Earl Martin Phalen

The Boy the System Forgot Became
The Man Challenging the System

A man in a black shirt and vest sits on a red chair, looking at the camera with a neutral expression against a plain white background.

In 1960s Boston, the statistics for a Black boy in the foster care system were grim: a 70% chance of ending up in the penal system. Earl Martin Phalen was one of those boys—until he wasn’t. Adopted by a white Irish Catholic couple with seven children, and a desire to change the life of one of those boys.

This is the story of the remarkable journey of Earl Martin Phalen, exploring the intersection of race, adoption, and the radical impact of high expectations.

Back Story.

Earl’s life is a series of improbable opportunities that lead to his passion and mission to create tens of thousands of opportunities for kids just like him:

  • The Beginning: Abandoned at birth and caught in a foster system that rarely saw children like him as “college material.”
  • The Turning Point: His adoption by George and Veronica Phalen. Growing up in a household where “love was the only language,” Earl was told he wasn’t just capable of success—he was expected to achieve it.
  • The Ascent: That expectation led him from Boston to the hallowed halls of Yale University and Harvard Law School.
  • The Legacy: Rather than pursuing a lucrative law career, Earl dedicated his life to “paying back” his parents’ belief in him. He founded Phalen Leadership Academies (PLA) and is currently the CEO of Great Jobs KC which stewards the KC Scholars Scholarship Program.
  • The Impact: 268 students have graduated from Phalen Leadership Academies from 20 schools across 5 states. 61% have graduated from college. 1,510 students have graduated from college through the Great Jobs KC KC Scholars Scholarship Program. The collective college graduation rate for students served by Earl Martin Phalen’s programs is nearly 70% triple the national average for students in their demographic. Over $100M capital raised and managed to support educational and workforce equity.

Why This Story?

This is a “full circle” story. It’s about more than education; as America grapples with the “wealth gap” and a broken workforce pipeline, Earl Martin Phalen offers a proven, scalable blueprint. His life is the “Proof of Concept” that the right support system can transform a “statistic” into a world-changer. This is a story of Family, Resilience, and the American Dream Reimagined. His work focuses not just on the education of the youth and adults he serves, but also on preparing them for the workforce and aligning them with opportunities that will provide financial stability and a true opportunity at generational wealth.

Black and white photo of a young child with short curly hair, wearing a light-colored sweater and pants, sitting and looking toward the camera.
A large multigenerational group of people pose together outdoors on steps in front of a building, smiling at the camera.
A group of eight adults stands behind an elderly man and woman seated on a wicker bench outdoors with green trees in the background.
A high school basketball team in gray uniforms gathers around their coach during a timeout on a gym court, with spectators seated nearby.
Three people in formal attire stand together in a decorated room with framed paintings and a floral arrangement in the background.
Two men sit and talk near a stone wall; one wears a black sweatshirt with the word "COURAGEOUS" printed on it and smiles at the other man, who wears a black vest and shirt.
Cover of Fast Company magazine featuring a close-up of a bald man with a goatee, alongside headlines about business awards and entrepreneurs.

The Visuals.

  • The Archives: We have access to incredible photos of Earl’s childhood in Boston—a Black son in a large Irish Catholic family during a transformative era in American history. (link to gallery of photos)
  • The Impact: We can take your cameras inside the classrooms and training centers across the country, where Earl is now the “George and Veronica” for thousands of others.
  • The Interview: Earl is a soulful, cinematic storyteller who speaks with deep vulnerability about his identity and his mission.

Featured in National Media.

Yellow circle with white text reading "Good Morning America" and a black circle at the bottom with white "abc" text inside, featuring a mention of Great Jobs KC.

Celebrating Education Week, Good Morning America helps KC Scholars give more than $5 million in scholarships to deserving students

CNN logo with white letters on a red background, symbolizing a trusted source of news. Perfect for those pursuing a career or seeking the latest updates on job opportunities worldwide.

