Roland Gilbert

Roland Gilbert’s father was born around 1900 and his grandfather was born prior to 1865 into legalized slavery in the southern United States. Roland’s father could not read or write, yet he successfully learned to be a chef cook and protect and provide for his wife and 3 children until he died in 1978. “I am so proud of my grandfather and father because they had to overcome such tremendous obstacles to succeed. I am also proud of those 4 million Africans freed in 1865 after 246 years of being enslaved and then in less than 2 lifetimes (144 years) Barack Obama is President of the United States of America,” says Roland.

Roland grew up poor in South Los Angeles, California and lived through President Lyndon B. Johnson's trillion dollar War on Poverty. Roland says, “People remain poor because they lack economic, social, cultural and symbolic capital and do not know how to avoid symbolic violence. I have invested 25 years of my life teaching the poor how to gain the capital they need and avoid being victims. My mission in life is teaching people how to discover and cultivate their greatness and give their gifts to the world.”

Mr. Gilbert is the author of 3 books: The Ghetto Solution, Power Parenting for Poor People, and Overcome Being Poor or Homeless. He says he has, at least, 2 more books to write. Roland has now spent 25 years answering God’s call to help poor people succeed. He founded the nationally acclaimed Simba Program in Oakland, California and was Executive Director for 15 years. Simba helped inner city youth and adults overcome self-destructive attitudes and behaviors and achieve more success in their lives. Mr. Gilbert’s work is endorsed by many distinguished experts including Alvin F. Poussaint, M.D., Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School; James P. Comer, M.D., Maurice Falk Professor of Child Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine; and Deborah Prothrow-Stith, M.D., Assistant Dean of Government and Community Programs, Harvard School of Public Health.

Currently, and throughout the last 6 years, he serves as the Professional Development Instructor for the Skid Row Development Corporation in Downtown Los Angeles, California and also provides consulting services through his company Power Parenting. He is proud to serve on the Los Angeles Regional Homeless Restoration Advisory Coalition Board of Directors.

Among his outstanding notables, President Jimmy Carter selected him for national program management and appointed Mr. Gilbert to the United States Small Business Administration, in Washington, D.C., as a Business Revitalization Specialist. Roland was instrumental in leveraging $100 million into $1 billion of financing for 26 cities within one year. Who's Who in Finance and Industry recognized Mr. Gilbert for his accomplishments.

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