The work each of these individuals performs represents the engine that drives the organization. From conceptualization to concrete action, from seed ideas to stamps on letters, it is the work of this team that converts meetings into meaningful outcomes.
Co-Founder and Co-Director — PEOPLE Programme
Motivated by his experiences as a Chicago cop in the turbulent sixties, Palmer became a leader in community activism and evolved a talent for organizing. He founded the famed African American Patrolman’ s League and went on to form and direct Comprand, an organization devoted to improving health care delivery for African Americans.
His legendary capacity for consuming and analyzing news and information led him to develop an interest in world affairs. For over 30 years Palmer has been directly engaged in bringing together ideas and people from around the globe. His list of powerful friends and associates is equal to that of any head of state in the world. The PEOPLE Programme is the direct result of that process and those relationships.
Related experiences:
Co-Director and Co-Founder — PEOPLE Programme
Dr. Palmer began her illustrious career as an educator. Pro basketball great George McGinnis sat in her high school English classes in Indianapolis, Indiana. Her hunger for knowledge drove her as she earned a BA at Indiana University, a Masters degree at Roosevelt University in Chicago, and a doctorate at Northwestern University. She went on to write two ground-breaking books on adult learning and later became the Dean of African American Student Affairs at Northwestern University.
Dr. Palmer has been described as “an astonishingly honorable person with the rare ability to think and act with crystalline clarity of purpose.” Her focused yet collaborative approach to problem solving served her well when she was the Illinois State Senator in the 13th District and retains the respect and admiration of both parties well after her service.
Like Buzz, Dr. Palmer is an expert at policy and program analysis on an international level as well, and seeks to implement ’best practices’ whether for a local youth program in a Chicago neighborhood or for an entire community in Paris.
Over the last two decades, Dr. Palmer is most responsible for shaping the work of the People Programme.
Related experiences:
President/CEO. Black United Fund of Illinois/BUFI
Chief Fiscal Officer - PEOPLE Programme
The Black United Fund of Illinois is the leading African American grant providing and local project assistance agency in the State. They are the fiscal agent for the People Programme.
When Mr. English became aware of the activities of the People Programme, he saw the value in connecting international policy and program lessons to local development needs. He has been instrumental in helping the PEOPLE Programme link internationalism to local activism.
Institute of Government and Public Affairs
Polling Director — PEOPLE Programme
Dr. Herring, in addition to being a leading sociology scholar, also lends his research talents to the PEOPLE Programme as our in-house survey expert. His polling on African American and European attitudes on a variety of subjects were groundbreaking and vital to helping drive joint policy and program discussions.
Retired History Professor — Ohio University (Athens)
Research Coordinator — PEOPLE Programme
Professor Rhodes is a font of knowledge on nearly every subject. His encyclopedic grasp of research helps guide and buttress the work and policy development of the PEOPLE Programme. He is also a leading expert on Jazz and has been a featured guest and lecturer on many talk shows, panels and study groups.
Principal — Youth Media & Services
Sr. Media Advisor and Youth Programs Coordinator — PEOPLE Programme
James provides advertising sales and marketing support to youth oriented media. Dodson has worked as advertising director for Herald Newspapers, Inc., and as director, marketing and sales for Third World Press. Dodson started his media management career with Knight-Ridder, Inc. as an advertising and circulation projects manager with the company’ s newspaper in St. Paul, Minnesota.
The PEOPLE Programme is honored to have Dodson lend his experience and insight to all of our media needs.
Partner — Sphere Public Relations Group
Sr. Administrator/Sr. Editor — PEOPLE Programme
David Robinson is one of the founders of Sphere Public Relations Group. He brings a unique blend of skills to the table from his years as an award-winning journalist, an internationally recognized public administrator, a community activist, and a successful business owner.
The motto of Sphere is Building Community Support and Overcoming Community Opposition, and during his tenure at Sphere, Robinson guided several controversial and high profile projects to success using that philosophy. His campaigns have ranged from major policy matters to community projects, and from neighborhood non-profits to Fortune 500 corporate clients.
Pending bio.
Co-Founder & Co-Director, PEOPLE Programme
Co-Director & Co-Founder, PEOPLE Programme
Chief Fiscal Officer, PEOPLE Programme
Polling Director, PEOPLE Programme
Research Coordinator, PEOPLE Programme
Sr. Administrator/editor, PEOPLE Programme
Sr. Media Advisor and Youth Programs Coordinator, PEOPLE Programme
Policy Fellow, PEOPLE Programme
