On October 21, Professors Jackson (Black Studies and Religion) and King (Black Studies and Women¡¯s & Gender Studies) participated in a unique Training on Poverty, Race, Class, and Culture in the U.S. conducted by Alumnus, Robert Caldwell, Jr. ¡®82. Caldwell is the Executive Director of AnswerPoverty.org and the Regional Training Director of Think Tank, Inc. The training was held at Linden Life Fellowship, a multicultural church active in addressing the resource challenges of the Linden community; it was a part of the Church¡¯s multi-year efforts to build sustainable collaborations within the community to address poverty. This training focused on broadening understanding on these issues among practitioners and community members in Linden and beyond.

Hailing, from Columbus, Ohio, Caldwell has more than twenty-five years of social service and community development experience. He also founded the Faith Based Partnership Initiative and the R.O.W.T.E.A.M.S. Program (Residents off Welfare Teaching Educating Achieving Motivating Success). The Faith Based Partnership Initiative focuses on innovative and holistic solutions to the problems faced by urban communities, a program that won the Governor¡¯s Award for Excellence in Public Service in the State of Ohio. Caldwell has also served as the Managing-Director of the YWCA Family Center of Franklin County (OH), an emergency homeless shelter offering an array of support to homeless families. In 2016, Caldwell received a Distinguished Service Award from The Ohio State University for his work in Columbus.

The central aim of AnswerPoverty.org is to advance the practice of social service work towards solutions that interrupt the cycle of generational poverty. The organization provides training for professional and volunteer practitioners who work directly with people living in poverty in the fields of education, healthcare, workforce development, and community development. AnswerPoverty.org also works in collaboration with public and private sector organizations on programs and services in areas of community education and public policy reform.

Think Tank, Inc. is a non-profit organization based in Springfield, Ohio that aims to alleviate poverty by equipping communities to embrace mindsets and practices that restore the social fabric of society. This organization connects faith communities, investors, organizations, and members so as to generate creative solutions geared toward engaging and equipping individuals and organizations to alleviate poverty and strengthen community.

Caldwell¡¯s ±Ø²©ÓéÀÖ,±È²©ÓéÀÖÍøÖ· ######### roots run deep. While at ±Ø²©ÓéÀÖ,±È²©ÓéÀÖÍøÖ· ######### he designed his own major and his current work clearly reflects this innovative spirit. He and his wife, Michelle have lived in the Columbus area where they raised their family while remaining involved in community development, enrichment and empowerment. Robert is the current president of the ±Ø²©ÓéÀÖ,±È²©ÓéÀÖÍøÖ· ######### Black Alumni Association, and one of his four children, Gabriella, is currently attending ±Ø²©ÓéÀÖ,±È²©ÓéÀÖÍøÖ· #########, majoring in Black Studies.