Jeff Harrell, Program Coordinator

Jeff Harrell, Forest Park Program CoordinatorJeff Harrell was born and raised in Kent, Ohio.  He grew up in the middle class and had a diverse group of friends.  His mother was a teacher which helped to instill strong beliefs about the importance of education.  Watching his mother teach and witnessing how influential one can be in the lives of young people sparked his own passion and desire to work with kids.  His contribution to the local youth began in high school as a volunteer coach for volleyball camps run by his school.

Jeff went on to earn his Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Kent State University.  His interest in human behavior and how the mind works was especially focused on child psychology.  While in college, Jeff took an opportunity to move overseas to live in London for six months.  This break in school gave him world experience that he knew could not be gained in any classroom.  Living in another country and working with such a diverse population reinforced Jeff’s passion to do work that would inspire and bring people together.  During this time his love for music grew even stronger than it had ever been before.   He began creating his own music, which he continues to work on and evolve with to this day in his group viceverses.

The next step for Jeff was a move to Boston, MA where he would pursue a career in education.  While there, he took a position as a Teaching Associate at a Non-Profit Organization by the name of Citizen Schools, Inc.  Being at an after school program that is dedicated to enriching the lives and improving learning support for urban kids in and around Boston was a natural fit for Jeff.  The main focus was on succeeding in school, with additional emphasis on community outreach.  The values associated with the program really resonated to the core of Jeff, and he dedicated himself to becoming a positive role model for young people while helping them realize their potential.

Now, with his wife and a young son, Jeff finds himself back home in Northeast Ohio.  His dream has been to come, specifically, to the Cleveland area to work with its youth.  With the Open Doors program Jeff hopes to continue to reach out and provide support and inspiration to all of the young people that he works with day in and day out.