“We Are L.A. Strong!”

(East Los Angeles, CA) [From The Editor’s Desk]: There was simply no shortage of events that the Rams Community Impact & Engagement team had planned for during this special 2025 Black History Month observance. And, after loading up the van with all of the required materials, then visiting two elementary schools on two separate days, and lastly, traveling to two different cities, all of that was certainly no big obstacle for this outstanding, and extraordinary component of the Rams organization.

This Impact & Engagement mission was truly about commitment, dedication, and resolve, which brought the bright moments to see the smiles on all of the young elementary students’ faces as they learned new subject matter. 

In recognition of Black History Month, the Los Angeles Rams continued their series of community initiatives to honor the past and celebrate the future of Black culture by hosting “Rams Readers” assemblies during this final week of the observance that incorporated a Kenny Washington coloring activity sheet at Ward Elementary School, located in Downey, CA on Tuesday, 2/25,  and subsequently at Mesa Elementary School, located in the City of West Covina, CA. on Thursday, 2/27. Both events were held in the morning school hours from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

The Rams continued to reflect on artistic expression as a cornerstone of Black culture, serving as a powerful tool for storytelling, resistance, and community-building that the organization highlighted through their “Canvas of Culture” initiative. In this recently unveiled mural located in the Nickerson Gardens Housing Development, in Watts, CA, shown above carrying the ball is the late and great Rams Legend, #13 Kenny Washington, plus four of his fellow All-Time Legends. 

During the assemblies, Rams Cheerleaders, mascot Rampage, and staff members took that special time to read the team’s book “Ride with Rampage,” and interacted with the students as they filled out their Kenny Washington coloring activity sheet.

To end our story at this point, we simply and gratefully say that Congratulations are in store to the Rams on yet another resounding and inspirational Black History Month Celebration here in our City of the Angels, our L.A. County, and the other surrounding counties that make up the entire Southern California jurisdiction.

We encourage all to read on for the profile of Kenny Wasington and the Rams Readers Literacy Program. 

[Background On Kenny Washington’s Story] On March 21, 1946, the Rams broke the color barrier in the NFL with the signing of University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), standout and LA-native Kenny Washington. During his time at UCLA, Washington was the first All-American in school history and played alongside Jackie Robinson, who was the first African American to play Major League Baseball (MLB) in the modern era. Washington played for the Rams for three seasons and still holds the team record for longest run from scrimmage with his 92-yard rushing touchdown. After his football career, Washington appeared in several films, including The Jackie Robinson Story. Washington also served as a Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officer for several years. He died in 1971.

[Background on Rams Readers Literacy Program]

The Rams kicked off the Rams Readers literacy program and released Ride with Rampage in 2022 and since launching the program, have visited more than 90 schools and distributed over 17,000 copies of Ride with Rampage to first through third-grade students in Inglewood Unified School District (IUSD) and Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD).

Copies of Ride with Rampage can be purchased at www.ramsfanshop.com, Amazon, and in select Barnes & Noble locations across Los Angeles. All proceeds from retail purchases will benefit the Los Angeles Rams Foundation.

Ride with Rampage is a key component of the Rams Readers program, which encourages students to explore the excitement that reading can provide while helping improve literacy rates among students throughout Los Angeles.