Alumni Spotlight: Layla Spaulding

Layla Spaulding, now a junior at Queens University of Charlotte, has always had a heart for service. She’s majoring in Psychology, but she’ll quickly tell you, “My passion is service.” Whether she’s working with nonprofits, supporting local churches, or interning with Atrium Health through the AHEC program, Layla is deeply invested in bettering the Charlotte community. And when she’s not doing that, she’s in the kitchen cooking or hanging out with her “old and grumpy” dog.

Layla’s journey with Communities In Schools began during an especially difficult time. After losing multiple family members during the pandemic, she received an unexpected email from her site coordinator, Ms. St. Vilus.

“It was a really dark, hopeless time,” Layla shared. “That conversation built into a community I didn’t even know I needed.”

Joining DifferenceMakers soon after opened her world even further. She experienced networking events, visited museums, and met leaders she never imagined she’d have access to. Those moments—her first stay in a hotel, talking with community officials, connecting with other students—helped her understand what was possible for her life.

“Just having that moment to see what bigger looks like,” she reflected, “I don’t think I could have imagined my life right now without CIS.”

Since graduating high school, Layla has continued growing as a leader. One of her proudest accomplishments is her work in the CIS Inspire DEI Fellowship, where she was one of only two college students selected. Inspired by wanting to share clothes with peers who needed them, she created a campus clothing closet at Queens—an initiative that now serves students, faculty, and staff, and even donates excess items to local organizations.

“Being able to take it from a pilot to an established organization on campus was really cool,” she said.

Her work in the fellowship also led her to present at the CIS Leadership Town Hall in front of affiliates from across the country—an experience she described as “crazy” in the best way. She even took a public speaking course to prepare.

Layla remains active as a CIS alum, showing up for events and mentoring younger students. She believes the community she built through DifferenceMakers continues to shape how she leads.

“My community is broad, no matter where I go,” she said. “From knowing a prime minister to knowing a custodian on my campus—life is cool.”

When asked what advice she’d give current CIS students, her message was simple: “Never stop showing up… If you say yes to an opportunity, good things come.”

As she looks ahead, Layla isn’t putting herself in a box. She’s exploring careers in social work, therapy, community advocacy, and even policy—any path that allows her to support others. She’s also passionate about helping Charlotte’s homeless community and continuing her work on campus.

Right now, she’s embracing what’s next with openness and optimism.

“Everything is unknown, and all things are possible.”