Kimberly Renee Rice, is a dedicated and a hardworking individual who had struggles in high school and dropped out. In 2007 Kimberly began to wrestle inside with not being a role model to her three children. So, she decided to enroll in Midwest Theology Institute and earned her GED and that was the beginning of a whole new world. Once she earned her GED, Kimberly went and registered in 2008 at South Suburban College earning an Associate Degree in Psychology graduating in 2015. The sky was the limit, there is no stopping her now because she figured if you have come this far in your accomplishment she must go further. In 2016, Kimberly joined Indiana University Northwest and took the challenges of getting a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, graduating May 9, 2019. Over the years in Kimberly's career she worked at Washington Jane Smith and Bethel Terrance Apartments for senior citizens. Her love for working with the elderly grew into facilitating meetings, working with the Alzheimer patients and doing day-to-day basic duties to make sure the job was accomplished. Moving on to her next assignment Kimberly began to work with children and that is where her passion was stirred up; she knew that she would work with children in the future. Kimberly applied for a position at Aunt Martha's Youth Services Inc. and was hired as a family Educator. Kimberly opened up her first home teaching girls from the age of 10-18 years, who dealt with behavioral difficulties and she taught them basic life skills. Kimberly assisted with doctor's visits, going to court and facilitating weekly meetings with the children and their parents. As the company grew her love for the underprivileged grew into a mentorship. Under Aunt Martha's Kimberly was certified in the areas of Family Teaching Model, Reality Therapy, and Cultural Awareness, Crisis Intervention, CPR, HIV Training, Restraint Training, Foster Care, and Stress Management. Kimberly wanted to grow in the child care field even more so she took several jobs working at Hoover-Schrum Memorial Middle School and Geminus Head Start as a teacher assistant and was promoted to a K-3rd grade Teacher. Next, Kimberly became a Child Care Provider assisting in the care of twin babies for a family privately, while working as a Parent Advocate for the Gear Up Program in the Chicago Public School. There she worked with 7th through 12th grade students. Kimberly as cited with college tours, ensured college readiness with the parents and child, prepared and facilitated with workshops, offered credit repair and FAFSA readiness for college. Currently Kimberly is working for Uber as an Independent Contractor and that is where she gained the knowledge to start her own business. Uber is a great place to work, while driving business men and women they began to pull on her to see what her future goals were and Kimberly knew it was time to open up her own business called The Lighthouse Center Advocating for Adolescence and Children, Inc. Through life journey everything that she has accomplished has been worth the wait and she gives all honors to God who has kept her along the way.
