Compton eighth-grader Edgar Ruelas dreams of being the first in his family to attend college, a goal that once felt distant but is now within reach thanks to an unlikely partnership. He’s receiving guidance from an unexpected source: high-powered talent agents from Beverly Hills.
For the past four years, William Morris Endeavor (WME), a leading entertainment and media agency, has dedicated dozens of its agents to mentoring students from two schools in Compton, California. This mentorship initiative, a cornerstone of the broader collaboration between WME and the Compton Unified School District, centers around regular visits by the students to WME’s impressive headquarters on Wilshire Boulevard.
“At first, meeting people from WME was nerve-wracking. I was intimidated because I didn’t really know what to expect from mentors,” confessed Edgar, a student at Whaley Middle School. “But now, I feel like we’re pretty close – they’re like friends now.”
The benefits of this unique arrangement extend beyond the students. Nancy Josephson, a WME agent and Edgar’s mentor, a mother of three, finds profound personal growth through her involvement. Working with Edgar, she explains, has offered her “enormous perspective on parenting our very privileged kids.”
“It has been instrumental in demonstrating to my children the true importance of qualities like perseverance, motivation, and genuine joy,” stated Josephson, whose client roster includes prominent figures like Tyra Banks, Joan Cusack, and Portia de Rossi. “Edgar is such a genuinely happy young man. It’s remarkable to see how much happiness he possesses without the need for material possessions.”
This schools project represents a distinctive community engagement initiative for WME, a Hollywood powerhouse representing A-list talent such as Ben Affleck, Oprah Winfrey, and Justin Timberlake. WME’s significant $2.4-billion acquisition of sports and media conglomerate IMG Worldwide solidified its position as the world’s largest talent agency.
Tangible Improvements and Mentorship at the Heart
While some might view WME’s involvement as purely public relations, the program yields concrete, positive outcomes. Stephen C. Foster Elementary School has witnessed a remarkable transformation. Its library, music room, and computer lab have been fully refurbished and upgraded. The school’s restrooms have been remodeled, and the playground equipment has been significantly improved. Vibrant murals now adorn the walls, and outdoor lighting fixtures have been installed, enhancing safety and aesthetics.
Both Foster and Whaley schools now boast thriving edible gardens, largely funded by WME client and Food Network star Giada De Laurentiis.
In total, WME and its non-profit foundation have invested over $1 million in these enhancements, primarily at Foster, leveraging their network of clients and partners to contribute both financially and with their time.
However, the cornerstone of this initiative is the personalized, one-on-one mentorship. Every other Wednesday, WME agents, who typically frequent power lunch spots, dedicate a portion of their workday to meet and connect with their Compton mentees over meals and focused sessions.
“They assist with homework, and once that’s done, we get to have fun,” shared Whaley seventh-grader Tytis Barnett, mentored by WME agents George Freeman and Liesl Copland.
WME leadership articulates a straightforward philosophy: treat the schools with the same dedication and strategic thinking as a Hollywood client.
“When managing an actor’s career, the focus is always on advancement and progress. We operate as problem solvers, requiring trust and a shared vision with the client,” explained Patrick Whitesell, co-CEO of WME. “These principles are directly applicable to our school partnerships. We approach it by asking, ‘What are Foster’s challenges and how can we help?’”
A Model for Public-Private Progress in Education
While partnerships between public school districts and private entities are not new, with Los Angeles Unified School District having a history of “adopted” schools benefiting from corporate upgrades and volunteer efforts, the mentorship component distinguishes WME’s program.
“It offers students an additional trusted adult to confide in and share their experiences,” noted A. Dee Williams, an education professor at Cal State L.A. “Providing diverse environments for students to practice engaging with the broader world is invaluable.”
Following the merger of William Morris Agency and Endeavor Talent Agency in 2009 to form WME, the new leadership aimed for their non-profit foundation to move beyond traditional check-writing philanthropy. Sarah Adolphson, director of the WME Foundation, and Christian Muirhead, WME’s chief communications officer, proposed focusing on education, starting with a deep engagement with a single local school where WME could have a significant impact.
WME Co-CEOs Whitesell and Ari Emanuel embraced the concept.
However, the program’s launch depended on a willing partner within the Compton school district and an enthusiastic principal at Foster, Jacqueline Sanderlin.
