Willie Cobb - Advocate for Hope
Willie Cobb knows what it means to struggle.
One of twelve children whose father passed away when he was five, he began helping to feed his family at age nine. He grew up in a neighborhood filled with drugs, violence, poverty, and death. His siblings, living with their own struggles, were often verbally and physically abusive - and stole his clothes and money.
He attended overcrowded grade schools where the teachers were overworked and had little or no compassion. In sixth grade, one of the math teachers became so frustrated with him that she had him stand facing the wall during the entire math class.
In eighth grade a counselor told his mother that he was too dumb to make it to or through high school. So his eighth grade homeroom teacher helped me to find a job at McDonald’s, believing that he needed to work because he would not reach high school.
At the age of twelve he realized he couldn’t read the word “stop” on a stop sign. He became very depressed and was convinced that this was all life had in store for him.
Around this time, his mother walked him across the street to the Catholic church and said to the pastor and janitor, “I have one good son and if you don’t help save him, he is going to die.” He found himself at the church more often than not. The church became his home.
During his first year of high school he was put into a special group called OMAT, one major at a time. While other freshman had eight classes, he had three: English, Math and Science. Twenty-six students sat in one room from 8:00 am until 2:30 pm. Only one student graduated from that class. That one student was Willie.
After high school, he was diagnosed with several severe learning disabilities which made it difficult to pursue further education.
But he persevered.
At Roosevelt University, his educational journey was rejuvenated. Due to financial burdens, it took him years to complete his education — but he not only obtained a college degree, he went on to become a high school teacher.
He now holds a Masters’ in Divinity and a Doctorate in Ecumenical Ministry — and teaches The Social Meaning of Race at the University of Chicago.
Throughout his years as an educator and, more recently as a hospital chaplain, Dr. Cobb has begun to understand that he is an Advocate for Hope.
As an advocate, he
helps heal those who suffer from grief and loss.
understands the impact of trauma on individuals and families - and offers tools to create new ways of interacting and sustaining relationships.
supports families who have children with diagnosed and undiagnosed learning disabilities to find workable tools and solutions for academic success.
Dr. Cobb is a consultant who brings permanent and revolutionary change to individuals and organizations - the kind of change that promotes a healthy work environment, and that will help your community bring about growth and prosperity.
A Motivational Speaker, Educator, and Chaplain who engages others through a Ministry of Hospitality, welcoming everyone from where they are and inviting them into community.
He focuses on leadership development, self-regulation, and compassion.
Dr. Willie Cobb, Jr.
Certified Diversity Professional
Doctor of Ecumenical Ministry
Masters in Pastoral Studies
Youth Advocate
The Meaning Behind the Logo
Hurricane Katrina (2005) was one of the most devastating natural disasters in U.S. history. The hurricane took a human toll and destroyed property and historic monuments. After the winds died down, the levees broke and the disaster magnified. Once the floodwaters cleared and they began to measure the damage, they discovered that one natural ecosystem was still standing. That is the Southern Oak Tree. When they investigated why the Southern Oak Tree stood in the face of such a horrifying disaster, they discovered that the roots of the Southern Oak intertwine for miles. When the winds blew and the floods came, the trees held each other together.
The Southern Oak reminds us that once we are tied together by our roots, we can survive any disaster.
The Meaning Behind the Motto
Willie lives with dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia. To this day, he has difficulty reading, writing, spelling - and even something as simple as drawing a circle. Despite these difficulties, he has managed to achieve educational, professional, and personal success.
He did not always believe that would be the case.
When he was a senior in high school, some guy he knew said to him, “You’re gonna get there someday. You may get there late, but you’re gonna get there.” That man’s words have stuck with Willie ever since. One night, while he was contemplating his life, the phrase came to him: Get there. Be there. Stay there.
And he realized wherever “there” is, is up to you. Each individual gets to decide.
And like the guy who said those words to Willie, it has become his mission to help people to Get there. Be there. Stay there.