Mims Rouse, Jr. is a proud African American southerner, born in Orlando and raised in Apopka, Florida, where he grew up as the youngest of six children. He credits his parents’ 50-year marriage for modeling love, stability, and the enduring values of education, community, and faith—principles that continue to anchor his leadership and life’s work.

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After earning a BA in English Literature from Rollins College and an MBA in Finance from the University of Central Florida, Mims built a career spanning the private, government, and nonprofit sectors. He began his professional journey as an office manager for an alternative education program serving at-risk youth, later spending more than eight years with the U.S. Department of Labor as a supervising compliance officer and Assistant District Director for equal employment opportunity enforcement.

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In 2012, Mims relocated to the Pacific Northwest for a corporate affirmative action role with a Fortune 500 company. A former credentialed HR professional turned sociopreneur, he founded The African American-XY Program LLC, a software firm supporting mentoring programs through youth education, career exploration, and lifestyle development.

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Today, Mims served over 8 years as Executive Director of the Coalition of Black Men (COBM), Senior DEI Consultant for a human resources firm, and Cultural Navigator for an education-centered nonprofit. Across all roles, he remains a committed advocate for youth empowerment, equity, and community uplift—continuing the legacy of love, service, and stability first modeled in his own home.