Bob Woodson’s Legacy of Neighborhood Empowerment

Over his long years working with committed grassroots leaders, Woodson has learned the principles that uplift people and communities

Bob Woodson is the president and founder of The Woodson Center. Founded in 1981, the center helps neighborhood leaders and community-based organizations address problems through innovative solutions. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times

Robert Woodson was a young social worker in Pasadena, California, in the 1960s when he witnessed something no one had told him was possible.

A young ex-gang member had completely changed his ways, and he told Woodson that though he changed his character, he still had the experience of a gangster and looked the part, too, and this was what allowed him to have an advantage on the streets. He and several other ex-gang members did youth outreach, and they commanded the respect they needed to have an influence, but a positive one.