DCYOP Welcomes Dr. Robert Blaine as New Board President

DCYOP is thrilled to welcome widely respected thought leader, educator, and musician, Dr. Robert Blaine, as the new president of our Board of Directors. Among the many titles that demonstrate how Dr. Blaine has distinguished himself professionally, we are proud to note that he is also a DCYOP alum!

“Being in DCYOP gave me a foundation to play at the Kennedy Center and move on a different plane, but it also gave me a set of friends,” Dr. Blaine recently shared. “That was my tribe, my community. To have a group of people around me that understood me and where I was coming from, that was incredible.”

Since his DCYOP days, Dr. Blaine built an enviable career as a trombone soloist, orchestral musician, and conductor, performing with and conducted professional ensembles around the world and all across North America, including appearances with the U. S. Army Orchestra “Pershing’s Own.” He then extended his passion for music to the realm of education, taking on academic appointments including Associate Provost at Tougaloo College and as Dean of Undergraduate Studies and Cyber Learning, Director of Orchestral Studies, and Professor of Music at Jackson State University, and recognition as an Apple Distinguished Educator.

Dr. Blaine currently serves as the senior executive and director for the National League of Cities’ Institute for Youth, Education and Families (YEF Institute), an organization to empowering thousands of municipal leaders across America to take bold actions that lead to better outcomes and greater equity for all children, youth, and families in their communities.

Prior to his role at the YEF Institute, Dr. Blaine served as the City of Jackson’s Chief Administrative Officer. Dr. Blaine led the development and implementation of the city’s strategic plan, which promotes a “dignity economy” – an economic model in which municipal investments were made towards the inherit dignity of every citizen in Jackson through early childhood success, financial empowerment, and equitable workforce development. 

With his unique perspective as a professional musician, educator, and innovative leader dedicated to equitable development, Dr. Blaine offers an incredible wealth of knowledge and experience that will no doubt enrich and bolster our organization as it continues to grow and evolve. We look forward to working with Dr. Blaine in his new leadership role and hope you will join us in welcoming him back to the DCYOP family!