Jobs that Transform Lives | Louis King

Businesses Doing Good

Our guest on the August 16th Conference Call is Louis King. The topic is "Jobs that Transform Lives"

Some nonprofits today are serving a critical role as they serve as conduits for people from poor communities to enter the workforce. Summit Academy OIC is just that kind of place.

Louis J. King II is a visionary leader who serves as President and CEO of Summit Academy OIC, a $7.5 million accredited educational and vocational training institute. As a nonprofit organization, Summit Academy empowers poor Twin Cities’ residents to become self-reliant and employed members of their community.

King has over 20 years’ experience in education, youth development and workforce development. His current work focuses on stabilizing families by ensuring that parents earn the wages needed to adequately support their children. He recently launched the 1,000 GED Campaign, which is aimed at the 72,000 adults in Hennepin County (and beyond) who do not have the credentials needed to enter the workforce and access well-paying jobs. Summit Academy’s unique GED Training Program seamlessly integrates into their no-cost Construction and Healthcare Training Programs, giving graduates the proper skills to start a new career. King firmly believes that “the best social service program in the world is a job”.

King is the founder and co-chair of the HIRE Minnesota coalition, which works to create jobs that reduce racial disparities and lift individuals out of poverty.

In 1996, Louis was elected to the Minneapolis School Board, and completed his four-year term. He is currently a board member with the following organizations: Minneapolis Club, St. Thomas Academy, Robins Kaplan Miller Ciresi Foundation, Allina Health System and OIC of America.He has also served on the Abbott Northwest Hospital Board and the Fairview Healthcare Foundation Board.

He has held leadership positions in several community organizations such as the Bryant Neighborhood Organization and the Glenwood-Lyndale Community Center, where he served as President of their respective Boards.

King is a graduate of Morehouse College with a B.A. in Political Science. Prior to joining Two or More in 1993, he served in the U.S. Army for 10 years, achieving the rank of Major.