Ruqayyah Simmons serves as the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Black Boys Read Too, a transformative initiative born out of her observation of students struggling to meet reading benchmarks due to limited access to books beyond the classroom. Partnering with Jelicia Jimenez, Ruqayyah initiated creative solutions to ensure books reached students, with a particular focus on fostering a love for reading through black protagonists, heroes, and role models.

By strategically places bookshelves in barbershops and community spaces like Boys and Girls Clubs and children's clinic waiting rooms, she is assisting with breaking the cycle of illiteracy. Ruqayyah actively engages in local events, ensuring culturally diverse books reach Buffalo's youth, promoting inclusivity and reflecting the diverse experiences of the community.

By day, Ruqayyah serves as the Curriculum and Instructional Supervisor for the Say Yes Little Scholars program, overseeing teaching staff across six sites. Beyond administrative duties, she collaborates with educators to develop innovative teaching strategies, fostering a nurturing and inclusive learning environment. Committed to supporting teachers, Ruqayyah actively provides resources and professional development opportunities, recognizing the impact on the community's future.

Ruqayyah holds a B.A. in Public Communications and an M.S. Ed from Buffalo State, as well as an M.S. in Executive Leadership and Change from Daemen College, specializing in Nonprofit Leadership and Business. A recipient of the Past Changemakers 30 Under 30 Award (2017) and a finalist for the 2021, 2022 and 2023 Excellence in Education Award for 4th-6th grade Teacher of the Year, Ruqayyah's dedication extends to community service with organizations such as Open Buffalo, The Buffalo Urban League Young Professionals, The Evolving Education Project Podcast, and the Changemakers 30 under 30 Awards. Currently, she is a Board member for Kirby's Korner and serves on the Explore N' More Power Players Committee .

Jelicia Jimenez currently works as a Community Schools Navigator for Say Yes to Education in Buffalo, NY. Most of her childhood was spent lost in a book, and with Black Boys Read Too, she hopes to inspire a future generation to fall in love with reading as much as she did.

Jelicia has a Bachelor’s degree in Secondary English Education and a Masters of Science in Library and Information Science. Jelicia was a featured student in the University at Buffalo in the annual student profile newsletter for her work in the New York Public Library’s Change The Subject Project. She was awarded the 2022 Outstanding Librarian Award by senator Sean Ryan for her commitment to progressive library practices and efforts to create a curriculum adhering to the diverse needs of her students.

Jelicia is a 2022 Excellence in Education Award Finalist and graduate of Open Buffalo’s Emerging Leaders class of ‘20. She enjoys finding ways to get involved in and around the Buffalo community.