Clianda Florence

Clianda Florence’s story begins with legacy.

Raised in the shadow of courage and conviction, she carries forward the spirit of her grandfather, the late Minister Franklin Florence, a civil rights leader whose voice helped shape Rochester’s fight for justice. From that inheritance, Clianda found her own calling: to make literacy not merely a classroom skill, but a doorway to dignity, freedom, and opportunity.

For more than 20 years, Florence has served as an educator, author, mother of three, and community advocate. Her life’s work has been rooted in a simple but powerful belief: when people learn to read, write, speak, and think with confidence, they gain the power to shape their own future.

That belief became the foundation for Strength 2 Say, the platform she founded to provide classes, professional development, and book studies that help individuals and communities find their voice. It also gave life to Let’s Get L.I.T. — Liberating Individuals Through Literary Texts — a nonprofit that brings literacy beyond school walls and directly into homes, neighborhoods, and family spaces. Through book clubs, block parties, summer sessions, and family-centered programs, Florence has worked to place books, conversations, and possibility into the hands of those who need them most.

Her voice now reaches even further through the Let’s Get L.I.T. radio podcast on WDKX 103.9 FM, where she lifts up diverse stories and leads meaningful conversations on literacy, education, and community transformation.

Florence’s work has earned wide recognition. She has been included in Marquis Who’s Who and honored with the New York State Senate Award and the Jeremy Cooney Commendation Award. Yet her greatest measure of success remains found not in titles or awards, but in the families strengthened, children encouraged, and communities awakened through literacy.

Her academic path reflects the same commitment to growth and service. She earned a B.A. in Psychology from Bennett College, a Master of Education in Elementary Education from Nazareth University, and a Master’s in Educational Administration from SUNY Brockport.

Through personal challenges and seasons of resilience, Florence has remained steadfast. She understands that literacy is more than reading words on a page. It is the ability to understand the world, to challenge limits, to tell one’s story, and to claim one’s place in society.

Most recently, she announced a collaboration with Sebrone O. Johnson and EDceptional to connect in-school learning with out-of-school learning countywide for families, expanding her mission from classrooms into communities with fresh urgency and vision.

Now, as a candidate for the New York State Assembly’s 136th District, Clianda Florence is carrying her life’s work into a new arena. Her campaign is built on the same foundation that has guided her for decades: education, family, empowerment, and opportunity.

Her mission is clear: to ensure every child and every family has the tools, resources, and support needed to thrive.

As Florence affirms, “Literacy is the greatest civil rights issue of our generation.”