Ralph Yarl Scholarship featured on “First of All w/ Victor Blackwell”, CNN

Earl’s life proves that a zip code or a birth certificate doesn’t have to be a destiny. I would love to discuss how we might bring this beautiful, multi-faceted story to your viewers.

Let's chat

For more on Earl's mission and legacy

Earl Martin Phalen 
Entrepreneurial Ventures in Education 

Media Contact

Kate Crockett
kate.crockett@greatjobskc.org
816-406-1899
A group of graduates in caps and gowns celebrating outdoors. Text on the image reads "Over $12 million in scholarships being awarded." These scholarships are paving the way for promising careers.
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Stephanie underwood - Chief financial Officer

Stephanie Underwood serves as Chief Financial Officer at Great Jobs KC, where she leads the organization’s financial strategy in support of its mission to create economic mobility through education and workforce opportunities. With more than 17 years of experience in nonprofit finance, Stephanie brings deep expertise in financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and compliance. She is passionate about using her career as a platform to serve and support mission-driven organizations, helping them maximize impact through strong financial stewardship.

Prior to joining Great Jobs KC, Stephanie served as Chief Financial Officer for Griffith Centers, a behavioral and mental health organization, where she oversaw financial operations for a multi-million-dollar organization spanning residential, educational, and community-based programs. She also spent nearly a decade as Vice President of Accounting Services at NFP Partners, providing CFO-level leadership to nonprofit organizations across the country, with a focus on strategic growth, audit readiness, and governance.

Outside of her professional role, Stephanie volunteers her time at her church and serves on the board of a local nonprofit. She is known for her collaborative leadership style and her commitment to aligning financial strategy with mission impact. She holds a Master of Science in Accounting and is proud to be a first-generation college graduate.

 

 

 

Adult Learner College Scholarship

The Adult Learner Scholarship application is closed. Please click GET STARTED to be added to communication reminders on when to apply during the next open cycle.

Program offers:

  • Up to $25,000 paid directly to the college over the course of up to six years.
  • Once awarded, the Scholar can enroll full or part-time the fall semester following awarding.
  • Scholarship can be used at any of our college partners. See our current list of partners HERE.
  • Scholarship can be used towards an associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree, or a credit-bearing credential. 

Eligibility Requirements: 

  • Be a high school graduate or GED holder (24 years or older).
  • Live in one of the six eligible counties. (Kansas: Wyandotte, Johnson; Missouri: Cass, Clay, Jackson, Platte)
  • Be income eligible. (FASFA Student Aid Index of 12,000 or less)
  • Have not previously earned a bachelor’s degree.
  • Have not previously been awarded a KC Scholars Scholarship (Traditional or Adult Learner).
  • Is not currently enrolled in a Great Jobs KC Skills Training Program.
  • US Citizenship/Residency is not required to apply.

If you need more information on program details, please find our FAQs HERE

GET STARTED

Jimmy Swift - Chief Operating Officer

As the Chief Operating Officer, Jimmy Swift is responsible for overseeing our core programs, our adult workforce development program, Great Jobs KC tuition-free job training, and our KC Scholars Scholarship Program, which includes 11th Grade Traditional Scholarships and Adult Learner Scholarships. 

Jimmy has a career in education that spans more than 25 years and is built around supporting and improving the performance of career training programs and leading the operations of degree-granting institutions. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in management and has served as Campus President, Vice President of Career Services, and Executive Director of various career schools.  

Most recently, Jimmy served as the Vice President of PLA University at Phalen Leadership Academies, bringing access to job skill training to the parents and families of the Scholars served by Phalen Leadership schools across the country.  Beyond his higher education experience, Jimmy serves as the Executive Board Chairman for Project Safety Net NY, a nonprofit community-based agency delivering a broad range of health, education, and prevention services to the New York Community. As the Chief Operating Officer for Great Jobs KC, he and his team are poised to make a substantial impact on the economic stability and future of Kansas City.

Great Jobs KC
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