Rebirth

The NFL 2024 season begins September 5th, marking the Los Angeles Rams 4th season in the SoFi Stadium. During the off season, the Rams and their partners are busy, casting a consistent line of events designed to build up the neighborhood – not only the surrounding local, Inglewood, but the entire 4,753 square miles, that is Los Angeles county.  Some of the events are purely for fun, while others  engage  broader spectrums of education and philantophy.

Last week, Tatum Texada of the Rams Corporate Communications alerted me to an event, 3 seasons in the making. The new communication stated that “ the Rams have released a short film that highlights a Bank of America Fellowship Program, providing  six months of onsite work experiences across various Rams’ departments to support young adults from under-resourced communities”.

This past season, the Rams provided a formerly incarcerated young man, Jessie Rose, and formerly unhoused young woman, Raniyah Carter, with a paid fellowship experience. The program, funded by Bank of America provided monthly stipends to the fellows, and covered the costs of corporate housing, subsidized transportation and financial education coaches.

The short film provides insight into the previous struggles of the young people, through the program process. leading to their new future. The film “FOUNDation” is now available to watch on the Rams YouTube Channel and website. 

About the 2023-24 winning program fellows: 

Raniyah Carter, 25, was born and raised in Watts, Calif. Carter’s father was killed when she was 2 years old, causing her and her mother to endure many struggles  marked by instability in their relationship, as well as housing and food insecurity. Carter spent her high school years and early adulthood moving from couch to couch. Despite her turbulent journey, Carter found her love for philanthropy while working on Skid

 Row during the pandemic. Carter’s work ethic and compassion for others led her to securing transitional housing and employment with local nonprofit Measure of Hearts Foundation. Carter learned about the fellowship opportunity with the Rams through Measure

 of Hearts Foundation and United Way of Greater Los Angeles (provided by Rams Communications)

  Jessie Rose, 27, is from Lancaster, Calif. At the age of 17, Rose was given a 13-year 8-month prison sentence. During his time spent inside California’s correctional  facilities, he dedicated himself to participating in self-help groups, therapy, vocational trades and completion of rehabilitative programs and education. Focused on his education, Rose earned his high school diploma and completed several college courses,  debate classes and public speaking training. While incarcerated, Rose found his passion for storytelling through video and film. He even contributed to the production of “FOUNDation” during his time with the Rams. Rose connected with Anti-Recidivism Coalition

 upon his release in 2023 and explored employment opportunities, including the fellowship program with the Rams. (provided by Rams Communications) 

     The public release of the film “FOUNDation,” corresponds with the start of Second Chance Month

(April) 

which aims to inform and highlight the many opportunities for state, local, and tribal governments to build meaningful second chances for people returning from incarceration or societal separation, Molly Higgins, Rams EVP of Community Impact and Engagement, and Stephanie Lomibao, Bank of America Charitable Foundation’s Philanthropy Program Executive, joined Jessie Rose to tell his story on Sirius Radio, other audio programs.