The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Spirituality Lives On In People Like Dr. Renee Campbell

I believe that there are, among us, champions for minorities—unsung heroes in our community who, like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., are devoting their every waking moments to the pursuit of equality for those among us who are disadvantaged. And, they happen to belong to the largest minority group in the world as women who have the courage to stand up for those who through no fault of their own are challenged socially and economically.

As the co-founder of both GLI’s Hispanic Latino Business Council and La Camara (the Chamber of Commerce for People of all Colors on Preston Highway), I have witnessed the tremendous development of social services programs this one individual has organized in the middle of the very community that needs those services the most. Services that are helping “people to help themselves” through adult education, childcare, youth development, income tax preparation, ESL, computer classes and providing affordable clothing for families.

I am talking about Dr. Renee Campbell—the Executive Director for Wesley House Community Services, a 501(c)(3) organization. Dr. Campbell is one of the five “2013 Women of Distinction” who will be honored on Wednesday, February 13, 2013 at the The Center for Women and Families’ 26th Annual Celebration of Service & Survival to be held at the Louisville Marriott Downtown dinner program which will also recognize the other four “Women of Distinction:” Madeline Abramson, Susan Ely, Tori Murden McClure and Mary Gwen Wheeler.

Dr. Campbell distinguishes herself as not only a full-time public service social services community leader, but also an inspirational community volunteer whose avocation is to contribute to the community locally, regionally and globally.

This year, Wesley House is celebrating its 110th Anniversary. Wesley House Community Services, was founded in 1903 by the Women’s Board of City Missions of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, of the City of Louisville and was the first Metro United Way Agency in Louisville, Wesley House’s programs are designed to meet the needs of the community it serves in the Metro Louisville Community. 

In 2006, Wesley House Community Services moved to Preston Highway United Methodist Church at 5114 Preston Highway where, to this day, extends its social services helping a very diverse community of people of all colors—of which 45% are Hispanic Latinos. 

Outside of her job at Wesley House Community Services, Dr. Campbell is Adjunct Faculty at the University of Louisville School of Education and an advocate for women and families. She is a founding mother and steering committee member of the Louisville Clothesline Project that brings attention to the widespread abuse of women.

Dr. Campbell was recently appointed to the Mayor’s Violence Prevention Task Force.  She has served on numerous Boards of Directors which include the following: Kentucky Mental Health Association, Center for Non-Profit Excellence Board of Directors, Louisville Clothesline Project Founding Member and Steering Committee, and continues to serve on the Metropolitan Housing Coalition Board of Directors and the Mary Byron Project Board of Directors.  

Regionally, Dr. Campbell is an Approved Domestic Violence Training Provider through the Kentucky Governor's Office of Child Abuse and Domestic Violence. Dr. Campbell was the first director of a transitional housing program in Louisville/Jefferson County, which was one of seven pilot transitional housing programs nationally. Dr. Campbell received local, state, and national recognition while directing this program.  

Internationally, Dr. Campbell has traveled to West African and obtained information about the challenging circumstances of many of the residents of Northern Ghana.  She visited non-governmental organizations, government officials, villages and other stakeholders to discuss and assess poverty rates, disease and illiteracy, and other issues such as family domestic violence and abuse.   She spearheaded and implemented fundraising initiatives to provide individuals with seed money to start small businesses, raised money for school uniforms and supplies for needed children.  Her grassroots efforts recently funded the implementation of a Internet Technology Center in Tolon Ghana West Africa.  She developed a partnership with the Girls Growth and Development Project; a local community based Non-Governmental Organization in the Northern Region of Ghana, West Africa.

Dr. Campbell is a native of Adairville, KY and earned her undergraduate degree from Kentucky State University in 1978 majoring in social work; earned a masters degree from the University of Louisville, Kentucky, Kent School of Social Work, with a specialization in Mental Health in 1982. Dr. Campbell received her Doctorate degree in Leadership Education from Spalding University in March 1999. Her dissertation topic was “Factors That Influence Success of African American Women.”

Dr. Campbell considers herself a very spiritual person who believes that individuals who are successful have a responsibility to reach out and help someone else.

BEN RUIZ

(Co-Founder of La Camara @ Wesley House, The Mayor’s Office for Globalization’s Magnificent 7 International Council and the Hispanic Latino Business Council).