Claude A. Robinson, Jr. was born in Philadelphia, PA. To beat the negative ills of the inner city, he attended
Northwestern Military & Naval Academy in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin for most of his high school years. At SJNMNA,
Claude excelled as a student-athlete and leader. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater where
he successfully earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. He was also co captain of the 1989-1990 NCAA Division III
men’s basketball championship team. Claude went on to earn a Master’s Degree of Science in Counseling at
Chicago State University. His interest in sports has turned into a life passion for serving youth. He has recently
served as an AAU basketball coach for The Athlete Within and Kenwood Academy High School. He is currently
working to build the North Lawndale Athletic and Recreation Association to ensure equity focused approaches for
youth.
Claude is the Founder/CEO of Onyx Strategic Partners, a multi-disciplined strategic business consulting firm
specializing in diversity equity and inclusion services, government affairs\advocacy strategies, community affairs,
project management and leadership development. For 28 years, Claude served as the Executive Vice President of
External Affairs & Diversity at UCAN. Claude’s work has yielded numerous accolades, in 2021, he was the recipient
of the Donald Stewart Fellowship through the Chicago Community Trust African American Legacy Fund, Crain’s
Chicago Business Notable DEI Executive and Chicago Cubs Nike Connect Community Champion. Including awards
from former city of Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, Miss Illinois Leadership Award 2001, and WGN-TV Channel
9’s 2000 “Unsung Hero” award. In 2008, Claude led a U.S. delegation on a four city “Best Practice” exchange to the
United Kingdom to assist policy makers and community leaders on positive youth development and violence
prevention strategies. Claude has helped inform policy by providing testimony in front of the U.S. Senate Judiciary
Committee, Illinois State Senate and House and Cook County Board of Commissioners.
In addition to his work with UCAN, Claude also sits on the Board of Directors for Rush BMO Institute of Health
Equity,Homan Square Community Action Council and the Attorney Registration & Discipline Commission. Claude
has affiliations with the Chicago Community Development Advisory Council, Business Leadership Council, United
Church of Christ Council for Health and Human Service Ministries, Chicago Committee on Urban Opportunity, Latino
Policy Forum, Advocate Bethany Fund, Trinity United Church of Christ, and Leadership Greater Chicago. He is
involved in a number of recreational, political and community outreach projects and has lectured and presented to
diverse audiences across the country.
Claude is the proud husband of Heather Ireland Robinson, Executive Director at the Jazz Institute of Chicago and
father of their three beautiful children, Dorian, Damani and Devin.
Claude A. Robinson Jr.
