Ron Anderson, executive director and founder of the nonprofit Project Reclaim, is the subject of a new success story video that showcases his journey from humble beginnings to leading a thriving leadership academy. The video, produced by the Woodson Center, emphasizes Anderson’s life and work in helping youth overcome challenges and succeed.
The Woodson Center, which aims to empower community-based leaders to address social issues, created the film as part of its Community Affiliate Network. “They [the Woodson Center] sent a representative from Washington D.C. to come down and spend a few days with us,” said Anderson. “They really loved what the kids were doing, and so they commissioned a video to be made about our services.”
The video outlines Anderson’s life story, highlighting the love and care in his upbringing despite financial struggles. However, alcohol and violence became significant issues in his life, leading him to seek guidance from a school counselor. This support, along with the influence of positive role models, helped him choose a better path.
Anderson went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Louisiana Tech and later taught psychology at Southern University. His career in youth services began with the Lighthouse program in Shreveport, where he served as executive director and earned numerous accolades.
In response to a request to develop a program for at-risk youth in Minden, Anderson founded Project Reclaim. The organization has achieved remarkable success, with 100% of Youth Leadership Academy participants staying in school, advancing to the next grade level, avoiding juvenile court, and preventing teen pregnancies. Additionally, Anderson’s life skills classes in City Court report a 92% program completion rate, with about 86% of graduates not returning to court.
Despite having a small staff, Project Reclaim has made a significant impact under Anderson’s leadership. The video can be viewed on the Project Reclaim website: prstars.org/.
The video, a testament to Anderson’s dedication and the success of Project Reclaim, highlights the potential for positive change in the lives of disadvantaged youth.