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Robert Woodson is a civil rights activist, community leader, and founder of the National Center for Neighborhood Enterprise, which was later renamed the Woodson Center. He was born in 1937 in Philadelphia and grew up in a low-income household. After dropping out of high school, he joined the Air Force, earned his GED, and later completed a bachelor's degree at Cheyney University and a master’s in social work from the University of Pennsylvania.

Woodson began his career in the 1960s working on civil rights and urban issues. He was involved with the NAACP, served as a social worker, and later worked with the National Urban League. In the 1970s, while at the American Enterprise Institute, he promoted the idea that communities could solve their own problems through grassroots leadership.

In 1981, he founded the National Center for Neighborhood Enterprise to support low-income neighborhoods through faith-based and community-driven programs. One of the most influential initiatives he led was the Violence-Free Zones, which connected at-risk youth with mentors and significantly reduced violence in several cities.

Woodson is also known for launching 1776 Unites, a campaign that promotes a more hopeful narrative about Black history and success in America. He has written books and articles on poverty, race, and community empowerment, and has received several awards for his work, including a MacArthur Fellowship and the Presidential Citizens Medal.

After decades of leadership, he stepped down from day-to-day operations in 2021 but continues to serve in an emeritus role. Woodson’s approach emphasizes personal responsibility, moral values, and the power of local leadership to drive change.