Interview with Robert Lee Andrews the CEO of a nonprofit organization called Community Works

Rob is the CEO of the nonprofit Community Works, an organization dedicated to addressing racial inequality pervasive throughout the justice system. Growing up as a Black young man in an underprivileged community afflicted by poverty, Rob was able to recognize many cyclical issues that he would later address through his social entrepreneurship.  Rob's mission is to spread awareness about the concept of social entrepreneurship and its beneficial impact not only on marginalized communities, but on the economy as well. In a time when the US is reflecting greatly upon the disparities exacerbated by systemic racism, the concept of social enterprises, such as the ones Rob has spearheaded, emerge as moral and pragmatic responses to help communities rebuild.  Bio of Robert Lee Andrews Rob Lee Andrews was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado to a certified nurse’s assistant and a construction worker. After a few years, his family moved to Las Vegas, but eventually found themselves back in Colorado Springs. Seeing this move back to Colorado as a ‘Gold Rush’ and a new chapter in their lives, his family was excited. However, they would come to learn that Colorado Spring was/is yet another city inside US borders afflicted with poverty, alcoholism, and an underprivileged education system. Rob was the first in his family to go to college. He attended Hastings College in Nebraska on a full-ride scholarship and led the school’s football team as their star quarterback. After graduating he went on to play for the Calgary Stampeders in the Canadian Football League. After a short while, he realized he was far more committed to social change than the game of football. After moving back home, he helped open a campaign office south of the Fort Carson Military Base for the Democratic Presidential Candidate at the time, Barack Obama. Enjoying his new involvement in politics, he ran for city council. Rob was ultimately disillusioned with local politics and realized the best way for him to impact his community was through means he was truly passionate about: social entrepreneurship.   In the last five years, he has started and managed four socially conscious startups, including One Voice Coalition. Now residing in Denver, Rob works at the intersection of social entrepreneurship and nonprofits to help people across the state find work. He is currently the President/CEO of the longstanding nonprofit social enterprise, CommunityWorks Inc. His mission is to… align businesses with peoples’ needs, keep money in local economies, and to empower others to create social change, first in small, and then massive ways. You can contact Robert Lee Andrews through his website. WEBSITE:  http://www.robleeandrews.com/ PRESS: Rob Lee Andrews of Community Works: "In our society we have an empathy gap; we need to fix this" [Authority Magazine] Rob Lee Andrews Live Session [The Hype Magazine] Longtime friends work to help the unemployed [DiverseCity] Hope for the unemployed [Trinity Broadcast Network] Low-income fares won’t expand despite demand, RTD board decides [Colorado Public Radio] Denver Works [KGNU Community Radio] CSWorks receives grant to help mitigate youth recidivism [Colorado Springs Independent And all social media Robert Lee Andrews