Charlie Mae Ross serves as President/Chief Executive officer of the
Preston T. Ross, Jr. Mentoring Center, Inc.

Ms. Ross is no stranger when it comes to interacting with and serving people. Her professional career includes working in the industry as a Key-punch operator, and Data Entry supervisor. In 1987, she was employed by the City Colleges of Chicago as an instructor. She taught for 8 years in the food management department at Kennedy-King, and 14 years in the business department of Harold Washington.                                                

Ms. Ross is a three-time award recipient of Who’s Who Among America’s  Teachers. Harold Washington College sent her, along with other faculty, to Birmingham England to promote collaboration between the schools. She has volunteered as outreach food coordinator in the Englewood and Roseland areas. She served as a mentor at Ridge High school in Harvey, and as afterschool aide at Kenwood North Charter School. Also, she has been a sighted counselor at Center for Visually Impaired for more than 30 years. In 2005, she and hospitality students were blessed to cook for 100 Hurricane Katrina victims who were relocated to a Chicago suburb. She is currently a partner with GLG, a ministry for women, and OPI, an intergenerational collaboration for families.

Charlie Mae is passionate about serving others in the community. She has served as a teacher in Sunday school, Children’s church, and as facilitator of a Senior Bible class. She retired in August, 2011 so she could pursue and fulfill her passion of ministering to those in need. Her intention was to cook and serve in established soup kitchens. In February 2012, Ms. Ross’s son Preston, a 25-year veteran of the Chicago Police Department, passed away suddenly. While reading words written by a young man about her son being a mentor to him and many others, and keeping them on the right track, she knew what she should do.

In June 2016, Ms. Ross hired a consultant and invited family and close friends of Preston’s to an informative session. Her grandson, Preston III, flew in from Ohio. Derrick Hardy, the young man who wrote the article, flew in from California. It was decided that we should start the Preston T. Ross, Jr. Mentoring Center. Ms. Ross is excited to be part of the PTRJ Mentoring Center, and is looking forward to helping to enrich the lives of youth and young adults ages 12-24.