As Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston’s Nicholas President and CEO, Robert Lewis, Jr. is a nationally recognized thought leader, public speaker, and social innovator. He’s a tireless advocate for our urban youth, believing it is our moral obligation to help them succeed.
Robert’s advocacy has brought him numerous awards and honors, including: NonProfit PRO’s Lifetime Achievement Award (2022); King Boston’s Embrace Award (2022); The Boston Business Journal’s Power 50 (2019, 2020, and 2021); The Associated Industries of Massachusetts’ Gould Education Award (2020); Eastern Bank’s Social Justice Award (2020); Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Breakfast 50th Anniversary Awardee (2019); Boston Municipal Research Bureau’s Henry L. Shattuck Public Service Award (2019); and Robert F. Kennedy Action Corps’ Embracing the Legacy Award (2019).
Robert launched The BASE in 2013 to shift the national mindset about what it takes for urban youth to succeed. The BASE leverages their passion for sports to create pathways to higher education and meaningful careers through scholarships, academic support, and internships. Before The BASE, Robert served as senior vice president of City Year’s National Operations and executive director of City Year Boston and has held roles at National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ), Boston Centers for Youth and Families (BCYF), and The Boston Foundation.
He serves as executive in residence at the Institute of Social Innovation at Babson College, sits on the Board of Directors for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, is a Trustee for the University of Massachusetts, and serves on the Advisory Committee for National Grid, NE.
Robert received an Honorary Doctorate degree in Humane Letters from Assumption University; Cambridge College; Franklin Pierce University; and William James College; and an Honorary Doctorate in Public Service from Simmons College and New England Law.
