Robert Lewis, Jr. serves as the Nicholas President and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston (BGCB), where he is driving a bold transformation in youth development and community impact. A visionary thought leader, social innovator, and nationally recognized speaker, Robert brings an unparalleled energy and focus to reshaping opportunities for Boston and Chelsea’s youth.  

When Robert joined BGCB in 2022, he didn’t just step into a leadership role – he launched a movement to reshape the future of Boston’s young people. Drawing on decades of experience in nonprofit and community leadership throughout the country, he sees what others often overlook: future talent ready to be developed. His vision reimagines traditional youth development, focusing on cultivating the next generation of changemakers, innovators, and professionals who will drive Boston’s continued growth. 

From day one, Robert charted a bold new course for BGCB, implementing a five-year strategy centered on health, education, and workforce readiness – the essential pillars of 21st-century youth development. His ambitious approach aims to close achievement gaps and create clear pathways to success for young people across Boston and Chelsea. Under his guidance, BGCB has become an incubator for future leaders, expanding its reach to serve over 45,000 youth, families and community members annually.  

A respected bridge builder, convener and collaborator, Robert has forged powerful connections across Boston’s business, civic, and community sectors to create a unified movement for emerging talent. With a relentless focus on equity and systemic change, he challenges the status quo and leads Boston to fully embrace its potential as a city of opportunity for all.  

Prior to BGCB, Robert founded The BASE, a nationally acclaimed organization that revolutionized urban youth development by leveraging sports to create pathways to higher education and meaningful careers. Under his leadership, The BASE expanded into Chicago, Indianapolis and Pittsburgh. He was also the chief architect of the groundbreaking anti-gang initiative StreetSafe Boston at The Boston Foundation, the country’s only privately funded gang intervention program, and helped to launch StreetSafe Bermuda. Robert was the first Executive Director of City Year Boston and SVP of national operations where he built 11 City Year sites across the country and helped launch City Year in South Africa. He also held transformative leadership roles at the National Conference for Community and Justice and Boston Centers for Youth and Families. Robert also advised Prime Minister David Cameron during the tumultuous riots in the U.K. in 2011 and was featured numerous times on the BBC Radio as a violence resolution expert. 

A tireless advocate for youth, Robert’s work has been recognized with numerous honors, including the New England Streetworker Inaugural Legacy Award, NonProfit PRO’s Lifetime Achievement Award, King Boston’s Embrace Award,  The Associated Industries of Massachusetts’ Gould Education Award, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Breakfast 50th Anniversary Awardee, Eastern Bank’s Social Justice Award, Robert F. Kennedy Action Corps’ Embracing the Legacy Award and inclusion in The Boston Business Journal’s Power 50.  

Through innovative leadership, visionary thinking, and an unwavering commitment to measurable outcomes, Robert Lewis, Jr. is not just transforming Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston—he is inspiring a national model for youth empowerment and collaborative community impact.   

Robert holds Honorary Doctorate degrees 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.