Marvinetta Woodley-Penn

Marvinetta Woodley-Penn is a writer, performer, coach, and speaker committed to empowering individuals through storytelling, education, and the arts. She is the founder and Executive Director of Global Girls, Inc., a 25-year-old nonprofit that uses the performing arts to build confidence, communication skills, and life readiness in girls across Illinois and beyond. Under her leadership, Global Girls has engaged over 1,200 youth and families annually and led international exchanges to Ghana, Kenya, India, Tanzania, London, and Grenada.

A former high school English and Theatre teacher, Marvinetta also brings over 15 years of experience as a life coach, motivational speaker, and workshop facilitator. She now lives in Kalamazoo, Michigan, where she remains deeply involved in the community through the Rotary Club of Kalamazoo, the Kalamazoo Civic Theatre, and the Fair Housing Center of Southwest Michigan. She teaches classes at the Portage Zhang Senior Center and hosts the All Stories Matter podcast on Public Media Network.

A proud mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Marvinetta was born and raised in East St. Louis, Illinois, in a nurturing family that encouraged creativity and civic engagement, values she continues to share with the world today.