Lydia has Master Degrees in Business, Christian Education, and Public Policy from Vanderbilt University, The Interdenominational Theological Center, and Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, respectively.
Lydia Meredith is an author/writer (The Gay Preacher’s Wife: How my Gay Husband Deconstructed My Life and Reconstructed My Faith, published by Simon and Schuster, October 2016); a civic leader and an activist for LGBTQIA (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual) justice, especially for the reported millions of emotionally crippled, homeless, LGBTQIA children and youth who are rejected by their families of origin; CEO/Founder of Beacon of Hope; mother of 3 sons; and grandmother of 6 grandchildren.
Lydia Meredith grew up impoverished; during the Jim Crow era (legalized discrimination). She overcame classism, sexism, and racism to become a successful corporate executive. Upon leaving Corporate America, she founded the nonprofit organization, Beacon of Hope, Inc. – Renaissance Learning Center, fundraising over $1.5 million a year to serve thousands of disproportionately at-risk children, youth, and their families –residing in the most economically challenged communities of Metro Atlanta. Lydia Meredith received numerous awards and commendations from public officials for this work, such as, the Georgia Assembly N. T. Randall Servant Leadership Award, and the Childhood Hero Award from former Governor Roy Barnes and his wife Marie Barnes — recognizing Beacon of Hope as the state-wide model for quality childcare in Georgia.
Lydia Meredith is retired from nonprofit executive leadership, and is now using her life experiences, resources, voice and pen to support the struggle for LGBTQIA justice, especially for homeless and uneducated children, youth and their families. Public writing, teaching, and oration, claims this season of her life — to inspire social transformation – for the cause of justice and liberty –to ensure that all humankind enjoy their God-given, inalienable human and civil rights.
Lydia Meredith is recently awarded admission into the doctoral program of Rhetoric and Composition and a teaching assistantship with the Department of English at Georgia State University. Her academic goal is to conduct scholarly research to complete a compelling dissertation that addresses the topic of how the Bible is misused to oppress, specifically, those in the LGBTQIA community. Lydia Meredith’s second, but equally important goal, is to teach students to write and think critically (and also to share their findings in academic and non-academic settings with church and society) for 21st century matters that relate to this subject, and how to put thought into action. She seeks to stir the soul of students to become productive citizens and civic contributors. When a student is writing about their social position, writing becomes a passion; and as words change the heart and the condition of humankind, writing becomes a masterpiece.
Lydia Meredith also serves on the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services (Region 14) Advisory Board, an Executive Board Member (Vice President) of the Georgia Association of DFCS Advisory Boards, Inc., an affiliate of the Georgia Professional Human Services Association’s Legislative Advocacy Committee, and consistent contributor to the Ali Forney Foundation, The Trevor Project, and Georgia Equality.