About the Hosts

Maurice was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and he grew up in the English Woods neighborhood. He is a 2004 graduate of Jacobs High School. Maurice received a BA in Organizational Leadership from the University of Cincinnati in 2016 and a MS in Organizational Leadership with graduate certificates in Human Resource Management and Nonprofit Leadership in 2018. Maurice works as Program Director for UpSpring, the only local nonprofit that exclusively served the educational needs of youth experiencing homelessness.

Maurice serves as the President/Founder of the Cincinnati Youth Collaborative Young Professionals Board. Maurice also serves as a board member for the Recovery Center of Hamilton County , Cincinnati College Preparatory Academy – a public charter school, The Character Council and the University of Cincinnati College of Arts and Sciences Alumni Activity Board.

In his free time, Maurice volunteers his time on the previously mentioned boards to serve his community.

JeRod is a community educator, who is focused on creating access and awareness for impoverished populations. JeRod has worked in several industries, from sales and service to hospitality, but is the work that he does within the community that ignites him. He has been a mentor to homeless and at-risk children, facilitated professionalism and financial literacy classes for public high schools, and coached youth sports. It is JeRod’s mission to leave a fingerprint on our underserved communities by lending a help hand whenever possible.

JeRod is a graduate from the University of Cincinnati with a Bachelors in Literature and Cultural studies. JeRod enjoys spending his free time with his two sons, family and friends. JeRod also serves a s a board member on the Cincinnati Youth Collaborative's Young Professionals Board.