Athletes for Education Reform

Last night in Los Angeles, the American Federation for Children partnered with the Professional Sports Wives Association and Jalen Rose, retired NBA star and founder of the Jalen Rose Leadership Academy, to host an event for current and former athletes and their families on the importance of education reform. 

AFC Senior Advisor Kevin P. Chavous spoke to a crowd of about 80 people on the impact that just one person can have on their community, and specifically in the life of an underprivileged child. The event, “Giving Kids Hope: Addressing the Education Crisis in Our Communities,” was held in downtown Los Angeles in conjunction with the ESPY Awards, which air tonight at 9 p.m. EST on ESPN.

Along with remarks by Kevin P. Chavous, Rose spoke to the crowd and challenged them to make a difference in the lives of their communities, specifically through education reform. As a national spokesperson for the fight to give children from low-income families access to quality educational options, as well as the founder of a charter school, Rose explained the impact his work has had on thousands of children in the Detroit area.

Watch the video below to hear from other athletes about the importance of school choice in the lives of families:

Rose also reminded the crowd that families are most likely only given educational options when they have the necessary income to afford those options. He said his goal, however, is to promote ways for children from all backgrounds and household income levels to succeed in their education.

Throughout the event, guests asked questions about his role in education reform and how he got involved. Rose said that at this point, the education crisis is far too large to ignore and said that he simply could not sit back and watch as children continued to fail. 

The crowd was inspired by remarks from his remarks, as well as those from Chavous. More than 50 people pledged to get involved in the movement to ensure that children from low-income families have access to a quality education. Stay tuned to learn more about the exciting ways athletes are becoming more engaged in the fight for better educational options!

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, RMS