Walter Pearson

"In order to turn around this city, no matter how successful the Harbor becomes, we have to address the African-American male, especially the black male who's had a couple of strikes against him. This is one of the few organizations that does. About 70% of those in the Maryland Penitentiary are there because of nonviolent drug-related offenses—nonviolent! That means that most of these kids were followers—they weren’t leaders. They were in the wrong place at the wrong time, got caught up, and got in trouble. But I think everyone deserves a second chance. If you are a convicted felon, it’s really hard to get a second chance, but here, they give folks a second chance."

"In order to turn around this city, no matter how successful the Harbor becomes, we have to address the African-American male, especially the black male who’s had a couple of strikes against him..."

Walt Pearson grew up in a housing project in Brooklyn, and, as a boy, he wanted to grow up to be a professional athlete. His mother was a great believer in education and enrolled him in a private school across town. But when he returned home each day, he was surrounded by “folks who were not ambitious, a lot of drug dealers and hustlers." In eighth grade he was a troublemaker in school, but his math teacher recognized his abilities and taught him about the stock market. Walt became intrigued and then got hooked.

From there he went to St. Francis College on a basketball scholarship, where he was an honorable mention Academic All-American and then went to Harvard Business School. He serves as Managing Director, Senior Portfolio Manager at Brown Capital Management. He is a member of the Center for Urban Families Board of Directors.