Biography

Richard has been employed at USC for 30 years, where he has launched and directed multiple academic research centers. He currently serves as the Executive Director of the Price School of Public Policy’s Professional Doctorate program. Prior to this, he directed the Center for Sustainability Solutions, a university-wide research center focused on urban environmental sustainability. He and his wife Anna, who serves as Redeemer Community Partnership’s administrator, are raising three children ages 10-15.

As an undergraduate in USC’s School of Business Richard led a Boy Scout troop for local youth, formed relationships with people experiencing homelessness and experienced the confusion and devastation of the LA Riots up close. After graduating he chose to make this neighborhood his home, with the hope of participating in community-building efforts. Over the last 27 years he has worked to develop a network of community residents investing in neighbourhood youth, improving public safety, and raising student achievement. In the early 1990’s Richard participated in innovative community-organizing efforts to close nuisance liquor stores that were complicit in prostitution, drug dealing and gang violence. In 1997 some of his friends and neighbors launched informal after-school tutoring and recreation opportunities for local children. In 2001 he incorporated Redeemer Community Partnership to provide the organizational and funding structure for these efforts to grow. The organization’s mission is to build a safe, healthy, opportunity-rich community where children, youth and families thrive.