Richard Rossi

Richard's love for education and public service began as a high school junior when he received a scholarship to attend a weeklong civics program in Washington, D.C. sponsored by U.S. Senator Lowell Weicker, Jr.

In 1974, Richard began a nine-year career in the United States Senate on the staff of Senator Weicker while paying his way though Georgetown University as a government major.

Richard is a lifelong social entrepreneur and educator who has dedicated most of his adult life to helping students of high potential throughout the world bring about positive change as young leaders of tomorrow.

After his successful run working with congressional leaders, Richard joined forces with longtime educator Barbara Harris to teach leadership and civics to high potential high school students using Washington, D.C. as a living classroom.

Over the last 25 years, over 500,000 students have graduated from leadership, career and life skills programs executed by Richard, Barbara and their team at Envision EMI (the EMI stands for: Educate, Motivate and Inspire).

Many of these students have grown up to hold leadership positions in business and government and have themselves become agents of positive change throughout the world.

Richard is an authority on the high-achieving child and an advocate for giving children the critical life and leadership skills that often are not part of the traditional school curriculum.

Richard lives in Washington, D.C. with his wife Lisa, children Anna and Will and their two Westies, Daisy and Twinkle.

---

Barbara Harris

Co-founder, owner, entrepreneur, supreme educator; these are but a few titles that can (and do) accurately describe Barbara Harris. She however prefers, and rightfully so, to be known as the soul and conscience of Envision.

Prior to co-founding the Congressional Youth Leadership Council, the National Youth Leadership Forum and Envision EMI with her business partner Richard Rossi, Barbara had enjoyed a tremendously successful career both as a classroom teacher and as a school administrator. She was the classic "field trip" teacher who far preferred her students to learn through experiences rather than through traditional text books (much to the delight of her students but often times to the dismay of administrators!).

Barbara's enthusiasm for education is infectious and she serves as the beacon for Envision's education department. In addition, her entrepreneurial spirit and leadership have been instrumental in Envision achieving its goals.

Aside from her work at Envision, Barbara serves on the Board of Directors for Washington First Bank, as a member of the Women's Leadership Board at Harvard University and participated in the Inaugural Women in Power and Leadership at the Kennedy School of Government.

---