A 20-year veteran of public education, Karl Kemp is a servant leader committed to empowering the next generation of leaders. With a background in Human Resources, Athletic Administration, and Public Policy, his career expands over several industries, including Non-For-Profit consulting, Community Engagement, and Male Mentoring. Karl’s commitment to youth development was most visible during his time as Executive Director of Sports for the third-largest school district in the nation, Chicago Public Schools. Karl currently serves as the Executive Director for the Common Ground Foundation. It is this work that allows him to utilize his passion for service and real-world professional experience to create genuine experiences for youth to help them find not only their voices but their passions and purpose in life.

A lifelong Chicagoan, Karl is a proud product of the Chicago Public Schools system. Taking a non-traditional path through higher education, Karl experienced college at the historic HBCU of Florida A&M University as well as the City Colleges of Chicago for his undergraduate degree. Karl is a recent graduate of the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy, where he received his MA in Public Policy.