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Ms. Odessa Woolfolk was born in the [[Titusville]] community of Birmingham, Alabama and graduated from A.H. [[Parker High School]]. She earned her bachelor's degree in History and Political Science from [[Talladega College]] and later went on to earn her Masters in Urban Studies from Occidental College in California. She completed additional graduate work at the University of Chicago and was a National Urban Fellow at Yale University.
'''Odessa Woolfolk''' (born in [[Birmingham]]) is a former educator, executive director of the [[Birmingham Opportunity Industrialization Center]], and founding board chair of the [[Birmingham Civil Rights Institute]].


Ms. Woolfolk began her career as a teacher at Birmingham's [[Ullman High School]], at the height of the civil rights movement. She displayed outstanding and fearless leadership both in her classroom and community during this turbulent time. Following her tenure as an educator, Ms. Woolfolk worked in public policy with the following organizations: the Urban Reinvestment Task Force in Washington, DC., New York State Urban Development Corporation in New York City, the YWCA in Utica, New York, the Arbor Hill Community Center and the Inter-Racial Council in Albany, New York.
Woolfolk was raised in Birmingham's [[Titusville]] community and graduated from [[Parker High School|A. H. Parker High School]]. She went on to complete her bachelor of arts in history and political science at [[Talladega College]] and a master's in urban studies from Occidental College in California. Since then she has completed more graduate studies at the University of Chicago and at Yale University, as a National Urban Fellow.


After working in New York and Washington, DC., Ms. Woolfolk returned to Alabama to serve as executive director of the Birmingham Opportunity Industrialization Center and associate executive director of the Jefferson County Committee for Economic Opportunity. For twenty-one years, she served as director of the Center for Urban Affairs at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and lectured in political science and public affairs. She also served as staff associate at the Center for International Programs and was an Assistant to the President for Community Relations.
Wollfolk began her teaching career at [[Ullman High School]] in the midst of the [[Civil Rights movement]]. She was a much-loved and influential teacher who set a fearless example for her students. After leaving teaching, she pursued a career in public policy through the Urban Reinvestment Task Force in Washington D.C., New York State Urban Development Corporation in New York City, the YWCA in Utica, New York, and the Arbor Hill Community Center and Inter-Racial Council in Albany, New York.


Ms. Odessa Woolfolk's tremendous contributions to the University of Alabama at Birmingham were recognized with the establishment of the Odessa Woolfolk Presidential Community Service Award. Due to her outstanding and extensive service at UAB, Ms. Woolfolk received the UAB Honorary Alumni Award, Outstanding Faculty Award, the President's Medal, and many other awards.
Woolfolk returned to Birmingham to become executive director of the [[Birmingham Opportunity Industrialization Center]] and associate director of the [[Jefferson County Committee for Economic Opportunity]]. She also joined the faculty of [[UAB]] as director of its [[UAB Center for Urban Affairs|Center for Urban Affairs]], staff associate in the [[UAB Center for International Programs]], and assistant to the [[List of UAB presidents|president]] for community relations. She retired from the university in [[1993]].


Ms. Woolfolk is most known for her instrumental role in creating the [[Birmingham Civil Rights Institute]]. She was its founding administrator and chair of the task force that planned and directed its development. Annually, nearly 150,000 people honor her as they pass through the Odessa Woolfolk Gallery at the [[Birmingham Civil Rights Institute]].
In the late 1980s, Woolfolk began working toward the creation of a [[Civil Rights movement|civil rights]] museum in [[Birmingham]]. With the support of [[Mayor of Birmingham|Mayor]] [[Richard Arrington]], she succeeded in developing the [[Birmingham Civil Rights Institute]], which opened in [[1993]]. She served as chair of the task force and as the institute's founding administrator


Throughout her life, Ms. Woolfolk has served on the boards of numerous Birmingham and statewide organizations, including the YWCA, [[Region 2020]], the [[Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham]], [[UAB African American Studies Program]], [[Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham]], [[UAB Educational Foundation]], [[Birmingham Museum of Art]], and the [[Birmingham Urban League]]. Ms. Woolfolk served as the State Chair of the National Conference of Christians and Jews, was the first African American President of [[Operation New Birmingham]]'s Board of Directors, founding member of [[Leadership Birmingham]] and was the founding co-chair of the [[Martin Luther King Unity Breakfast]].
Woolfolk has also served on many civic boards, including [[Region 2020]], [[YWCA of Birmingham]], the [[Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham]], the [[Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham]], [[Operation New Birmingham]], the [[Birmingham Museum of Art]], the [[Birmingham Urban League]], and the [[UAB Educational Foundation]]. She was a founding member of the board for [[Leadership Birmingham]] and founding co-chair of the [[Martin Luther King Unity Breakfast]]. She has also served as a trustee and moderator at [[First Congregational Church]] and chaired the Alabama chapter of the National Conference of Christians and Jews.


