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Robert Vernon Lee III (born January 14, 1951, El Paso, Texas) is an American Episcopal priest and chairman and CEO of Jacksonville, Florida-based nonprofit FreshMinistries and its international arm Be The Change International. Lee has launched initiatives and partnerships addressing issues of poverty worldwide. In the United States, efforts began with programs in Jacksonville. He has also spearheaded partnerships in Africa designed to combat HIV/AIDS and to address the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.[1]
Robert V. Lee | |
|---|---|
| Born | Robert Vernon Lee, III January 14, 1951 |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | PhD |
| Alma mater | Vanderbilt University University of Georgia Yale University |
| Occupation | Minister |
| Children | 2 |
Biography
editRobert Vernon Lee III was born on January 14, 1951, in El Paso, Texas, to Colonel Robert V. Lee, Jr. and Cynthia Warren Lee.
He earned his bachelor's degree from Vanderbilt University and continued graduate studies in journalism at the University of Georgia. He earned a Master of Divinity from Yale University and a doctorate in theology from New York Theological Seminary.[citation needed]
After serving as rector of Church of Our Saviour in Jacksonville, Florida, Dr. Lee founded FreshMinistries in 1988, which was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) the following year. FreshMinistries became Lee's full-time ministry in 1994, with goals of interfaith and interracial outreach.[citation needed] He is currently serving as a non-stipendiary Canon for Outreach and Ecumenism in the Diocese of Florida. He has also served parishes in Connecticut and Florida.[citation needed]
He has served as the Chairman of the Interfaith Sub-Committee of the 2005 Super Bowl Host Committee in Jacksonville and as a director for St. Mary's Outreach Ministry in Jacksonville, the Samaritan Center, Dignity-U-Wear, Christian Healing Ministries, and the Florida Council of Churches.[citation needed]
By appointment of Governor Jeb Bush, Lee served as a member of the Governor's Faith-based Advisory Board for the state of Florida.[citation needed]
As a mayoral appointee he also serves on the Mayor's Faith-based and Community Advisory Board for the city of Jacksonville. Lee is also the first head of a not-for-profit organization to serve as a Director on the Board of the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce.[citation needed]
He also serves on the board of directors for the Jacksonville Interfaith Council, Habitat for Humanity of Jacksonville (HabiJax), and the Jacksonville Urban League. He is also a member of the Compass Rose Society, an organization of the Anglican Communion serving the Archbishop of Canterbury.[citation needed]
Lee has also been inducted into the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.[citation needed]
Lee was appointed by President George W. Bush to the now defunct President's Council On Financial Literacy.[2]
He currently resides in Jacksonville, Florida with his wife, Mirte de Boer Lee, and his two children.[3]
International Partnerships
editLee has been involved with several international partnerships through his FreshMinistries projects.
Siyafundisa
editIn 2004, FreshMinistries received a 5-year, $10 million USAID grant for HIV/AIDS education in South Africa, Mozambique and Namibia. Lee helped initiate a partnership between FreshMinistries and the Church of the Province of Southern Africa to utilize the Anglican Church's presence and existing infrastructure to administer peer-based HIV/AIDS prevention programs.[1][4] Siyafundisa had a 2009 annual target reach of 32,340 youth.[5]
Global Action Partnership
editIn 2009, The Anglican Communion approached Lee about bringing worldwide the 6-Point Community Initiative, a holistic approach to community improvement that has been successful in Jacksonville, FL. Lee began talks with Hellen Wangusa, Anglican Observer at the United Nations; and Olara Otunnu, president of the LBL Foundation for Children, about creating a Global Action Partnership (GAP) that would address all of the United Nation's Millennium Development Goals at once, the first program of its kind. In November 2009, GAP was signed into existence in New York City.
The creation of GAP was given a boost within the Anglican community by receiving the approval and support of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, at a dinner during the Episcopal Church's General Convention in 2009.[6][7]
Response to 2010 Haiti earthquake
editIn response to the devastating 2010 Haiti earthquake, FreshMinistries/Be The Change International (BTCI) was asked by the US Department of Health and Human Services to coordinate a major aid and relief operation there, which led to Lee's development of the "Tomorrow's Haiti" initiative. "Tomorrow’s Haiti" aimed to create initiatives in Haiti that would simultaneously address education, economic development, health, safety, safe shelter and clean water, and family foundations. The program was modeled on FreshMinistries’ HIV/AIDS education program in South Africa, Siyafundisa, as well as BCTI's thriving holistic approach to creating long-term sustainable change in inner-city Jacksonville.
