Odessa Woolfolk: Difference between revisions
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Ms. Odessa Woolfolk was born in the Titusville | 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. | ||
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. | 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. | ||
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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. | 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. | ||
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. | 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]]. | ||
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. | 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]]. | ||
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. | 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. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
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*[http://roadtripnation.com/leader/odessa-woolfolk Roadtrip Nation - video interviews with Odess Woolfolk] - video | *[http://roadtripnation.com/leader/odessa-woolfolk Roadtrip Nation - video interviews with Odess Woolfolk] - video | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:Living People]] | ||
Revision as of 08:08, 15 March 2016
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.