Xavier Henderson, a student in the online cohort of the M.S. in Nonprofit Management program, was featured in The Root 100annual list highlighting Black achievement for his work as the co-founder and Chief Development Officer of For Oak Cliff.
Henderson and his childhood friend formed For Oak Cliff to improve the quality of life for residents of their Dallas, Texas neighborhood providing “culturally responsive initiatives . . . to liberate the community from systemic oppression, create a culture of education, and increase social mobility and social capital,” according to Henderson.
A recipient of the M.S. Nonprofit Management Master’s Program Merit Fellowship Award, Henderson came to Columbia’s M.S. Nonprofit Management program in search of the tools needed to grow For Oak Cliff’s movement and scale it. “I value learning from the professors, who are scholar-practitioners and also from my fellow students,” he says.
“I don’t do this work for the recognition or awards. It’s actually hard for me to accept because the work is a collaborative effort,” Henderson explains.
He does, however, add that he appreciates that “recognition like this brings more attention to our efforts, our mission, and our community and potentially more resources.”
The Root 100 list honors Black innovators, leaders, and public figures, ages 25 to 45, whose work helps to break down barriers and create opportunities for the next generation.
Henderson also earned placement on the Forbes 30 Under 30 North America 2021 list for Social Impact, which includes young professionals in the nonprofit sector who successfully leverage business acumen to create positive impact around the world.
Learn more about Columbia University’s the M.S. Nonprofit Management program.
