Kathy Izard is an award-winning author and speaker who has helped bring transformation to Charlotte in homelessness, housing, and mental health. Her memoir, The Hundred Story Home, has been featured on NPR as well as The Today Show, inspiring people to be change-makers in their own communities.

In 2019, Kathy released A Good Night for Mr. Coleman, a children’s book written to encourage kids to dream big and Do Good. Her newest memoir, The Last Ordinary Hour is based on her family’s experience with a rare cardiac disease and was published to help others struggling with radical uncertainty. Kathy is the recipient of a Christopher Award, the Bank of America Neighborhood Hero Award, and was recognized as a William J. Clinton Distinguished Guest Lecturer.