Roland Williams was born in Rochester, NY and is a proud graduate of the Rochester City School District. At East High School, Roland became one of the nation’s top student‐athletes and attended Syracuse University on a full athletic scholarship. While in school, Roland took his academics as serious as his athletic performance, graduating with a Bachelor's degree in Speech Communications with a minor in Management from the Whitman School of Management. Roland also attended Newhouse School of Public Communications to pursue his Masters in Public Relations.
Roland was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in 1998 and began to pay immediate dividends winning the team’s Rookie of the Year award. The following year, oland caught seven touchdown passes in an explosive offense known as “the greatest show on turf,” that racked up one of the highest point totals in NFL history in route to winning a Super Bowl Championship. Roland also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Oakland Raiders where he won an AFC Championship in 2004. Throughout his NFL career, Roland has always maintained a strong commitment to the Rochester community. For more than a decade, he ran a popular free summer educational sports camp for thousands of high risk teens in Rochester, distributed more than 2,000 free computers, made substantial financial contributions and spoke at numerous schools, churches and youth organizations committed to making Rochester a better place. For his humanitarian efforts, philanthropy and Club Pro Athlete and two time winner of the Oakland Raiders Man of the Year Award, community contributions, Roland has received many awards and accolades, including the Press‐Radio and a multiyear semi‐finalist for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award for philanthropy and citizenship. in 2005, Roland retired from professional football and dove into his passions as a sport analyst, motivational speaker and social entrepreneur committed to helping teens in poverty overcome barriers and maximize their potential. His groundbreaking Champion Academy Extreme Mentoring & Empowerment Model is accomplishing unprecedented academic and social outcomes with students who need it most. Roland is a proud dad of three sons and enjoys yoga in his spare time.
Roland was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in 1998 and began to pay immediate dividends winning the team’s Rookie of the Year award. The following year, oland caught seven touchdown passes in an explosive offense known as “the greatest show on turf,” that racked up one of the highest point totals in NFL history in route to winning a Super Bowl Championship. Roland also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Oakland Raiders where he won an AFC Championship in 2004. Throughout his NFL career, Roland has always maintained a strong commitment to the Rochester community. For more than a decade, he ran a popular free summer educational sports camp for thousands of high risk teens in Rochester, distributed more than 2,000 free computers, made substantial financial contributions and spoke at numerous schools, churches and youth organizations committed to making Rochester a better place. For his humanitarian efforts, philanthropy and Club Pro Athlete and two time winner of the Oakland Raiders Man of the Year Award, community contributions, Roland has received many awards and accolades, including the Press‐Radio and a multiyear semi‐finalist for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award for philanthropy and citizenship. in 2005, Roland retired from professional football and dove into his passions as a sport analyst, motivational speaker and social entrepreneur committed to helping teens in poverty overcome barriers and maximize their potential. His groundbreaking Champion Academy Extreme Mentoring & Empowerment Model is accomplishing unprecedented academic and social outcomes with students who need it most. Roland is a proud dad of three sons and enjoys yoga in his spare time.
Anna Valeria‐Iseman is the recently appointed Executive Director for the Open‐Door Mission. She has worked at the Mission for three and a half years, previously as the Development Director. Anna spent her first year at the Mission researching and developing the new residential program for women and children that is scheduled to open in the Summer of 2018. Before coming to the Mission, Anna spent several years as a case worker in the community working directly with the homeless population. She also served on the D&C's Editorial Board, and continues to write as a contributing blogger. Anna has a degree in Religion and Philosophy from Roberts Wesleyan College. She lives in Chili with her husband and children, ages 15, 13, and 2, with whom she whom she enjoys year‐ round baseball, fishing, and lots of family time!