Kareem Rosser
Kareem Rosser is the author of the award-winning memoir, Crossing the Line: A Fearless Team of Brothers and the Sport that Changed their Lives Forever. He was born and raised in West Philadelphia. At the age of eight, Kareem began riding horses and playing polo through the local non-profit, Work to Ride after his brothers discovered a barn full of horses riding their bicycles through Fairmount Park. Founded by Lezlie Hiner, Work to Ride empowers inner city youth through horsemanship, equine sports, and education programs.
In 2007, Kareem received an academic scholarship to Valley Forge Military Academy where the structure, discipline, and diversity of military school impacted his life for the better. He made history in 2011 when he led the Work to Ride team, featuring his brother Daymar Rosser and Brandon Rease to a National Interscholastic Polo Championship, becoming the first ever African American polo team to do so. As a result he earned the Polo Training Foundation Male Interscholastic Polo Player of the Year award. In 2015, he led Colorado State University to a collegiate National Championship and received the Polo Training Foundation Intercollegiate Player of the Year award.
Kareem graduated from Colorado State University with a bachelor’s degree in Economics in 2016. He is currently Executive Vice President and board member of Work to Ride. Since 2018, he has led development efforts for Work to Ride, helping to raise millions to support the program and their state-of-the-art barn renovation.
He has traveled to Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America to play in some of the world’s most prestigious polo tournaments including the Townsend Cup, Unicef Cup, and more. Kareem has been featured on HBO Real Sports, 60 Minutes, ESPN E: 60, NBC TODAY Show and numerous other national publications. He has also been featured as a model in campaigns for Ralph Lauren Polo.
One of Kareem’s life missions is to inspire and empower others by sharing his story and life experience through keynote speaking. He has spoken at many notable corporations and academic institutions including the SEI Investment Company, Mars Inc., Accenture, Ralph Lauren, Colorado State University, and many more.
Kareem is the co-founder of the Philadelphia Polo Classic, the city’s first ever polo event. The PPC welcomes over 3,000 guests annually to Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park, attracting local and national audiences for a sensational event centered around polo matches featuring the sport’s greatest champions. Proceeds from the PPC benefit the Work to Ride program.
|
Hardcover
|
“This moving memoir explores how life and love rarely pan out the way we plan it...Beautifully written, [When You’re Ready] is a tribute to love in all its manifestations.” — The Seattle Times
An unforgettable and heartrending love story that will break your heart and piece it back together.
Kareem Ross...Read More
|
|
Trade Paperback
|
"A marvelous addition to the literature of inspirational sports stories." - Booklist (Starred Review)
"This remarkable and inspiring story shines." - Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)
An inspiring memoir of defying the odds from Kareem Rosser, captain of the first all-black squad to win the National Interschola...Read More
|
Crossing the Line by Kareem Rosser
Kareem tells his life story about becoming a polo champion while growing up in the “Da Bottom,” a West Philadelphia neighborhood plagued by poverty and violence. He delivers an inspirational presentation detailing his love for family, horses, and his ability to persevere.
Mental Health
Kareem is no stranger when it comes to loss. At a young age, he lost several family members and friends to violence and drug addiction. He candidly addresses the stigma associated with mental health while at the same time demonstrating vulnerability.
Mentorship
If it weren’t for the crucial mentorship of Work to Ride founder Lezlie Hiner, his brothers, mother, and countless others, Kareem would not be where he is today. He owes his success to those many mentee experiences and believes that is a key to growth for the youth of our world. He is constantly involved as a mentor to many of the Work to Ride members. One of Kareem’s long-term goals is to positively impact the lives of children of all ages, just as his mentors have done for him.
Education
Kareem has used the quote from Nelson Mandela, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world,” as a guiding light in his life. Kareem’s foundational belief in education is the most critical tool for children and people of all ages to excel.
“4 books to look forward to this winter”
“Crossing The Line with the Rosser Brothers”
“Polo star Kareem Rosser’s Best Day Ever in Philadelphia”
“Philadelphia to host first Polo Classic”
“Ponies in Fairmount Park: Philly’s first polo tournament coming in the fall”
“A polo champion from West Philadelphia?”
“A Polo Star Documents His Journey From Philly Kid to National Champion”
“‘Horses saved my life’ – how a boy from West Philly made polo history”
“Polo For All: PW Talks with Kareem Rosser”
“Philadelphia’s Horseback Riding Clubs”
“Kareem Rosser Is the New Face of American Polo”
“West Philly’s Work to Ride program saddles up with Ralph Lauren”
Stay connected with Kareem Rosser on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
“An alumnus of Colorado State University, Kareem agreed to serve as our 2021 Commencement speaker in Fall 2020. Kareem was always quick to respond and generous with his time. His message to graduates was heartfelt and sincere, and offered a great boost to students who were graduating during challenging times. We all enjoyed working with Kareem and would recommend him for any future speaking opportunities.”
― Kelly Liggett, Managing Director, Strategic Engagement, Colorado State University
“We had the honor of hosting award-winning author and championship polo player, Kareem Rosser at our 2022 One City One Book Author event. Kareem spoke about his memoir; Crossing the Line: A Fearless Team of Brothers and the Sport That Changed Their Lives Forever. Kareem was extremely gracious, earnest, and engaging. He made a powerful connection with audience members and was kind, approachable, honest, and real as he answered questions and discussed his book with our moderator and met with the public at a book signing after. It was a delight to meet him and have him speak to our community members and we were thrilled with their response. We highly recommend Kareem to other Libraries, or any groups or audiences who want to be inspired by a story about the bonds of family loyalty, the transformative connection between man and horse, and forging a better future while defying and overcoming impossible odds. He was terrific!”
― Charlotte Burrows, Public Services Division Manager and One City One Book Committee Chair, Thousand Oaks Library, Thousand Oaks, CaliforniaBook This Speaker
x
