Social Impact Heroes: Why & How Ronald L. Book Of ‘Lauren’s Kids’ Is Helping To Change Our World
My favorite life lesson quote is “Nothing is impossible.” There’s also a Latin phrase I live by, “The facts speak for themselves.” Every bit of who I am as a person is tied to this mindset. The belief that everything can be done drives me forward, even when faced with challenges. For example, when I ran track, I was the shortest guy on the team. My strides had to be twice as long as the others to keep up, but I never let that stop me. I took the challenge head-on, and it taught me that with determination, anything is possible.
As part of my series about “individuals and organizations making an important social impact”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Ronald Book.
Ronald L. Book, P.A., is the President and CEO of his namesake firm, which has set the gold standard in government affairs since its founding in 1987. Renowned for his tenacity, expertise, and unmatched influence, Ron has shaped Florida’s political and policy landscape across sectors from healthcare and environmental remediation to transportation and economic development. Beyond his professional achievements, Ron is a 2024 Nobel Peace Prize Nominee and dedicated community leader, serving as Chairman of the Miami-Dade Homeless Trust and the Lauren’s Kids Foundation, where he champions initiatives to combat homelessness and end childhood sexual abuse.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?
From an early age, I believed I wanted to be an elected official. When I was 16, I fought city hall to get parks built in my neighborhood and successfully persuaded the city councilman to make it happen. That experience was so deeply impactful to me.
As time went on, I realized I could be entrepreneurial and, instead of serving in public office, I could still make a difference in the community and leave my mark. We’re all supposed to leave this place better than we found it — no exceptions. When you focus on creating impact for others, rather than yourself, you discover there are ways to fulfill that desire for public service. Sometimes, you can do it even more effectively outside the world of elected office. By leveraging my entrepreneurial successes, I’ve been able to serve as a volunteer and channel those resources into making a charitable impact.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company or organization?
I have two signs in my office: Nothing is impossible and It can be done. I truly believe that in the governmental process, if you approach it with an understanding of compromise, you can accomplish almost anything. It’s all about finding ways to make the pieces fit. Nobody comes to us with easy layups; we’re usually working with one second left on the clock in the fourth quarter of the seventh game of the NBA championships, needing a full-court shot.
One story that stands out on the entrepreneurial side is the tunnel under the Port of Miami — a billion-dollar project that had been stuck on the drawing board for nearly three decades. Our team developed a strategy to reverse a veto that had stalled progress, and against all odds, we got it done.
On the philanthropic side, there’s the effort to limit the statute of limitations for sex crimes involving minors. The odds were stacked against us, but we took on the challenge and passed the legislation in just one year. I’ll never know how many lives that will help — how many people it will empower to find strength, healing, and recovery — but we did it because it was the right thing to do.
And then there’s the homeless tax, the only one of its kind in the U.S., which we passed back in 1993 to tackle homelessness. Today, it generates nearly $50 million a year to help those in need — faces we may never see, but lives we know are being changed. Through our efforts, we’ve reduced Miami-Dade’s homeless population from over 8,000 in 1993 to just over 1,000 today.
These moments matter because leadership is about showing up for your community and setting an example for your children and grandchildren. It’s about taking responsibility and doing what needs to be done.
It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
When I was working for Bob Graham during his first year as Governor, we made a classic rookie mistake. We assumed that if the Governor wanted something, the Legislature would simply give it to us. We were trying to pass a gas tax, and we fell flat on our faces — we didn’t understand the importance of pre-advocating or counting votes.
That same year, we tried to outlaw radar detectors in cars. Our sponsor dramatically smashed a radar detector to pieces with a sledgehammer on the House floor, but we hadn’t done the groundwork or built the necessary strategy to pass the bill.
The lesson I learned is that there’s absolutely no substitute for preparation and knowing your subject matter inside and out. Today, I’m recognized as one of the best vote counters in the process, but that success came from hard-learned lessons early in my career. Mistakes like these taught me that no matter how confident you are, there’s always more work to do behind the scenes to ensure success.
Can you describe how you or your organization is making a significant social impact?
As Chair of the Miami-Dade Homeless Trust for over three decades, I oversee a $108 million budget dedicated to eradicating homelessness. Our efforts go beyond managing a budget; they’re about innovative, life-saving interventions. Projects like the Lazarus Project and our rapid responses during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the Champlain Towers tragedy are examples of how we prioritize human dignity and immediate action. We’re not just providing temporary solutions; we’re acquiring and repurposing buildings to offer sustainable housing that transforms lives.
As Chairman of Lauren’s Kids, I’ve worked to empower children, support families, amplify the voices of survivors of child sexual abuse, and advance a mission of education, prevention, and healing. Our ‘Safer, Smarter Schools’ curriculum reaches over 100,000 classrooms nationwide, equipping children and educators to recognize and prevent abuse.
Additionally, our advocacy has resulted in the passage of over 35 laws that protect children and support survivors. Ultimately, my focus is on combining policy-level change with hands-on, compassionate advocacy with the goal of leaving the work a better place than I found it. Whether it’s addressing homelessness or protecting our children, I’m committed to making a tangible difference in people’s lives.
