Rams host Career Panel Series for more than 3,000 LAUSD high school students

The Rams partnered with the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) to launch a 4-month career panel series for more than 3,000 juniors and seniors from six schools throughout the four LAUSD regions – North, East, West and South. The panel also included a virtual NCAA presentation that highlighted the importance of core classes, discussed how to build good study habits and create NCAA Eligibility Profiles.

To kick off the series, the Rams visited Jordan High School and Manuel Arts High School. Rams Director of Social Justice and Football Development, Johnathan Franklin, led an in-person panel discussion with Rams Coordinator of Social Justice and Football Development Noel Grigsby, Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Sergeant Mariano Moreno and Officers Alfonso Velasco and Jeff Nelson, and City Year’s Community Partnership Manager, Samuel Blanco, about their career journeys and the importance of higher education.

“The goal of this is to create exposure and opportunity,” said Franklin. “We want to come to these schools and provide access to our brand, but also give the youth hope. They are the future leaders and future generation. Having these panels and giving them access to the NCAA gives students what they need to be the best versions of themselves.”

Franklin is a proud alumnus of LAUSD and UCLA. Before serving as the Director of Social Justice and Football Development for the Rams, Franklin played in the NFL. After an injury cut his rookie year short, he transitioned to the corporate side of football.

“I’m an alum of LAUSD, attended Dorsey High School and was able to go to UCLA. I played for the Green Bay Packers and was injured 12 games in. I personally know the dream of making it to the NFL and having it gone and figuring out what the backup plan is. What’s your hope and what is your why? What is your identity? Personally, I’m excited to come to these schools being a product of LAUSD, having my career taken away early on and having to figure out what’s the next step. To have community partners inside these schools provides access to hope, helps them think beyond sports, define success, and create the pipelines for how to achieve the success.”

Officer Alfonso Velasco of the LAPD Youth Program Unit gave the students insight into his journey of becoming a police officer. Growing up, he strayed away from interactions with police officers until having a conversation with an officer from his hometown neighborhood. That one conversation led him into a…