engages in discussion on County programs, conducts research projects on local issues, presents findings and related resources to constituents at public meetings, and advances youth civic engagement.
United States Senate Youth Program
Lizzie was selected as 1 of 2 Pennsylvania Delegates among 104 Delegates nationwide for the 63rd U.S. Senate Youth Program and to represent the Commonwealth during the program’s Washington Week in March 2025. At this fully funded educational and leadership experience in Washington, D.C., Lizzie met with the nation’s highest-ranking officials from all three branches of the federal government, including the U.S. Secretaries of State and Defense, a Supreme Court Justice, and numerous U.S. Senators. As she gained insight and inspiration from these leaders and deepened her understanding of America’s political processes, she also connected with peers from across the country, enriching her perspectives on pressing national issues. These experiences solidified Lizzie’s desire to pursue public service. In addition to the invaluable lessons, cherished memories, and lifelong connections that characterized Washington Week, Lizzie was also awarded a $10,000 scholarship sponsored by the Hearst Foundations to further her undergraduate studies.
Intern for Senator Cappelletti
Lizzie worked as a Communications Intern for State Senator Amanda M. Cappelletti in the Summer of 2024. Converging communications and public service, she assisted the Senator’s office by writing press releases for community engagements, covering press conferences on new legislation, crafting speeches for the Senate floor, creating social media content, and compiling resources for constituents in District 17, all while immersing in and exploring the inner workings of state legislative action.
Chinese
Public Speaking Workshop Teacher in Changsha, China
Lizzie’s love for Mandarin Chinese began in her immersion class while growing up in Singapore, and since then, she has used language to build connections and uplift others. In the Summer of 2024, Lizzie led a public speaking workshop for 30 middle and high school students at a camp in Changsha, China. Drawing on her public speaking experiences, she designed and taught an interactive program in English and Mandarin, leading daily presentations, skills sessions, and practice activities to improve students’ speaking, strengthen their confidence, and support their English proficiency.
“我也跟中国学生建立很多牢固的友谊。我们打破文化的隔阂，互相学习。” Lizzie supported her students’ growth in public speaking through group exercises and one-on-one sessions, and by using language to create an empowering learning environment. She also reflects on her own growth–both in her language skills and worldview.
Video submission for the National Security Agency's STARTALK immersion program:
Miss Pennsylvania's Teen
Serving as Miss Pennsylvania’s Teen (2023-2024) and representing the Miss PA Scholarship Foundation, Lizzie traveled across the Commonwealth for more than 100 service engagements, supporting its diverse communities. She expanded her nonprofit, Literacy Is Lit, advocated for educational equity, and worked with various organizations to advance social causes and civic solutions. Lizzie focused on promoting the importance of literacy in schools, libraries, and at community events, as well as in collaboration with legislators at the State Capitol. She also partnered with over 20 organizations, including the American Heart Association, the Eagles Autism Foundation, the Philadelphia Flyers Recess Program, Cops-’n’-Kids Reading Rooms, Barnes & Noble, Pink Power, Rebel Girls Fest, and the Lehigh Valley Health Network, helping further their work of creating impactful change in the lives of Pennsylvanians. Lizzie competed at the Miss America’s Teen competition as the youngest state delegate, sharing the importance of literacy on national stages, and earned $12,000 in scholarships.
School Leadership
Service Council: President (12) & Vice Pres (11)
Model United Nations:
Secretary General/President (12) & Vice President (11)
Honor Council Appointee
Student Leadership Ambassador Team &
Head Tour Guide
The Wick, School Newspaper
Media Manager (12) & Deputy Editor (11)
Extracurriculars
Bel Cantos, Award-Winning A Cappella Group
Dance Motion Performance Team
Writing Center Tutor
Children's Book Author
I Read Before Bed
When six students read before bed, they learn valuable lessons that they can apply to their daily lives. From performing acts of kindness and building self-confidence to recycling and making healthy choices, the story of I Read Before Bed demonstrates that each book you read equips you for success.
Lizzie authored both English and dual-language Mandarin/English editions, available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble, and has shared its story with students in the U.S., Singapore, and China. Sales fund the purchase of new books for Literacy Is Lit–click below to check out the children’s book empowering today’s readers to become tomorrow’s leaders!