The BCTI's program is used by the Episcopal churches and 254 schools within BAEH's network as community centers from which to distribute relief aid to the Haitian people and introduce the community to the “Tomorrow’s Haiti” empowerment plan.
BTCI's emergency relief effort has shipped many supplies to the Haitian people, including three ambulances (one of which was delivered to the Haitian government), emergency aid, food, water, water purification systems, clothing, school supplies, large generators, and 147 large tents to serve as temporary schools and shelter. BTCI plans to ship more than 100 additional large tents to serve as schools and shelter, as well as medical equipment such as surgical beds.[8]
Revitalization in Jacksonville
editIn 2006, Lee was named a "Change Agent" by the Florida Times-Union for creating FreshMinistries, "helping people start businesses, revitalize their neighborhoods and get out of debt."[9]
6-Point Community Initiative
editLee created the concept of a holistic model for community revitalization that simultaneously addresses all areas of needed improvement at once. For Jacksonville's Eastside, these areas are education, affordable housing, economic development, family strengthening, safety and health. The initiative works in a number of ways, including focusing on partnerships with local, state and national organizations and government agencies. Notable partners include former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, Jacksonville Mayor John Peyton, Duval County School Superintendent Ed Pratt-Dannals, and Jacksonville Sheriff John Rutherford.
The initiative works toward developing other programs and improvements that will be self-sufficient and community-owned, constantly customizing and updating the needs based on what the community says it needs.[10]
Recognition
editIn August 2008, Lee and FreshMinistries Communities Empowering Youth (CEY) director, Michelle Hughes, were awarded for their work in the community by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office (JSO). This recognition, according to JSO, was for their neighborhood anti-crime walks, CEY's efforts in assisting the Police Athletic League (PAL), and the rest of FreshMinistries’ initiatives that focus on community improvement and safety.[11][12]
Lee was responsible for spearheading a partnership between FreshMinistries and Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) to create a tuition-free, accelerated welding training program for Eastside neighborhood adults who are unemployed and underemployed. The program's first cycle has successfully trained 25 adults, with all graduates of the program guaranteed jobs through Atlantic Marine as they become available.[13][14]
In 2000, Lee delivered a sermon to President George W. Bush during his visit to Jacksonville, FL.
References
edit- ^ a b JEFF BRUMLEYThe Times-Union (2004-11-18). "Dream led to FreshMinistries". Jacksonville.com. Retrieved 2012-08-17.
- ^ [1] Archived January 9, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Building hope. Changing lives - The Rev. Dr. Robert V. Lee III". FreshMinistries. Retrieved 2012-08-17.
- ^ "Building hope. Changing lives - Siyafundisa". FreshMinistries. Archived from the original on 2012-07-06. Retrieved 2012-08-17.
- ^ "Siyafundisa's reach continues to grow". Be The Change International. 2009-07-23. Archived from the original on 2012-07-23. Retrieved 2012-08-17.
- ^ "Global Action Partnership created". Be The Change International. 2009-12-29. Archived from the original on 2012-07-23. Retrieved 2012-08-17.
- ^ "BTCI announces Global Action Partnership". Be The Change International. 2009-07-21. Archived from the original on 2012-07-23. Retrieved 2012-08-17.
- ^ "BTCI enters agreement with Bishop of Episcopal Diocese in Haiti and former Prime Minister of Haiti to rebuild the country". Be The Change International. 2010-07-02. Archived from the original on 2012-07-23. Retrieved 2012-08-17.
- ^ Times, The (2006-03-27). "More change agents". Jacksonville.com. Retrieved 2012-08-17.
- ^ "Building hope. Changing lives - How We Work". FreshMinistries. Retrieved 2012-08-17.
- ^ "Building hope. Changing lives". FreshMinistries. 2009-08-28. Archived from the original on 2012-03-02. Retrieved 2012-08-17.
- ^ "Neighborhood Anti-Crime Walk". YouTube. 2009-02-28. Archived from the original on 2021-12-15. Retrieved 2012-08-17.
- ^ "FreshMinistries - Building hope. Changing lives - Accelerated Welding Training". Archived from the original on 2010-01-26. Retrieved 2010-01-11.
- ^ "FreshMinistries - Building hope. Changing lives - Welding training program grad begins work". Archived from the original on 2011-07-26. Retrieved 2010-01-11.