Dr. James Kallusky knows firsthand that when young people experience unattended and extended trauma and adversity, it is not surprising for their lives to unravel in an instant.  This understanding shaped his passion for supporting youth to gather their resilience, perseverance and grit to overcome hardship and avoid collapse.  Over the past 30 years, he has dedicated his career to serving young people at risk of being disconnected from their positive, possible futures.

 

Throughout his career, James has been a community program leader, teacher, professor, author, government advisor and nonprofit executive.  He has worked directly with a variety of groups, from expelled students to teen parents to gang members to incarcerated youth.  His direct service programs were based on Sports-Based Youth Development principles prior to the term being coined. Later, as an academic, he created the nation’s first BA and MA degree programs in Sport and Community Development and his book, Youth Development and Physical Activity, is widely used in universities around the world.

 

Prior to joining Fight For Children, James was Chief Operating Officer at Laureus Sport for Good Foundation where he oversaw grant making, research and impact, finance, talent, collective impact programs, and strategic partnerships.  He has also served as Deputy Director at the Clinton Foundation, VP of Strategy and Growth at Up2Us Sports, and was a tenured professor at California State University, Los Angeles. 

 

Outside of the office, James enjoys spending quality time with his family, motorsports and gardening.