NON-PROFIT EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR: Rod Jones of Grace Hill

READ STORY: [ Ссылка ]

Rod Jones, president and CEO of Grace Hill Settlement House, graduated high school at 16. Jones had many incentives to graduate early. Trying to catch the subway at 5 a.m. every morning from the housing projects of New York City to make it to school on time was just one of them.

When his guidance counselor tried to hold him back a year, Jones had some direct words with him.

"This is my ticket out of the housing projects, and you really have no clue on what life is like trying to navigate that every day just to get to school," he told his counselor.

He added, "With some force, I was able to go to graduate."

He went to a junior college and didn't stop until he got his doctorate in education. Fundamentally, his experience with Head Start and other neighborhood center programs made all the difference, Jones said.

In New York City, there are 70 to 80 settlement houses or neighborhood centers like the one Jones attended. In St. Louis City, there are seven. For the past two years, Jones has been expanding these centers' programs and leading his staff and community members to "raise the floor of citizenship in America."


On Wednesday, Nov. 10, Jones will receive the Non-Profit Executive of the Year award at the St. Louis American Foundation's Salute to Excellence in Business luncheon.

свернуть