Frank J. Omowale Satterwhite, Ph.D.
Founder & Senior Advisor
National Community Development Institute
Frank J. Omowale Satterwhite founded NCDI in 2000 and shaped the mission, methodology, and values of the organization through his role as President and CEO. In 2007, Omowale shifted his role to Founder and Senior Advisor, allowing him to devote a greater amount of his time to field work, writing, public speaking and community engagement.
In a typical year, Omowale provides management services to over 50 social justice, health/human service, community development and philanthropic organizations around the country; he conducts training programs for about 100 organizational leaders, resident leaders/activists and consultants working in urban and rural communities of color; he works with comprehensive community initiatives in several cities; and he serves on the boards of local, regional and national organizations in the community-building field.
Prior to founding NCDI, Omowale served as President of the Community Development Institute (CDI) which he founded in East Palo Alto, California in 1979. CDI’s mission is to combat the causes of racism and poverty in diverse, low-income communities. The lessons learned at the community level at CDI led to the formation of NCDI and to the development of NCDI’s capacity-building methodology that is now being practiced in every region of the county.
Omowale was previously employed as Associate Director, Western Regional Office, College Entrance Examination Board; Associate Dean and Chairman of African American Studies, Oberlin College; Assistant to the Superintendent and Acting Superintendent, Ravenswood City School District; and President, Institute for the Study of Community Economic Development.
Omowale has served on numerous boards, including the Applied Research Center and Urban Habitat (Oakland, CA); Community Development Institute, Teen Home and Girls Club of the Mid-Peninsula (East Palo Alto); and Praxis Project (Washington, D.C.). He has also served on the East Palo Alto City Council and the San Mateo County Planning Commission. Omowale is currently the Board Chair of the Alliance for Nonprofit Management.
Omowale has received numerous awards for his public service including an Unsung Hero Award from KQED Public Television; Unsung Hero Award from the Peninsula Community Foundation; and Community Service Person of the Year Award from the National Council of Negro Women, Golden Gate Section.
Omowale completed his undergraduate degree at Howard University, a Master's Degree at Southern Illinois University and a doctoral degree at Stanford University.
