Isiah Anderson is a man of passion. From his faith, to his family, to his business, he is driven by a passion for change. With more than 20 years of experience in leadership, mentoring, and coaching, Isiah aides his team in developing and implementing programs designed to innovate urban education, create economic opportunities and cultivate community-building partnerships. He is the Managing Officer of Three Cord Inc., a management company committed to building strong, healthy, and sustainable urban communities that thrive in the areas of economic development, education, and community revitalization.Being raised by a single mother, Isiah is all too familiar with the struggle that often surrounds young black men in urban America. Fighting to survive the harsh realities of his life, Isiah struggled to identify himself, not based on his situation, but his potential as a leader. It was while attending Scotland School for Veterans Children that Isiah’s leadership qualities were identified and nurtured. From there he attended the Valley Forge Military Academy which led him to enlist in the U.S. Military, where he was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant Armor at Fort Knox Kentucky. He served in the United States military for 8 years.Isiah has worked within the community for the past 15 years, always serving in a capacity to mentor and guide urban youth, specifically through sports, coaching and counseling. He developed Three Cord Inc. to offer the best in education management and pioneer real change in community and economic development efforts. Seeing the success of Challenge Academy, a school he developed to provide alternative education for grades 6th through 12th, he set out to create other avenues of change and progression. After years of attending court hearings and funerals for young men, Isiah realized the immense need for effective, viable opportunities in the areas of economic development, community revitalization and education.This realization, matched with his passion and vision for change, motivated Isiah to establish an innovative inner-city school, New Hope Academy Charter School, in 2007. Serving students in grades 5th through 12th, New Hope Academy was designed to offer parents a choice in their child’s education, while creating stronger bonds in the community and connecting students to real life experiences that they can use beyond the classroom.In 2010, Isiah and his wife opened New Grounds Roasting Company as an avenue to create job opportunities and community building experiences in York City. New Grounds Roasting Company has been recognized as a community anchor business, bridging gaps between diverse groups of people from all backgrounds.He is responsible for leading and managing the continued development of all Three Cord Inc. schools and businesses. Isiah is a native of Philadelphia and holds a BA in Social Work from Shippensburg University. He and his wife, Jenne are the proud parents of five boys and two girls. They reside in York County, Pennsylvania.Read Isiahs Blog. Discover Isiah on Great Black Speakers.