Latresa Rice

“Mouths that speak wisdom inspire and propel others into greatness.” - Ms. Latresa R. Rice

Considered an AIDS orphan by society, Latresa Rice is a dynamic motivational speaker and an esteemed professional. Over the past 20 years, Ms. Rice has been empowering young people and adults who have faced personal to push beyond the barriers they face in life and possess their dreams.

In 1999, Ms. Rice graduated from Martin Luther King Jr. Sr. (MLK) High School in the top three percent of her graduating class. At MLK, she studied Chinese and Spanish for four years. From 1999-2006, under the supervision of Mr. Perry Boyd II - Program Coordinator at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, Ms. Rice traveled to middle schools and high schools within Wayne County to speak to students about how to be successful in college, conflict resolution and various other topics. In August of 2004, she graduated from the University of Michigan-Dearborn (U of M-Dearborn) with an overall grade point average of 3.45. Ms. Rice received a dual Bachelor of Arts degree with honors in Psychology. Her second major was Communications, particularly the Public Relations/Corporate Business track.

While attending U of M - Dearborn, Ms. Rice received several awards such as the Distinguished Student Leader award (2003-2004) and the Leadership Synergy award (2002-2003). In April of 2006, Ms. Rice received a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Michigan (U of M) - Ann Arbor with an overall grade point average of 6.53. Her majors were “Management of Human Services” and “Community and Social Systems” with a minor in “Community Organizing”. While attending U of M, she received the Chancellor’s List award (2005-2006) and remained on the Dean’s list. From 2007-2008, Ms. Rice worked as a high school presenter with the International Academy of Design & Technology. As a presenter, she traveled to high schools throughout Wayne County delivering motivational speeches to youth on topics such as college and scholarship information, job employability skills, conflict resolution, self-esteem, entrepreneurship and ethics.

In 2009, Ms. Rice established “It’s Time Enterprises (ITE)” as her vehicle to continue her pursuit to empower others to push beyond the barriers they face in life and possess their dreams and became a minister at Spirit & Truth Christian Ministries, where she preached her initial sermon. In 2011, she wrote and recorded a ringtone called “Thank You Haters” which is designed to empower others to turn negativity into positivity. In 2014, she published her first book titled “Gate to Life: You Choose the Life that You Shall Experience”, graduated from Central Michigan University (CMU) with an overall grade point average of 3.45; thereby, receiving a Master of Science Administration degree in General Administration and a Human Resource Administration certificate and she was elected as a delegate for Precinct 5 of the city of Westland, Michigan.