In 2013, fresh out of law school, and before he became a Houston City Council Member, Edward Pollard, 37, knew he wanted to focus on inner-city youth as a way to impact the lives of young minority males and give them the foundation to become successful productive men. His idea sprung one day after watching a local news segment about underprivileged high school girls getting beautiful dresses donated to them for prom. Pollard wondered why nothing was mentioned about underprivileged boys getting suits or tuxedos donated to them. It caused him to go online and try to find programs that were specifically aimed at high school-age boys in Houston that prepare them for the real world, and to his shock, he did not find hardly any.
Without knowing anything about starting a non-profit, he simply began writing out the mission and purpose of what would eventually turn into Suits for Success. Founded in 2014 by Pollard and two of his colleagues, Suits for Success is a 501c3 organization for high school boys. It is a semester-long mentorship course that teaches practical subjects usually not taught in traditional classroom settings, such as etiquette training, resume building, interview techniques, personal finance, political engagement, mental health, peer pressure, and how to tie a tie. At the completion of the program, each student receives a free suit, shirt, and tie for high school graduation or prom and life beyond.
Over time, the Suits for Success program grew to include field trips to college fairs and ball games and fine dining outings at restaurants for etiquette training. Students also hear from trained psychologists on mental health topics as well as professional athletes who speak on the importance of education. The success of the program prompted the start of Belts for Boys, which targets fifth graders, teaching them about self-confidence and personal appearance.
In 2017, Pollard founded his own law firm, Pollard Legal Group, and in 2019, he was elected to Houston City Council, currently serving as the only Black male council member in the nation’s fourth-largest city.
As an elected official, Pollard stresses to his Suits for Success students the importance of being politically active. Rather than speaking on partisan politics, he educates participants on how government works on the local, state, and federal levels. He also teaches them how to find their government representatives and research political policies. Most of all, Edward Pollard is careful to communicate the importance of registering to vote and sacrifice many people, especially Black people, who fought just to secure that right for us today.
Pollard believes one of the best ways to better society is by investing in our youth. Finding opportunities to devote time to genuinely engage young people, especially those coming from challenging backgrounds, about the necessary tools they will need to thrive is essential to the overall wellbeing of society. If each person does his or her small part to enhance the lives of others, it will make a huge impact. Pollard is proving that politics and being a politician go beyond policy and partisan platforms and should truly be about service to others. His passion for service has led him to dedicate his efforts to guiding today’s youth so that they have every opportunity to be tomorrow’s leaders and ensure our future is bright.
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http://www.pollardlegalgroup.com/