Robert Woodson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bob Woodson
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Robert Leon Woodson
April 8, 1937 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Political party | Independent |
| Education | Cheyney University (BS) University of Pennsylvania (MSW) |
Robert Leon Woodson Sr. (born April 8, 1937) is an American leader who works to help communities. He is a civil rights activist, which means he fights for equal rights for all people. He also helps neighborhoods grow stronger. Mr. Woodson started and leads the Woodson Center, an organization that helps low-income communities improve themselves. In 2020, he began the 1776 Unites campaign to share different views on American history.
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Robert Woodson's Early Life and Education
Robert Woodson was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His father passed away when Robert was young. His mother raised him and his four brothers and sisters.
In 1954, he left high school to join the Air Force. While serving, he earned his GED certificate. After leaving the Air Force, he went to college. He graduated from Cheyney University in 1962. He earned a degree in Mathematics. Later, in 1965, he earned a master's degree in social work from the University of Pennsylvania.
In 1977, Mr. Woodson married Ellen Hylton. They have four children together: Robert Jr., Jamal, Tanya, and Ralph. Sadly, his son, Robert L. Woodson Jr., passed away in 2003. An award was later named after Robert Jr. by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, where he used to work.
Robert Woodson's Work for Civil Rights
Robert Woodson has been involved in civil rights and community work since 1962. While he was studying in graduate school, he became active in the civil rights movement. He helped lead programs for many groups, including the NAACP.
After leaving the NAACP, Mr. Woodson moved to Boston. There, he worked as a social worker for three years. He then became a director at the National Urban League. He started to create plans to lower crime. His idea was to make community groups stronger in areas with high crime rates.
Mr. Woodson continued to develop his ideas about helping neighborhoods. He worked at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, DC. He gave advice and support to community groups.
Helping Neighborhoods Grow Stronger
Mr. Woodson's plan to help neighborhoods focuses on finding solutions from within the communities themselves. He looks for people he calls "social entrepreneurs." These are people in tough neighborhoods who have succeeded and kept going. He believes we can learn from their success.
In 1973, two important leaders, Vernon Jordan and Representative John Conyers, agreed with Mr. Woodson. They believed that giving more power to justice agencies was not the best way to stop crime. Instead, they thought focusing on helping neighborhoods was a better solution.
In 1981, Mr. Woodson started the CNE. This organization is now called the Woodson Center. It helps neighborhoods find "self-help" solutions. It supports local leaders in these communities. The CNE created a program called Violence-Free Zones. This program helps lower violence in schools. It also helps young people at risk avoid a life of crime. In 2016, the CNE was renamed the Woodson Center to honor Robert Woodson Sr.
Awards and Recognition
Robert Woodson has received many awards for his important work:
- 1990: MacArthur Fellows Program "Genius" award
- 2008: Bradley Prize
- 2008: Presidential Citizens Medal
- 2008: Social Entrepreneurship Award from the Manhattan Institute
Books by Robert Woodson
Mr. Woodson has written and edited several books, sharing his ideas and research:
- "Red, White, and Black: Rescuing American History from Revisionists and Race ...", 2021
- Youth Crime and Urban Policy, A View From the Inner City, 1981
- On the Road to Economic Freedom: An Agenda for Black Progress,, 1987
- A Summons to Life, Mediating Structures and the Prevention of Youth Crime, 1981
- The Triumphs of Joseph: How Today's Community Healers are Reviving Our Streets and Neighborhoods, 1998
- Black Perspectives on Crime and the Criminal Justice System: A Symposium, 1977
Honorary Degrees
Mr. Woodson has also received special honorary degrees from universities:
- University of Cincinnati, Ohio: Honorary Doctorate (Doctor of Humane Letters), 2012
- Colorado Christian University, Colorado: Honorary Doctorate (Doctorate of Humanities), 2010
