William J. Cousins facts for kids

William J. Cousins (born January 25, 1924 – died July 31, 2013) was an American expert who helped communities around the world. He was a sociologist, which means he studied how people live and work together in groups.

Dr. Cousins taught about society and how different groups of people get along at several colleges. He also wrote many books and articles about helping communities grow and improve. He was the first Black professor at Wellesley College and one of the first African Americans to teach at a top liberal arts college.

After finishing his advanced studies at Yale University, Cousins went to India. He worked with the American Friends Service Committee to help people in cities. He led many projects where local people and leaders, not just outside help, made big improvements to their neighborhoods. For example, in the 1970s, he worked with UNICEF in Hyderabad, India. He helped people build a strong community spirit before improving their homes and other facilities.

Early Life and Education

William Cousins grew up in Ansonia, Connecticut. When he was eight years old, he got polio, a sickness that made it hard to walk. His parents helped him a lot with physical therapy, and he slowly started to move better. He went to a special school called Newington for several years. By the time he started college at Yale, he could walk using just a cane. He earned both his first degree and his advanced degree in sociology from Yale University.

Career in Community Development

Most of William Cousins's career was spent helping communities in different countries. He started by working as an advisor in India and Iran, helping people in rural areas. In 1964, he became the first person to represent the Peace Corps in Iran.

Later, he helped start a special project in Baroda, India. This project focused on helping people in cities improve their neighborhoods. It was supported by the American Friends Service Committee.

Teaching and International Work

Dr. Cousins also taught at four different colleges:

• Knoxville College, which was a college mainly for Black students.
• Wellesley College, a women's college in New England.
• Earlham College, a Quaker college in Indiana.
• Federal City College in Washington D.C., where he was a professor and a leader in the social science department.

After teaching for some years, Cousins returned to international work. He joined UNICEF as an advisor in New Delhi, India. He retired from UNICEF in 1987 as a senior advisor in their New York office. He also worked as a consultant for many other groups, including CARE, the World Bank, and the government of India. His work took him to countries like Bangladesh, the Philippines, Egypt, and Namibia.

William Cousins also served on the boards of several important organizations. These included CARE, World Neighbors, and the American Friends Service Committee. He also served on the board of the Friends Meeting of Washington, which is a Quaker group.