Kevin Johnson, NBA star and Founder of St. Hope Academy, is giving an interesting speech about education and his organization. In his introduction, he stated, “This is even more difficult than trying to guard Michael Jordan.” St. Hope Academy’s approach to improving education involves a three-prong approach:
-Economic development
-Community revitalization
-Academics
The most controversial part of Johnson’s speech was his discussion of the political environment surrounding charter schools. He explicitly stated that the main reason he is opening a charter school in Harlem is because Joel Klein has been more supportive of the charter movement than California’s school board.
Johnson has also given large support to one of his funders, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and the overall social entrepreneurship movement. He stated, “10 to 15 years ago, there was no industry here. There was no social entrepreneurship…we are on a tipping point.” Coming from an MBA school that has a strong social enterprise program, I was very happy to hear that.
