Robert Lewis Jr. will take charge as president and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston next month, becoming the 16th leader of the nine-club-organization, which includes facilities in Mattapan and on Dorchester’s Talbot Avenue.
Lewis joins BGCB from The BASE, a Roxbury-based organization he founded in 2013 to harness the untapped potential of urban talent and build pathways to success through a passion for sports.
“It truly takes a village to create equal opportunity for urban youth and I am honored to join the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston to empower even more kids, teens, and their families in our city,” said Lewis. “My life’s work has been dedicated to building relationships and partnerships that level the playing field and provide access and opportunities for of our city’s talented young people… I can’t wait to get started.”
His previous roles include serving as a senior vice president with 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 programs at The Boston Foundation, he directed the distribution of more than $18 million in discretionary grants annually and was the chief architect of two ground-breaking initiatives: StreetSafe Boston, the country’s only privately funded anti-gang violence prevention program, and CHAMPS Boston, which provided professional-level training for over 5,000 youth-sports volunteer coaches in New England.
“Robert is a proven builder and convenor, vital qualities for BGCB’s leader as we continue tackling new challenges that require creative, cross-functional solutions,” said Dave Johnson, chair of the Board. “His values and passions mirror those of BGCB, which has served the Boston community for nearly 130 years with the mission to be there for our members and families, no matter what.”
