Something About

Gordon W. Rolle JR.

 

My name is Gordon Rolle.  I am raising Campaign funds to become the next Georgia District 65 State Representative. I am a native of Raleigh, North Carolina. I spent my early years in California and the Bahamas and is now a resident of South Fulton County in Georgia since 1976. I am married to Dr. Sonia Francis-Rolle. We have five children, two-daughter’s-in-law, one son-in-law and four grandsons. We have been residents of the Hampton Oaks Community since 2009.

 

I grew up learning the responsibility to give back to society and believe that, we as members of the human race are all in the struggle to exist together. My family background of multicultural, interracial and civic involvement, gave me a sense of purpose and responsibility to become a champion for peace, equality and justice. Additionally, the connection between civic pride and the obligation to contribute to humanity came at an early age for me through my parent’s involvement in the civil rights movement and eventually Bahamian Independence. I became interested in politics during my teenage years in the Bahamas while participating in an election campaign for my father, Rev. Gordon W. Rolle Sr.

 

During my undergraduate college years, I served as the Daytona Beach Citizens Advisory Board Neighborhood Representative, my first public position. I went on to serve in the United States Air Force, in airfield management, and air cargo, where I received an honorable discharge after sixteen years of service.

 

I have a background that involves business, property management and education. In education, I began my involvement with at-risk students where I quickly realized the disconnection between at-risk students, and a functioning society. This phenomenon simulated my work as a teacher to educate society, as well as students towards the reconnecting at-risk populations towards productive citizenship. I wrote a grant that sought to allow at-risk students to gain career skills by, building wheelchair ramps for senior citizens, which helped them to gain experience working with special needs adults. This experience created a sense of purpose, and civic pride, necessary for at-risk student behavior to achieve characteristics of self-worth and accomplishment. I petitioned Fulton County School System for a charter school program titled, “The American School for Productive Citizenship”, where at-risk students would study toward gaining entry level positions in industries through apprenticeship programs.

 

I serve in multiple civic roles in my community. I served two terms as president of my former neighborhood community; I am currently leading the effort to petition my neighborhood to take over the homeowner’s association from the property developer. I am an ambassador for the South Fulton Chamber of Commerce; I am a graduate of the Fulton County Citizens University class of 2015; graduate of the Fulton County Citizens Police Academy class of 2014 where I was nominated as class president by my peers.

 

I am the co-founder of the Women in Aviation International, Rhythm of the Wings chapter, where I serve as the chapter treasurer. Rhythm of The Wings is a chapter of Women in Aviation International, a nonprofit 501(C)(3) organization, dedicated to providing networking, education, mentoring and scholarship opportunities for young  women, girls (and men) who are striving for challenging and fulfilling careers in the aviation and aerospace industries.

 

Rhythm of Wings is a chapter of Women in Aviation International which promotes awareness of careers in aviation for girls and women, mentoring activities through yearlong events that feature aviation expert presentations, panel presentations and discussions, workshop hands-on activities, aircraft static display and service learning projects.

 

On October 26, 2015, The Rhythm of the Wings Chapter sponsored its first ever, Women in Aviation International, Girls Day. That event held at the Fulton County Aviation Community Cultural Center, hosted over three hundred girls, some boys and parents. The purpose of the event was to promote an awareness of careers in aviation. Featured guests included Senator Donzella James, GA. District 35, who presented the chapter with Girls in Aviation Day proclamation declared by Georgia Governor, Nathan Deal. Other special guest included Major General Stacey Harris, United States Air Force, Dobbins Air Reserve Base as guest panelist, as well as other notable representatives from the aviation community and related industries.

 

I am the co-founder and president of Velaire Washington Enterprise Inc. an educational consulting firm. Velaire Washington Enterprise Inc. consults with graduate students seeking editing and coaching assistance to complete doctoral programs, provide educational consulting and programming to non-profit organizations, businesses and schools. Velaire Washington is currently developing educational initiatives within the South Fulton community to develop apprenticeship partnerships between aviation, motion picture, arts and entertainment, citizen reentry programs and other local industry to decrease crime and the dropout rate, to spark economic growth and increase the standard of living in the South Fulton area.

 

Velaire Washington Enterprise is a grant recipient for STARR Academy, an Aviation, Science Technology Engineering and the Arts (STEAM) initiative for Boys. The Starr Academy program offers after-school enrichment to at-risk male students to study and gain an awareness of careers in aviation, theater arts and STEAM.

 

I earned my Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Bethune-Cookman University, Masters in Educational Leadership, Specialist in Curriculum and Instructional Leadership and recently completed my Doctorate degree in Education, Teaching and Learning, from Argosy University on January 11, 2016.

 

I believe that District 65 is the “Tomorrowland” of the 21st century, because of its location in the backyard of Atlanta Hartsfield Airport, the world’s busiest airport, home of Delta Airlines, the world’s largest airline, Porsche North American Headquarters, the Aerotropolis project and future home of Atlanta Metro Studio, North America’s Largest Motion Picture Production Studio. As State Representative, our District 65 will be known for being the most improved and developed area in the metropolitan Atlanta.

 

As our national and local economy grows, businesses will seek development in District 65, based on the mere fact of its proximity to the Atlanta metropolitan area. The quality of life within District 65 depends on the caliber of industries located within the district. District 65 will not be riddled with a possible future of truck stop distribution centers, and fast food interstate locations. This quality of life expectancy will depend on the leadership administered by the District 65 State Representative, county officials and city municipalities.

 

“The time has come to propel District 65 into the 21st Century Way of Life.” This will occur with Improved and Effective Education Programs, Safe Communities and Economic Development.

 

I believe that low crime rates and high graduation rates are key to attract high tech or quality industry. Career development and apprenticeship job placement programs implemented within secondary education, displaced workers and citizen reentry programs that partner with industry relative to the local businesses in South Fulton such as aviation, motion picture industry and other local industries that will provide opportunities for at risk populations to reconnect to society and lead functional lives. Education curriculum that focuses on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) will effectively serve every population and attract high quality industry necessary for to equal and exceed our northern districts.

 

Safe Communities can be achieved with Citizen Reentry programs can assist with the adjustment of adjudicated populations to successfully transcend into the community and lessen the rate of recidivism. Citizen and Police collaborations such as the establishment of citizens police associations can assist with creating healthy communities with an awareness of crime and the influence of gang activity.

 

Economic Development with development of Infrastructure on state roads should be improved to support the growth of business and population to the area and lessen the effects of traffic creating death zones for pedestrians. Sidewalks should be developed in areas adjacent to school zones to allow our children, disable citizens as well as the general population to walk safely to and from school, shopping and local businesses. High-speed fiber optic technology should establish to support high-quality industry give our schools and communities the best opportunities at exist now and in the future. Parks and recreational area development is essential for the overall health and welfare of communities and attractiveness to high-tech industry and the real estate market.

 

In the Georgia House of Representatives, I will seek a working partnership with community, city, county, state and federal government to place District 65 into the forefront of not only metro Atlanta, Georgia or the United States but allow District 65 to become a world leader when it comes to the ecology, with establishment of the green concept when it comes to the construction of home developments, business, hospitals, utility conservation and energy usage. I believe the time has come to propel District 65 into the 21st century way of life.

 

With your support we can make district 65 a location destined for a 21st Century way of life.

 

Help me become the next District 65 State Representative.

 

Yours Truly,

Gordon W. Rolle, Jr.