Because of her influence in the city of Birmingham and the state of Alabama, Ms. Woolfolk was honored by Birmingham's Mayor and City Council and was inducted into the [[Birmingham Gallery of Distinguished Citizens]]. She was also inducted into the Alabama Academy of Honor and is the well-deserved recipient of the Humanities Award from the [[Alabama Humanities Foundation]]. She has received honorary doctorates from her alma mater, [[Talladega College]], from [[Birmingham-Southern College]], and the University of the South in Tennessee.
Woolfolk has been honored at [[UAB]] with the [[UAB Honorary Alumni Award]], [[UAB Outstanding Faculty Award]], [[UAB President's Medal]], and the creation of the [[Odessa Woolfolk Presidential Community Service Award]]. She has also been honored with the Humanities Award from the [[Alabama Humanities Foundation]] and with honorary degrees from Talladega College, [[Birmingham-Southern College]], and the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee.
 
Woolfolk was inducted into the [[Alabama Academy of Honor]] in [[2008]]. The "Odessa Woolfolk Gallery" at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute is also named in her honor.


==References==
==References==
* Sewell, Terri (February 26, 2014) "Honoring Odessa Woolfolk During Black History Month 2014." ''Congressional Record'' Vol. 160, No. 2, pp. E256-E257


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.archives.alabama.gov/famous/academy/o_woolfolk.html Alabama Archives] entry
* [http://www.archives.alabama.gov/famous/academy/o_woolfolk.html Odessa Woolfolk] at the Alabama Academy of Honor
*[http://alafricanamerican.com/2012-honorees/odessa-woolfolk/ Alabama African American HIstory Calendar]
* "[http://www.aptv.org/IQLEARNING/digitalibrary/digitalmediadetail.asp?ConVidID=218 The Civil Right Movement in Alabama: Odessa Woolfolk]" (2009) video at aptv.org
*[http://www.aptv.org/IQLEARNING/digitalibrary/digitalmediadetail.asp?ConVidID=218 APT - The Civil Right Movement in Alabama - Odessa Woolfolk] - video
* "[http://roadtripnation.com/leader/odessa-woolfolk Odessa's Open Road]" (n.d.) videos at roadtripnation.com
*[http://roadtripnation.com/leader/odessa-woolfolk Roadtrip Nation - video interviews with Odess Woolfolk] - video


{{DEFAULTSORT:Woolfolk, Odessa}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Parker graduates]]
[[Category:Talladega College alumni]]
[[Category:Ullman faculty]]
[[Category:Birmingham Gallery of Distinguished Citizens]]
[[Category:Alabama Academy of Honor]]

Revision as of 09:56, 15 March 2016

Odessa Woolfolk (born in Birmingham) is a former educator, executive director of the Birmingham Opportunity Industrialization Center, and founding board chair of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute.

Woolfolk was raised in Birmingham's Titusville community and graduated from A. H. Parker High School. She went on to complete her bachelor of arts in history and political science at Talladega College and a master's in urban studies from Occidental College in California. Since then she has completed more graduate studies at the University of Chicago and at Yale University, as a National Urban Fellow.

Wollfolk began her teaching career at Ullman High School in the midst of the Civil Rights movement. She was a much-loved and influential teacher who set a fearless example for her students. After leaving teaching, she pursued a career in public policy through the Urban Reinvestment Task Force in Washington D.C., New York State Urban Development Corporation in New York City, the YWCA in Utica, New York, and the Arbor Hill Community Center and Inter-Racial Council in Albany, New York.

Woolfolk returned to Birmingham to become executive director of the Birmingham Opportunity Industrialization Center and associate director of the Jefferson County Committee for Economic Opportunity. She also joined the faculty of UAB as director of its Center for Urban Affairs, staff associate in the UAB Center for International Programs, and assistant to the president for community relations. She retired from the university in 1993.

In the late 1980s, Woolfolk began working toward the creation of a civil rights museum in Birmingham. With the support of Mayor Richard Arrington, she succeeded in developing the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, which opened in 1993. She served as chair of the task force and as the institute's founding administrator

Woolfolk has also served on many civic boards, including Region 2020, YWCA of Birmingham, the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham, the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham, Operation New Birmingham, the Birmingham Museum of Art, the Birmingham Urban League, and the UAB Educational Foundation. She was a founding member of the board for Leadership Birmingham and founding co-chair of the Martin Luther King Unity Breakfast. She has also served as a trustee and moderator at First Congregational Church and chaired the Alabama chapter of the National Conference of Christians and Jews.

Woolfolk has been honored at UAB with the UAB Honorary Alumni Award, UAB Outstanding Faculty Award, UAB President's Medal, and the creation of the Odessa Woolfolk Presidential Community Service Award. She has also been honored with the Humanities Award from the Alabama Humanities Foundation and with honorary degrees from Talladega College, Birmingham-Southern College, and the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee.

Woolfolk was inducted into the Alabama Academy of Honor in 2008. The "Odessa Woolfolk Gallery" at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute is also named in her honor.

References

  • Sewell, Terri (February 26, 2014) "Honoring Odessa Woolfolk During Black History Month 2014." Congressional Record Vol. 160, No. 2, pp. E256-E257

External links

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