Who We Are.
The people, values, and culture behind ROOTED for Change.
Dr. John M. Edwards
Founder & CEO, ROOTED for Change
Dr. John M. Edwards is a Memphis native, strategist, educator, and lifelong advocate whose personal experiences shaped his understanding of how access can influence opportunity. He founded ROOTED for Change from a simple but powerful belief: when people have access, possibilities expand.
Dr. Edwards brings expertise across organizational leadership, workforce development, education, and community engagement — and a commitment to building systems that are personal, generational, and purposeful. He holds an Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership and a Harvard Business School Executive Leadership Certificate.
“I didn’t build ROOTED because I had all the answers. I built it because I’ve seen what happens when communities have access — and I’ve seen what happens when they don’t. This is personal. This is purpose. This is ROOTED.”
— Dr. John M. Edwards, Founder & CEO
What We Stand For.
These values guide every program, partnership, and decision we make.
Access
We believe access is a right, not a privilege. Everything we do is designed to remove barriers and expand opportunity.
Equity
We center the voices, experiences, and needs of those who have historically had the least access to resources and power.
Community
Real change is built from the ground up — through relationships, trust, and proximity to the people we serve.
Dignity
Every person we serve is met with respect, care, and the recognition of their full humanity and potential.
Accountability
We hold ourselves to high standards of transparency, stewardship, and integrity in everything we do.
Growth
We invest in long-term transformation — personal, organizational, and generational — because lasting change takes time.
The People Behind the Mission.
Dr. John M. Edwards
Founder & CEO
The architect of ROOTED’s vision — bringing together decades of experience in organizational leadership, workforce development, education, and community engagement to build something that lasts.
Nicko
Executive Assistant & Marketing
The operational backbone of ROOTED — keeping the mission moving forward through sharp execution, creative thinking, and deep commitment to the work.
Lennon Mudzengerere
Grants & Development Manager
Leading ROOTED’s fundraising strategy and grant development — connecting the mission to the resources it needs to grow, sustain, and scale across Central Texas.
We lead with love.
At ROOTED, we believe the way we work is just as important as the work itself. We lead with empathy. We listen before we act. We stay grounded through reflection and proximity to the communities we serve. We celebrate progress, hold space for learning, and show up for each other the same way we show up for the people we serve.
Empathy first.
We center human connection in everything we do
Community voice leads.
We listen before we act, always
Growth is a practice.
We invest in our team the same way we invest in our community
Interested in Joining ROOTED?
We’re always looking for passionate, mission-driven individuals to join our team as staff, volunteers, mentors, or interns. If you believe in expanding access and creating lasting change in Central Texas — there’s a place for you here.