We had the good fortune of connecting with Rebecca Roberts and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rebecca, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I am originally from Scotland. I was raised to think of others and to give back from an early age. The travel I have had both as a child and with work has helped shape me into a global citizen.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I started working in a newspaper office in Scotland and quickly moved to retail management. I married and had three boys; my husband’s career took us worldwide. I had studied Human Resources but was a gymnast and loved teaching. When my boys were young, I saw a need in our local community for pre-school gymnastics, so I became qualified and set up a gym, which was very successful.

When we moved to Australia, I enrolled in a university course for Early Child Development and worked at my children’s school while studying. After moving to Singapore, I came with my family to the United States but did not have a work visa. I wanted to contribute to our community, so I began looking for opportunities to volunteer. I saw an advertisement for help building bikes at a local organization (what was then Elves & More), and I decided to volunteer to help improve children’s literacy in Houston. After volunteering and helping to organize crucial events for two years, the organization’s leadership approached me to join their staff. I was both humbled and excited about their invitation and accepted the offer to become the executive director.

Moving countries, raising a family and supporting my husband’s career presented many challenges, but it was also gratifying. The governmental red tape was very frustrating at times. Learning how to be patient was one of my greatest lessons from that time of my life. Also, I knew that it was essential to listen to others to learn about their hopes, dreams and stories. I realized that listening was the key to helping others and expanding my knowledge about being a force for change in my community. I want people to know that my work is impactful, relevant, and an excellent resource for teachers and schools. I want people in our city to understand that I am invested in what is important to them, and their stories keep me dedicated to my work every day.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
On Monday, we would drive around Beltway 8 to see the traffic, the noise, and the colors of Houston. The city is very different from where I come from! We would need to stop for lunch at Brennan’s, an iconic midtown restaurant.

On Tuesday, we would go to Galveston to see the Broadway Historic Cemetery District and drive along the famous seawall. We would also stop at the Opera House and Moody Gardens. Lunch would be at Guido’s, and then we would head to the ferry and the Bolivar Peninsula to see the colorful stilted homes unique to the area.

On Wednesday, we will visit the San Jacinto Memorial and the Battleship Texas—you’ve got to know the history of this great state! We will have lunch at Monument Inn and enjoy the day’s catch while watching the boats.

We’ll spend the day in town on Thursday, enjoying some great museums and visiting the iconic Galleria Mall. First, we will see the Menil Collection and have lunch at the Bistro. Next, we will visit the fabulous Museum of Natural History. We will then head to the Galleria for some shopping and a quick spin at the ice skating rink! Dinner will be at The Capital Grille on Westheimer, where you can have a delicious meal and relax with friends.

On Friday, we could attend a baseball game to watch the Astros and enjoy the experience with hot dogs and beer. Alternatively, we could see a play, musical, or symphony performance in Houston’s outstanding arts district.

On Saturday, we would head to Brenham for a quick tour of The Little Creamery and taste the Blue Bell ice cream! Then, we would continue to the Texas Hill Country, traveling to Luckenbach, Texas, and singing country songs as we drove along. We would stay the night in Fredericksburg to enjoy the vineyards and beauty of the countryside. En route, we would surely visit Washington-on-the-Brazos, “the Birthplace of Texas.”

Finally, on Sunday, we would visit Austin for a Gospel Brunch at Stubbs BBQ, tour the State Capitol and head to the Driskill for a cocktail. We would visit the Richards Congress Avenue Bridge at dusk to see the world’s largest bat colony. As we headed back to Houston, we would watch the sunset and count our blessings for enjoying the great state of Texas!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
CYCLE: Changing Young Children’s Lives through Education, founded by David Moore (as Elves & More 20 years ago), has allowed me to grow as an executive director and community leader. I have worked diligently for our mission during my tenure, learned many great lessons, enjoyed many experiences, and developed excellent relationships. I must also recognize my family’s continued and unwavering support, which has helped me succeed in my role.

Website: https://www.cyclehouston.org

Instagram: @cyclehouston

Linkedin: CYCLE Houston

Facebook: CYCLE Houston

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