Frost Equity Initiative: Bridging the Digital Divide
| LaRhonda “Ronnie” Frost is the Executive Director and Founder of Frost Equity Initiative, a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to making STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) education accessible to all K-12 students. With over 20 years of experience in the information technology field, primarily in web and mobile engineering, Ronnie is a passionate advocate for digital literacy. Throughout her career, she has worked with major companies like Activision and Cedars-Sinai, contributing to high-profile projects such as Skylanders, Crash Bandicoot, and Call of Duty. These experiences inspired her to help youth learn coding by creating their own games. Frost Equity Initiative was founded during the pandemic as a response to the growing need for quality STEAM programming in schools. Ronnie saw firsthand the disparity in access to educational resources. In her corporate roles, she mentored high school interns from prestigious schools that offered rigorous tech programs. She noticed a stark contrast between those students and the underrepresented youth she taught in nonprofit STEAM programs. As a first-generation college student herself, Ronnie is deeply committed to leveling the playing field, making high-quality STEAM education and mentorship accessible to all learners, regardless of their background. Ronnie credits her work with the NEW Women’s Business Center (NEW-WBC) as a driving force behind Frost Equity Initiative’s growth. “Working with the NEW Women’s Business Center has been instrumental to my business development,” she says. “Attending vendor events gave me the opportunity to showcase Frost Equity Initiative’s offerings to educators, which resulted in over $20,000 in business. I also learned about grant resources and nonprofit funding opportunities, leading to a recent grant from Los Angeles County to support our financial education programs.”Frost Equity Initiative partners with schools, parents, and industry professionals to offer fun, interactive STEAM enrichment experiences and mentorship. The organization focuses on schools in the Los Angeles area, where over 95% of students qualify for the federal free or reduced lunch program, and students are often underperforming in math and science.Through the work of Frost Equity Initiative, Ronnie is helping to close the skills gap and ensure that all students, regardless of their circumstances, have the opportunity to thrive in the digital age. |
| Irene VazquezProgram Managerivazquez@neworg.us 818-650-1168 |