Can you tell us a story about a particular individual who was impacted or helped by your cause?
One story that deeply resonates is about Desmond Meade. Desmond’s journey is nothing short of extraordinary. After being dishonorably discharged from the military, he found himself battling a crack addiction and living on the streets for about 15 years. When we connected with him, we were preparing to help house him. But Desmond had other plans — he decided to pursue an education.
The Homeless Trust was proud to support him as he worked toward an associate degree from Miami Dade College and eventually a bachelor’s degree from FIU. He then went on to law school, funding it himself. But Desmond didn’t stop at personal success; he wanted to create systemic change. He authored a constitutional amendment for the restoration of voting rights for felons, successfully got it on the ballot, and led a campaign that won.
Desmond’s story is a powerful example of how someone can rise from unimaginable circumstances to not only rebuild their life but also become a meaningful contributor to the community. His work has changed the lives of countless individuals facing the same struggles he once endured, proving that with the right support, transformative change is possible.
Are there three things the community/society/politicians can do to help you address the root of the problem you are trying to solve?
There’s so much more we can do, and much of it comes down to funding and collaboration across sectors. To address the shortage of affordable housing, we need to create more opportunities by securing government funding for permanent housing solutions. This is essential for tackling homelessness and ensuring stability for individuals and families.
On the sexual abuse front, the statistics are staggering — 1 in 3 girls and 1 in 5 boys will become a victim of child sexual abuse before their 18th birthday. Increasing funding for public education and programming like Lauren’s Kids Safer, Smarter Kids and Safer, Smarter Teens curriculum can help reverse these numbers by raising awareness and empowering children to speak up, never suffer in silence, and never keep harmful secrets.
Solving these issues also requires the private sector to be actively involved, working in lockstep with government and nonprofits. Their contributions in funding, resources, and innovation are critical to driving meaningful, sustainable change. By working together across public, private, and community sectors, we can address these root problems and create lasting solutions.
How do you define “Leadership”? Can you explain what you mean or give an example?
Leadership, to me, is about focus, determination, and commitment. It’s understanding that true leadership often requires personal sacrifice and that the goals you strive to achieve must always serve the greater good, not a private agenda. When you lead, it’s essential to double down on what you believe is the right path, pressing forward with conviction and clarity.
An example of this principle is my approach to charitable or political contributions. If I ask someone to contribute, I’ve already done it myself. You cannot ask others to give if you’re not willing to lead by example. Leadership is about making sacrifices on a personal level to ensure the success of the mission and to inspire others to follow with trust and confidence.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why. Please share a story or example for each.
1 . I wish someone had told me that everyone is not as transparent as I am.
2. I wish someone had told me that people will lay traps to undermine your efforts.
3 . I wish someone had taught me better on how to balance work and family.
4 . I wish I understood better the sacrifices my family would make as a result of my workaholic-ism.
5 . I wish I had understood better that my fear of failure created some of the other problems from above.
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.
If I could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most people, it would be a movement to end childhood sexual abuse. This work is the driving force behind everything I do. Many people think I’m harsh when it comes to convicted predators and pedophiles, but it’s hard for them to fully understand where I’m coming from unless they’ve walked in my shoes as a parent or in my daughter’s shoes as a survivor.
People often confuse my lack of outward anger with forgiveness, but that’s not the case. I don’t need to express my anger — it’s channeled into actions that make our communities safer for everyone. None of the work I do now can change what happened to my children, but that doesn’t mean we should accept the status quo. We can, and we must, work to prevent further harm and create a safer world for future generations.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
My favorite life lesson quote is “Nothing is impossible.” There’s also a Latin phrase I live by, “The facts speak for themselves.” Every bit of who I am as a person is tied to this mindset. The belief that everything can be done drives me forward, even when faced with challenges. For example, when I ran track, I was the shortest guy on the team. My strides had to be twice as long as the others to keep up, but I never let that stop me. I took the challenge head-on, and it taught me that with determination, anything is possible.
Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would like to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. 🙂
Taylor Swift. She stands out not only for her incredible musical talent, but also for her impactful leadership, particularly in the area of homelessness. Her efforts to use her platform to create tangible change is a powerful reminder that true leadership comes with a responsibility to uplift others, especially after achieving personal success.
Additionally, her business acumen at such a young age is remarkable. I’d love to hear her insights on navigating the business world with integrity and purpose, and how she has maintained such a strong sense of self and authenticity amidst her immense success. Her ability to inspire young people to make a difference while staying grounded is something I admire deeply.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
Readers can visit the Lauren’s Kids website at https://laurenskids.org/ or follow us on social media (@LaurensKids) to keep up to date with our work and how we are preventing child abuse. To follow my work with the Miami-Dade Homeless Trust, readers can visit https://www.homelesstrust.org or follow their social media pages (@HomelessMiami). For those in need of government affairs expertise, visit https://rlbookpa.com/.
This was very meaningful, thank you so much. We wish you only continued success in your great work!
Social Impact Heroes: Why & How Ronald L Book Of ‘Lauren’s Kids’ Is Helping To Change Our World was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.