This Women’s History Month, we proudly honor Celeste Roberts a visionary leader, a lifelong mentor, and a champion for the young people and families of East Tampa. As a former Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay volunteer Big Sister, she built a bond so strong that she still keeps in touch with her Little Sister Ciera today. That commitment to showing up, staying connected, and believing in a young person’s future continues to shape everything she does.
As Co-Founder and CEO of the Skills Center, she has transformed sports into a pathway for academic success, life skills, and generational change. Her leadership has driven major milestones, including a multi-million-dollar development project and the organizations 2021 expansion into a permanent home. Recognized as a 2024 Businesswoman of the Year and Onyx Magazine’s 2025 Women on the Move, Celeste continues to uplift youth, families, and communities with the same heart she brought to her years as a Big Sister. A proud Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc sister, her legacy is rooted in service, equity, and mentorship.
Celeste’s journey began when she shifted from a business career to youth development after launching a college prep program. She discovered her calling in serving underserved, predominantly minority youth, a mission that mirrors the heart of our Edgecomb Mentoring Circle Initiative, which focuses on East Tampa’s young people and families.
In Her Own Words:
“When you invest in a young person, you’re not just changing their life, you’re changing the trajectory of a family, a neighborhood, and a community. That’s why I do this work.” ~Celeste Roberts~
Celeste’s love for East Tampa is woven into every program she builds and every young person she lifts up. Her work embodies the spirit of Women’s History Month. Women who create pathways, open doors, and build futures. Her leadership reminds us that mentorship is not a moment; it’s a legacy.
As we honor Celeste Roberts, we also honor the countless women who mentor, advocate, and lead with purpose. In East Tampa alone, 75 young people are waiting for a mentor who will believe in them the way Celeste believes in her community.
This month, we celebrate her story and we invite others to follow her example.
Become a mentor. Change a life. Strengthen a community.
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