In 2009, WME interviewed principals to identify a partner school. Foster and Sanderlin were not initially considered, but actress Cheryl Hines, a WME client, changed the course. Hines, known for her role in “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” had worked with Sanderlin during a celebrity reading program and advocated for WME executives to meet her.
“Jackie possesses a remarkable ability to inspire people,” Hines commented. “Crucially, she knows precisely what resources are needed and how to ask for them. Many are willing to help but lack direction; Jackie excels at providing that starting point.”
Adolphson recounted the challenging conditions at Foster before WME’s involvement.
“The restrooms were frankly appalling,” she stated. “We learned that students were actively avoiding using them due to their state.”
Mentorship as a Catalyst for Aspiration
The absence of positive role models was another significant challenge. Sanderlin explained that prior to WME’s engagement, “many students lacked mentors…which underscored the critical need for this program.”
Currently, 42 WME agents mentor 19 students across Foster and Whaley. (WME expanded its investment to Whaley in 2012 as Foster students transitioned to the middle school level).
Teachers and administrators select program participants based on identifying students “who demonstrate both a need for and a desire for mentorship,” according to Sanderlin.
Every other week, students are transported by school bus to WME’s Beverly Hills offices. The visits typically begin with a meal on a spacious patio offering panoramic views of Beverly Hills and the Hollywood Hills, followed by individual mentoring sessions in agents’ offices.
“Edgar is just a year younger than my own son,” Josephson shared, recalling a recent session where she assisted him with math homework. “My commitment to this program has a significant emotional dimension.”
During a session, Edgar spoke about his goal of graduating middle school with a high GPA and his aspirations for higher education.
“Edgar talking about attending college is truly inspiring,” remarked Josephson, a graduate of Brown University and Harvard Law School. “Exposing these students to a professional environment in Beverly Hills where everyone is a college graduate – I believe it has a profound impact.”
Nearby, Copland engaged in conversation with Tytis as he waited to play pool in WME’s music department. Despite his initial shyness, Copland described moments of genuine connection and openness with the seventh-grader.
She recounted telling Tytis, “Whatever path you choose, college is going to be part of it.”
“I could see that it resonated deeply with him,” she said. “I even jokingly told him, ‘You’re not allowed to join the Army without consulting me first!’”
Agents Roll Up Their Sleeves for School Transformation
WME’s hands-on involvement with Foster began in 2010. Agents quickly became active participants in campus improvements, painting murals, planting trees, and organizing clean-up drives.
The immediate priority was the school restrooms. WME secured a $50,000 donation from Boston Celtics co-owner James Pallotta in 2010 to renovate the facilities, including one restroom so dilapidated and unsanitary that students refused to use it, according to Sanderlin.
The computer lab was another key area for improvement. After touring Foster in 2009, agent Don Muller contacted Dell Inc., securing a donation of approximately 15 laptops. Three years later, WME client OTOY, a cloud computing firm, contributed 30 new computers. WME also initiated a month-long summer camp, staffed partly by agents’ assistants, offering students sports, arts and crafts, and recreational activities.
The library also underwent a significant upgrade, benefiting from WME’s connections with publishers who donated books, and WME funded new library furniture. Even the teacher’s lounge was revitalized, furnished with classic leather armchairs from the William Morris Agency archives.
During WME’s partnership with Foster, the school’s Academic Performance Index score demonstrated improvement, rising from 722 in 2009 to 791 in 2012, although it experienced a slight dip to 757 in 2013.
UCLA professor John Rogers, director of the university’s Graduate School of Education and Information Studies, commended WME’s dedication but emphasized the broader systemic need: “We cannot rely on the expectation that every school will have a WME to step in.”
“Our public school system should ensure high-quality conditions in every neighborhood across the state,” he asserted. “Access to clean restrooms should not depend on the luck of partnering with a talent agency.”
WME’s commitment to the Compton schools is ongoing, with the Compton Unified School District renewing the program annually. WME executives express hope that their model will inspire other businesses throughout Los Angeles and beyond. The agency is expanding the program globally, launching initiatives in Brooklyn, London, and Nashville in 2013, including a mentoring program in Nashville.
Looking ahead, the schools program might even contribute to WME’s future talent pool. Several Foster and Whaley students have expressed interest in becoming talent agents. Emanuel enthusiastically welcomed this prospect.
“Isn’t that fantastic?” Emanuel exclaimed. “We have numerous mailrooms to fill. I’m excited to see them explore their potential and broaden their horizons.”
Twitter: @DanielNMiller
