Robert Lewis, Jr. is a nationally recognized thought leader, public speaker, and social innovator. With a long history of nonprofit and community leadership, Robert is known as a catalyst for collaboration between diverse business, civic and public sectors and a tireless advocate for urban youth.
Robert joined the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston in 2022 and has since set the organization on a new strategic course with a broad focus on health, education, and workforce readiness, all essential components to a child’s holistic development.
Prior to joining BGCB, Robert launched The BASE in 2013 to shift the national mindset about what it takes for urban youth to succeed. The BASE leverages their passion for sports to create pathways to higher education and meaningful careers.
His previous roles include serving as Senior Vice President of City Year’s National Operations, Executive Director of City Year Boston, President of the National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ), and Executive Director of the Boston Centers for Youth and Families (BCYF). As Vice President for Program at The Boston Foundation, he directed the distribution of more than $18 million in discretionary grants annually and was the chief architect of the ground-breaking initiative, StreetSafe Boston, the country’s only privately funded anti-gang violence prevention program.
Robert’s leadership and advocacy has been recognized with numerous awards and honors, including: New England Streetworker Inaugural Legacy Award (2023); NonProfit PRO’s Lifetime Achievement Award (2022); King Boston’s Embrace Award (2022); The Boston Business Journal’s Power 50 (2019, 2020, 2021 and 2023); The Associated Industries of Massachusetts’ Gould Education Award (2020); Eastern Bank’s Social Justice Award (2020); Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Breakfast 50th Anniversary Awardee (2019); Boston Municipal Research Bureau’s Henry L. Shattuck Public Service Award (2019); and Robert F. Kennedy Action Corps’ Embracing the Legacy Award (2019).
He serves as executive in residence at the Institute of Social Innovation at Babson College, sits on the Board of Directors for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, is a Trustee for the University of Massachusetts, and serves on the Advisory Committee for National Grid, NE.
Robert received an Honorary Doctorate degree in Humane Letters from Assumption University; Cambridge College; Franklin Pierce University; and William James College; and an Honorary Doctorate in Public Service from Simmons College and New England Law.
