Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., civil rights leader, author, educator and global business leader is the President of Education Online Services Corporation (EOServe Corp.), the world’s leading provider of online higher education for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) across America, as well as other academic institutions of higher learning throughout the world. Dr. Chavis is the National Director of Occupy the Dream.
Dr. Chavis is also the President, CEO and Co-Founder with Russell Simmons, of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network (HSAN), the world’s largest coalition of hip-hop artists and recording industry executives.
In addition, Dr. Chavis is a Co-founder, Senior Advisor and former President of the Diamond Empowerment Fund (DEF) that supports empowerment programs in Africa. Dr. Chavis writes a syndicated column for the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) that reaches 20 million readers weekly throughout the United States and the Caribbean.
A native of Oxford, North Carolina, Dr. Chavis received the Bachelor of Arts, BA, in Chemistry from University of North Carolina; the Master of Divinity, M.Div., magna cum laude, from Duke University; and the Doctor of Ministry, D.Min., from Howard University. Dr. Chavis has also completed course requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy, Ph.D., in systematic theology, from Union Theological Seminary.
Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. began his career in 1963, as a statewide youth coordinator in NC for the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). In 1970, Chavis was appointed Southern Regional Program Director of the 1.7million member United Church of Christ Commission for Racial Justice (UCC-CRJ) and by 1985 was named the Executive Director and CEO of the UCC-CRJ. In 1988, Dr. Chavis was elected Vice President of the National Council of Churches of the USA. From 1985 to 1993, Dr. Chavis wrote and produced the national syndicated newspaper column and radio program, “Civil Rights Journal.”
In 1993 and 1994 Dr. Chavis served as the Executive Director and CEO of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and remains a life-member of the NAACP. In 1995, Dr. Chavis was the National Director and organizer of the Million Man March. From 1995 to 1997 Chavis was the Executive Director and CEO of the National African American Leadership Summit (NAALS).
In 2001, Dr. Chavis and Russell Simmons Co-founded the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network. In 2009, Dr. Chavis joined with Ezell Brown to establish the Education Online Services Corporation. The 2010 theatrical release of the full length movie “Blood Done Sign My Name” distributed by Paladin, directed by Jeb Stuart, starring Ricky Schroder, Nate Parker, and Lela Rochon depicts a true story from Dr. Chavis’ early days in the Civil Rights Movement during the 1960’s and 1970’s in his hometown of Oxford, NC.
Dr. Chavis has authored books and other publications including: An American Political Prisoner Appeals for Human Rights, Psalms from Prison, Toxic Waste and Race in the United States of America: A National Report on the Racial and Socioeconomic Characteristics of Communities with Hazardous Waste Sites, Report of Fact Finding Mission of African American Church and Community Leaders to the Republic of Angola, Pastoral Letter on Contemporary Racism and the Role of the Church, and The National Agenda: Public Policy Issues, Analyses, And Programmatic Plans of Action (2000-2008).
IN 2012 Dr. Chavis became the Company Spokesperson and Chairman of the Advisory Board for Energy Edge Technologies Corporation (OTC: EEDG), a leading energy savings consultant. Dr. Chavis has just launched an Africa Initiative to use a new machine that takes humidity from the air and turn it into pure ozonated drinking water — bringing pure drinking water to Africa nations.
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Hi, Ben! I am happy to see this great honor bestowed on you. You deserve many plaudits for all of your hardwork and your struggles for human rights. Love,
Your sister, Helen C.Othow