Claude A. Robinson

Executive Vice President, External Affairs & Diversity

Claude A. Robinson, Jr. was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. To beat the negative ills of the inner city, he attended St. Johns Northwestern Military & Naval Academy in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin for most of his high school years.  At SJNMNA, Claude excelled as a student-athlete and leader.  He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin at Whitewater where he successfully obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology.  He was also co-captain of the 1989-1990 NCAA Division III men's basketball championship team.  Further, Claude obtained a Master's Degree of Science in Counseling at Chicago State University.

Claude specializes in the personal development, education and motivation of youth and children. A staunch advocate for youth, Claude continually challenges adults to examine their perspectives about youth and diligently strives to build positive youth and adult partnerships. Currently, he serves as the Executive Vice President of External Affairs & Diversity at UCAN. Claude's work has yielded numerous awards from city of Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, Miss Illinois Leadership Award 2001, and WGN-TV Channel 9 as a 2000 "Unsung Hero" award.  In 2008, Claude led a U.S. delegation on a four city "Best Practice" exchange to the United Kingdom to assist policy makers and community leaders on positive youth engagement.

Claude has affiliations with the Chicago Community Development Advisory Council, United Church of Christ Council for Health and Human Service Ministries, Chicago Committee on Urban Opportunity, Trinity United Church of Christ, and Leadership Greater Chicago. He is involved in a number of recreational and community outreach projects and has lectured and presented to diverse audiences across the country.  Claude is a Diakonal Minister and the proud father of three beautiful children, Brianna, Dorian and Damani.