While researching for my latest article, the Jalen Rose Leadership Academy, I turned to YouTube, expecting it to be an abundance of content on one of Detroit’s most impactful educational initiatives. Given its status as the largest video collection on the internet, I anticipated countless videos, news clips, and interviews, which would provide both insight and direction for my piece. Yet, to my surprise, the coverage was shockingly sparse, better yet disrespectful. Despite video being the dominant medium for media consumption today, Detroit’s local news outlets like FOX2, WXYZ, and WDIV seemed to have little, if any, content highlighting the JRLA. One would think that stories centered on education, community, and positive change would be ripe for coverage—but alas, the focus of click based news often leans towards more sensational subjects like drugs, murder and scandal, often skewed to portray the black community in a negative light.
After a few moments of frustrated scrolling, a video titled “Jalen Rose Calls Out the Media for Not Covering the Jalen Rose Leadership Academy” caught my eye. Intrigued, I clicked, and in just 27 seconds, Jalen Rose delivered a message that immediately resonated. “I used to get upset about the coverage that we don’t get, and then I realized something,” he remarked, a hint of defiance in his signature smirk. “There’s a reason we don’t get this coverage—because this is a charity that makes it to the hood.”
Jalen’s speech was just the inspiration I needed to write this piece.
That statement is the essence of who Jalen Rose is—an innovator and a disruptor. Much like his days on the court with Michigan’s Fab Five, he has never shied away from challenging the status quo. In the early ‘90s, Rose and his teammates didn’t just change the game of basketball; they changed the culture around it. Their baggy shorts, bald heads and black socks were more than just fashion statements—they were acts of rebellion, symbols of their refusal to conform to the rigid structure of collegiate athletics. They were telling the world, “We’ll do this our way.”
That same energy now fuels his commitment to education and community edification . Since 2011, the Jalen Rose Leadership Academy has fostered hope in Detroit, providing quality education to more than 400 high school students and supporting nearly 1,000 alumni from across metro Detroit. According to the academy’s 2024 annual report, their achievements are nothing short of remarkable: a 90% daily attendance rate, a 97% graduation rate (well above the state average), and 100% of their graduates gaining acceptance into colleges or technical schools. Furthermore, 69% of these students matriculate to college within a year—another statistic that exceeds state benchmarks. The academy even earned a #4 ranking for best high school in Detroit from U.S. News & World Report, a testament to its excellence.
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Jalen Rose is often remembered for his bold persona on the court—the trash-talking, the swagger, and the undeniable influence he and the Fab Five had on basketball culture. But today, his greatest legacy is being forged off the court. The JRLA is more than just a school; it’s a source of inspiration, arming young people with the knowledge, confidence, and opportunities they need to navigate both their communities and the world successfully.
Jalen Rose’s impact is now measured not by points on a scoreboard but by the lives he helps to shape—an enduring legacy of empowerment and progress that will resonate for generations.
If you genuinely believe in transforming education from the ground up, consider supporting the Jalen Rose Leadership Academy by donating here. You can also explore their 2024 annual report to learn more about their impactful work.
Let me know in the comments what you think about Jalen Rose and his contributions to the city of Detroit.
You can visit the Jalen Rose Leadership Academy at:
https://www.jrladetroit.com/