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318 REPRESENTS THE AREA CODE FOR SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA.

Named to honor the community it serves, 318 (three-one-eight) represents the area code for Shreveport, Louisiana, which is home to former WNBA champion Alana Beard. A Shreveport native passionate about community advocacy, Beard established the Foundation to recognize the potential of girls residing in Shreveport and beyond to become the leaders of tomorrow.

After an abundance of listening, research, intentional strategy sessions, and the vision of building communities where access and opportunity are abundant, the 318 Foundation was established in 2021.

Alana beard

Founder and President of 318 Foundation

Meet the team

Alana Beard

Founder & President

Alana was born and raised in Shreveport, Louisiana, and is the Founder and President of the 318 Foundation. Best known for her athletic career, Alana won championships at every level, from high school to the WNBA and internationally. She was the first women's basketball player to have her jersey number retired at Duke University, a four-time WNBA All-Star, and an integral piece in leading the Los Angeles Sparks to a WNBA Championship in 2016.

At the back end of her career, Alana won back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year Awards in 2017 and 2018. She retired in January 2020 after 15 years…

Alana Beard

Founder & President

At the back end of her career, Alana won back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year Awards in 2017 and 2018. She retired in January 2020 after 15 years…

Kristin Kelly

Program Director

Kristin is the Program Director for the 318 Foundation. She holds a degree from Spelman College and a Master's from Vanderbilt Divinity School. She's an educator and researcher dedicated to youth advocacy and development in communities of color at the intersections of equity and emancipatory pedagogy. Kristin is a skilled curriculum designer and program management strategist that has worked in public schools, higher education institutions, religious/spiritual communities, and public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

Kristin is passionate about creating spaces for hope and curiosity that build community…

Kristin Kelly

Program Director

Kristin is passionate about creating spaces for hope and curiosity that build community…

Marie Tucker

Program Coordinator

Marie is the Program Coordinator of 318 VISION and 318 ACTION. Marie’s ultimate goal is to gain a deeper insight into the current educational system to find ways to tailor education to meet the unique needs, aspirations, and desires of students, effectively preparing them for their future journeys.

Growing up as a student-athlete, Marie had the privilege of connecting with diverse individuals, embarking on exciting journeys, and broadening her horizons through her academic and athletic pursuits…

Marie Tucker

Program Coordinator

Kyra Lambert

Program Coordinator

Kyra is the Program Coordinator for 318 SPORTS. She is passionate about utilizing sport as a vehicle to create opportunity and inspire positive change in future generations. Holding master’s degrees from both Duke University and the University of Texas, Kyra has a strong background in both Business and Sports Management. In recent years, she has cultivated sports experiences for youth across backgrounds, cultures, and skill levels.

Kyra is currently in her third year playing professional basketball overseas…