Kareem Rosser
Award-Winning Author and Polo Player


Kareem Rosser 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. His foundational belief in education is the most critical tool for children and people of all ages to excel. 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 in Philadelphia, PA. At the age of 8, Kareem began riding horses and playing polo.  In 2011, he made history when he led the Work to Ride team (the first-ever Black/African American polo team) to an interscholastic national championship. He was named Interscholastic Player of the year. Later in 2015, he led Colorado State University to a national championship. He received his second Player of the Year award that year.

 

He has traveled to Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America to play in some of the world’s most prestigious polo tournaments. Kareem has been featured on HBO Real Sports, 60 Minutes, ESPN E: 60, NBC Today’s Show, and multiple national publications. 

 

Kareem graduated from Colorado State University with a bachelor’s degree in Economics. After graduation, he returned to Philadelphia to work as a financial analyst. At the same time, he is a board member and treasurer of the Work to Ride program.  He learned to ride and play polo at the Work to Ride program. Since 2019, he has helped raise more than seven million dollars to support the program.

 

Kareem continues to inspire others by speaking about his story. He has spoken at many notable corporations and academic institutions. Namely, SEI Investment Company, Mars Inc, Accenture, Ralph Lauren, Colorado State University, and many more.

Download Bio
HARDCOVER
Crossing the LineA fearless team of brothers and the sport that changed their lives forever.
St. Martin's Griffin

Crossing the Line: A Fearless Team of Brothers and the Sport That Changed Their Lives Forever is a story of the bonds of brotherhood, family loyalty, the transformative connection between man and horse, and forging a better future from impossible odds.


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.





Check out Kareem Rosser’s feature in Ralph Lauren.

Mainline Today documents Rosser’s journey to Interscholastic Champion. 

Stay connected with Kareem Rosser on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

“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, California