Charletra Sharp, Director for Economic Mobility with the Center for Transforming Lives (CTL), is a native of Arlington and a public servant. She has professionally served the community in local government, higher education, church, and nonprofits for more than 12 years, managing budgets of over $25 million, ranging from affordable housing to street outreach services to, now, economic mobility resources for underserved Tarrant County families. Her current work with CTL provides her the opportunity to disrupt the cycle of poverty for women and children through financial education, career readiness services, and microenterprise support. She also serves on the City of Arlington’s Unity Council.
As a graduate of the National Forum for Black Public Administrators and the Boys and Girls Club of Arlington’s Winning Foundations College Preparatory Program, she is the byproduct of what great role models and mentors produce. Charletra’s academic background includes a Bachelor of Social Work and Spanish minor from Baylor University, and a Master of Social Work with a concentration in Community Development and Program Administration from Washington University in Saint Louis where she also specialized in Management. She continues to reside in Arlington with her husband, Aaron, and son, Jackson.