Linda Mitchell

Linda Mitchell is a literacy advocate, tutor, educator, author, and founder and executive director of the Metro East Literacy Project (MELP), where she helps under-resourced families transform their lives through literacy. Inspired by growing up with an illiterate grandmother, she has dedicated her life to ensuring that families in book deserts have access to books, resources, and support—beginning with a foundational bag of 25 books and ongoing engagement through family-centered programming. Linda has taught and tutored in classrooms, homes, and communities, bringing literacy to life with both compassion and proven instructional methods. She is also the creative force behind initiatives like the Penny Press Puzzle Lady, promoting cognitive wellness through puzzle solving. A Chicago native now living in O’Fallon, Illinois, she is a devoted wife, mother of two adult children, and proud Mimi to two granddaughters, leading her work with faith,  purpose, and a deep belief that literacy opens the door to hope, voice, and opportunity.