Bobby William Austin facts for kids

Bobby William Austin (born December 29, 1944) is an American sociologist, a person who studies society. He is also a lecturer (someone who gives talks) and a writer.

He is a leading expert on African-American men and boys. At the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, he was the first person to give money for big projects supporting African-American men and boys. For over 30 years, he has worked in many areas like education and social policy. He helps create ways for people to live peacefully and creatively in their communities. Today, he is the President of the Neighborhood Associates Corporation. He also leads the EducationThinkTank.

Bobby Austin's Education Journey

Bobby Austin was born in Bowling Green, Kentucky in 1944. He earned his first degree, a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), from Western Kentucky University. He studied sociology and economics there.

Later, he received his Master of Arts (M.A.) in sociology from Fisk University. He then earned his Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) from McMaster University in Canada. Dr. Austin was the first African-American full-time professor at Georgetown University. He also received a special diploma from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Central Michigan University gave him an honorary doctorate for his public service. He is also a special fellow of the American Academy of Political and Social Science.

Bobby Austin's Family Life

Bobby Austin is married to Joy Ford. Joy's father, John Meredith Ford, was once the Lord Mayor of Georgetown, Guyana.

Bobby and Joy have a daughter named Ariana Austin. In 2017, Ariana married Prince Joel Dawit Makonnen of Ethiopia.

Bobby Austin's Important Work

Dr. Austin has worked in many important roles. He helped write speeches for political campaigns, including for Patricia Roberts Harris. He also worked for Washington, D.C. mayor, Sharon Pratt.

He served at the University of the District of Columbia. He was a special assistant to the Board of Trustees. He also helped with educational licenses for the District of Columbia. Dr. Austin was the first editor of the Urban League Review. This was a national research journal for the National Urban League.

From 1990 to 1997, he worked at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. He directed the African American Men and Boys Initiative. He also helped lead the Kellogg National Fellowship Program.

Repairing the Breach Report

As the head of the National Task Force on African American Men and Boys, Dr. Austin edited a very important report. It was called Repairing the Breach: Key Ways to Support Family Life, Reclaim Our Streets, and Rebuild Civil Society in America's Communities.

This report offered solutions to problems faced by young Black men in the U.S. It was based on findings from a task force started in 1994. The task force was led by Andrew Young. Their ideas came from successful local programs across the country. These programs helped rebuild lives and communities. William Raspberry, a writer for The Washington Post, called the report's ideas "the plan to save America."

The Village Foundation

In 1997, Dr. Austin started the Village Foundation. This group aimed to "repair the breach" for African-American males. Its goal was to help young African-American men and boys connect with their local communities. Then, they could connect with the wider society.

One of the main projects of the Village Foundation was the "Give a Boy a Book Day campaign." This program encouraged young African-American men to read more. Dr. Austin is an expert on leadership. In his article, "Twenty-First Century Leadership in the African-American Community," he predicted a new type of leader. He thought there would be more local and regional leaders, not just a few national ones.

Other Contributions

Dr. Austin was the former Chairman of a committee on the status of African American Men. This committee was put together by Congressman Danny Davis. He also helped start the National Endowment for the Public Trust. He directed its Justice Task Force.

He founded the People's program and the civic league. He also helped create the "Citizens Diplomats" program. Dr. Austin has served on the boards of several organizations. These include the National Housing Trust and the Council for the Advancement of Adult Literacy. He is currently on the World Policy Council of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.

He led the Centennial Family Symposium in 2006 for Alpha Phi Alpha. He also chaired "The Year of the African-American Male." He was a co-leader for the Secretariat for African American Civil Society Leaders.

Honors and Recognition

In April 2014, Dr. Austin's work was honored at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Harvard University and the Morehouse Research Institute held a conference. It looked back at 20 years since the "Repairing the Breach" report.

The conference celebrated Dr. Austin as the person who created this important project. Experts and leaders talked about the ideas behind the initiative. They also discussed the future of developing local leaders for African-American young men and their families. They explored the growing interest in African-American men among groups that give money for good causes.

Dr. Austin is recognized as one of the 50 African-Americans who changed academia forever.