Frank J. Omowale Satterwhite, Ph.D.
Founder & Senior Advisor

Frank J. Omowale Satterwhite founded NCDI in 2002 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 public speaking and community engagement.

In a typical year, Omowale provides management services to over 75 social justice, health/human service, community development and philanthropic organizations around the country; he conducts a training program for Bay Area consultants working in communities of color; he works with comprehensive community initiatives in several cities; he collaborates with various social change organizations in the region; and he serves on the board a local, regional and national organizations in the community-building field.

Prior to founding NCDI, Omowale 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 directly shaped the formation on NCDI.

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 serves on numerous boards, including Applied Research Center and Urban Habitat (Oakland, CA); Community Development Institute, Teen Home and Girls Club of the Mid-Peninsula (East Palo Alto); and Alliance for Non-Profit Management and Praxis (Washington, D.C.). He has also served on the East Palo Alto City Council and the San Mateo County Planning Commission.

In 2000, Omowale was selected by KQED Public Television to receive the Unsung Hero Award during African-American History Month. In 2001, he was honored as an “Unsung Hero” by the Peninsula Community Foundation and as “Community Service Person of the Year” by 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.