About the Founder

Ted L. Mangum was born in Raleigh, North Carolina in 1950 and raised in the nearby town of Garner.  Experiencing firsthand the 1960s era of Jim Crow segregationist policies of the South made him focus his attention on societal ills, racial discord, American politics and the very meaning of education itself at a very early age.

Ted went on to follow in the heroic footsteps of many men in his family (including his father) by serving his country, entering the US military in his late teens. Upon entering the Army, he saw the devastations that war took on soldiers and their families, forever impacted by the tragedies impacting children the most. After leaving the army, he tried to forget as much as he could by redirecting his efforts on positive activities. He entered North Carolina A&T State University where he wrote for the several newspapers, including the one for his school. He also served as president of the NC A&T Veterans’ Association after seeing the needs of his fellow vets. During his senior year, he went on to serve as Student Body President, revolutionizing how the student government impacted the University.

Soon after graduation, he married his college sweetheart, took on a leadership position with a major corporation, and began his family. After several years in corporate America, Mangum decided to answer a greater call. The 1980s was plagued with drugs, gangs, social injustices, political unrest, educational deficits, and an increase in teen pregnancies. Tormented with the injustices suffered by youth during his upbringing and recalling the atrocities involving children in Vietnam, he decided to collaborate with other like-minded intellects and start a nonprofit that would focus on providing solutions aiming to attack the core of many problems facing the newer generations. That was the birth of what was then, RELA.

While the initial idea for the program was developed in the 1970s, it did not come to life until the 1980s. Mangum continued to fight for youth in various communities for decades. Retired, he now focuses his attention on providing subject-matter expertise through consulting services for nonprofits. He is often seen cheerfully handing out dollar bills to every child he encounters. His favorite moments now involve spending time with his grandchildren who have lovingly monikered him as “Big Grandpa”.

See the extended version on our YouTube channel here.