14 Dec A Conversation With Ford Roosevelt

A Conversation With:

Ford Roosevelt

Project GRAD Los Angeles
President & CEO

How long have you been volunteering in the community?

I have been involved in public school education in the Valley since 2001.

How long have you been volunteering for The Valley Economic Alliance?

Inspired by Bruce Ackerman, I have been involved with The Valley Economic Alliance (TVEA) since 2004.

Tell us a little about yourself.

As President & CEO of Project GRAD Los Angeles, I can pursue one of my passions of high quality public school education for students in Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). I have seen some tremendous changes come to Project GRAD Schools in the northeast part of the district. There are so many hard working students we get to work with, and every student deserves the best opportunities to pursue post-secondary programs and/or colleges. Project GRAD Los Angeles now has over 550 students in colleges across the country. We are lucky to be part of this effort in LAUSD.

For more information visit my LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ford-roosevelt-a734327

What is one of your Passion Projects that you are working on?

One of my passion projects in partnership with LAUSD and California State University, Northridge (CSUN) is to drastically reduce the rate of Math and English remediation in schools for students as they enter colleges in the CSU/UC and Community College systems in the state. The very high rate of remediation for LAUSD students hurts all of us and does nothing to create a bigger population of college educated citizens.

Why do you continue to be a member of The Valley Economic Alliance?

Membership with TVEA gives me opportunities to meet with other like-minded non-profit and business leaders concerned with the quality of life in the San Fernando Valley. We all have a stake in the academic outcomes for students in public schools and The Alliance helps give a voice to these shared aspirations.