Who We Are
"Every student deserves the freedom to choose their path."
The Problem We Exist to Solve
Freedom of Choice – Education Initiative addresses declining economic mobility among 6th–12th grade students in under-resourced Houston communities. Students face layered constraints that begin in middle school and compound through high school: household income instability, limited exposure to high-earning career pathways, financial literacy deficits, scholarship access complexity, overextended school counseling systems, and limited professional mentorship networks.
These constraints reduce post-secondary readiness, limit scholarship capture, and increase the probability of debt accumulation without degree or credential completion. The result is reduced lifetime earnings trajectory and restricted economic mobility.
Houston's poverty is not spread evenly. It is concentrated in a geographic corridor that runs from North Houston through the East End and South Houston, overlapping almost precisely with the city's majority-Hispanic and majority-Black neighborhoods and the lowest-performing schools. Nearly 110,000 youth and young adults who remain disconnected from school and/or the workforce are Black, Indigenous, or People of Color from low-income communities.
"65.6% of all enrolled HISD students are 'at risk of dropping out'" — HISD, 2023–2024
Serving Houston's most under-resourced ZIP codes
Our Approach
Access to education is only the beginning. School choice programs have opened doors for thousands of students in under-resourced communities, but many still face barriers that prevent them from walking through those doors — financial pressure, limited mentorship, lack of exposure to career pathways, and gaps in financial literacy that affect decisions for decades.
We address the whole student. Our comprehensive four-pillar model — scholarships, mentorship, financial literacy, and exposure — ensures that students don't just attend school, they thrive. Programs are delivered in cohort format with structured milestones, so students move through the program together, building belonging that drives retention, and retention that drives outcomes.
Why Grades 6–12?
The 6th–12th grade span is the most consequential intervention window. Middle school is when identity around career and academic possibility forms.
Cohort-Based Structure
Students move through the program together — same peers, same mentor, same support team across multiple years.
Meeting Students Where They Are
We go to students' schools, neighborhoods, and communities. Participation cannot depend on transportation or resources that under-resourced families don't have.
Board of Directors
Romon Logan
Founder & Executive Director
Romon Logan
Founder & Executive Director
Romon Logan is the Founder and Executive Director of Freedom of Choice – Education Initiative, leading its mission to increase long-term economic mobility in under-resourced communities.
Growing up in St. Louis, Missouri, Romon has seen both ends of the educational and opportunity spectrum. He experienced environments where athletics or entertainment were often viewed as the primary paths forward, not always out of passion, but because few alternatives felt visible or attainable. Later exposure to broader educational guidance and mentorship reframed how he understood opportunity and long-term possibility.
As a former Division I athlete and musician, he connects directly with students who see sports or entertainment as their only option, while helping them recognize broader possibilities through informed access and guidance.
In previous years, he has secured and deployed over $20 million in capital across small businesses, real estate, and education-adjacent ventures, and grew a national education platform impacting 25,000+ entrepreneurs and families. He leads with disciplined stewardship and the belief that early access can shift generational outcomes.
Rory Holloway
Board Member / Development Director
Rory Holloway
Board Member / Development Director
Rory Holloway is a veteran sports executive, mentor, and youth advocate whose career spans elite sports management and nonprofit leadership.
As the former manager of heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, he negotiated some of the most consequential deals in boxing history, including a then-record $395 million contract with a $73 million signing bonus. He was involved in five of the highest-grossing pay-per-view events in boxing and co-authored Taming the Beast: The Untold Story of Mike Tyson. His work was later depicted in HBO's 1995 Mike Tyson film.
Earlier in his career, Rory served at Berkshire Farm Center and Services for Youth, working directly with at-risk young people — an experience that shaped his lifelong commitment to mentorship and second chances.
He is the co-founder of ALB Boxing Academy in Albany, New York, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit combining athletic training with mentorship, mental health support, and life skills development for underserved youth.
From managing world champions to developing future leaders, Rory brings disciplined leadership, integrity, and community-focused impact to the board.
Wendi-Ann Francis
Board Member / Treasurer
Wendi-Ann Francis
Board Member / Treasurer
Wendi-Ann Francis is a seasoned financial advisor and corporate leader with over a decade of experience in wealth management and fiduciary oversight. As a Private Client Advisor at Chase, she partners with high-net-worth individuals and families to build long-term strategies focused on asset protection, generational wealth, and disciplined financial planning.
Her background includes leadership roles at Chase, Merrill Lynch, BBVA, and Regions Investment Solutions, where she managed complex portfolios, led forecasting and cash flow strategy, and implemented structured planning frameworks to drive sustainable financial outcomes.
Grounded in ethical stewardship and strategic oversight, Wendi-Ann ensures donor resources are managed with transparency, prudence, and accountability. As Treasurer of Freedom of Choice – Education Initiative, she strengthens fiscal governance and safeguards the organization's long-term impact.
The Community We Serve
"Nearly 110,000 youth and young adults who remain disconnected from school and/or the workforce are Black, Indigenous, or People of Color from low-income communities — and they face structural barriers to accessing lucrative career pathways and quality jobs, particularly in high-demand STEM industries."
"I know which kids need my help with college applications, but I can't get to them all before the deadlines pass. By the time I meet with a senior one-on-one, they've already made a decision — usually to just go to work."Get Involved