Zuline Gray Wilkinson papers

Zuline Gray Wilkinson (formerly Zuline Gray Allen) was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on February 10, 1947 to Gladys and Arthur Sr. She attended Temple University and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1968 from the School of Liberal Arts. In 1972, she earned a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Work. Simultaneously, between 1990 and 1991, Zuline Gray Wilkinson (ZGW) studied bilingual-bicultural studies at LaSalle University and was a doctoral student at the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Work.

ZGW began her social work career in 1975 as program director for the American Lung Association. She went on to serve as director of social work at Pottstown Memorial Medical Center in 1980, director of the Albert Einstein Medical Center in 1987, and director of social work for the Boston Department of Health and Hospitals, now the Public Health Commission, in 1991. From 1995-1997, ZGW served as director of the Roxbury Multi-Service Center (RMSC), a Boston social service agency whose mission is to "empower children and provide them with tools which can help increase their chances of success and survival in the future" (Roxbury Multi-Service Center website). The organization seeks to fulfill this mission by implementing programs that focus on housing, job counseling, crime prevention, youth activities, education, and physical and mental health needs.

Through RMSC, ZGW became associated with the African-American Federation of Greater Boston (AAFGB), an umbrella organization that provides centralized leadership for several social service organizations. Its purpose is to "support agencies providing social, educational, health and community development services in the African American community of Greater Boston" (Black New England website). Organizations affiliated with AAFGB have included ABCD Dorchester Neighborhood Service Center; Associated Day Care Services; BELL Foundation; Black Ministerial Alliance; Boston Youth Development Project; Central Boston Elders Services; Children's Services of Roxbury; Community Development Corporation of Boston; Crispus Attucks Children's Center; Dimock Community Health Center; FIRST, Incorporated; Freedom House; Greater Roxbury Neighborhood Authority; Harvard Street Community Health Center; Hattie B. Cooper Community Center; Lena Park Development Corporation; Madison Park Development Corporation; Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children; Mattapan Community Health Center; the Boston Chapter of the NAACP; Paige Academy; Parents' and Children's Services; Quincy-Geneva Housing Development Corporation; Roxbury Comprehensive Community Health Center; Roxbury Multi-Service Center; Roxbury Youthworks; Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts; Veterans Benefits Clearinghouse; Whittier Street Health Center; and YMCA Roxbury Family Branch.

ZGW has won several awards for professional growth and contributions in the area of social work. In 1987, she received the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Work Alumni Achievement Award and the Society for Hospital Social Work Directors Helen B. Clark Award. The Tri-County Long Term Care Committee gave ZGW the Founder's Award in 1989, and in 1990, she was awarded the Accion Comunal Latino Americano de Montgomery County, Norristown, Pennsylvania Service Award. In 1993, she was awarded America's Outstanding Business and Professional Women Award by Dollars & Sense Magazine.

ZGW has conducted workshops and seminars at various institutions, including the University of Pennsylvania and Temple University. Two significant presentations include "Another Dimension of Domestic Violence," a forum on Elderly Abuse given by the Department of Health and Hospitals, and "Healthcare Reform," given at the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Work. She has been published numerous times, including "Understanding Cultural Diversity" (Discharge Planning Update, Vol. 12, No. 4, July-August 1992; pp. 1, 22-23; R1 .D5250 v.11-12 1991-92) and "Effective Communication: Basics to Discharge Planning" (Discharge Planning Update, Vol. 12, No. 3, May-June 1992; pp. 1, 17; R1 .D5250 v.11-12 1991-92). ZGW has also held memberships in the National Association of Social Workers, Massachusetts chapter; Society for Social Work Administrators in Health Care of the American Hospital Association, Eastern Pennsylvania chapter; Society for Hospital Social Work Directors of the Hospital Association of Pennsylvania; Society for Hospital Social Work Administrators in Health Care of the American Hospital Association; and Brookside Health Center, Urban Youth Connection Program. Additionally, ZGA served on the Board of Directors for Parents and Childrens Services Inc., Central Boston Elder Services, and Roxbury Youthworks.

In 1997, Zuline Gray Wilkinson accepted a position as Executive Director of the Union Industrial Home for Children (UIH) in Trenton, New Jersey. UIH's programs include New Empowerment Alternatives helping pregnant and parenting teens; MAC (Mother and Child) Programs for young mothers and their children; Operation Fatherhood, which helps fathers gain employment in order to offer financial support to their children; The Father Center, a resource center that teaches parenting skills to fathers; and The Trenton Men's Collaborative, which focuses on increasing father involvement in young children's lives. In 1998, ZGW was interviewed on a PBS program about Operation Fatherhood. In 2000, ZGW wrote and presented a paper to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights entitled "The Crisis of the Young African American Male in the Inner Cities." ZGW is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the United Way of Greater Mercer County. Within that organization, she is a part of the Women's Leadership Initiative Steering Committee, and in 2002 she was the chair of the Executive Committee Forum. ZGW is a member of the Mercer Regional Chamber of Commerce on both the Women In Business and Non-Profit committees. In the Trenton Youth Services Commission, ZGW co-chairs the Research and Planning Committee.

1947 Feb 10

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

1968

Receives bachelor in arts from Temple University.

1972

Receives masters degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Work.

1975-1979

Program director for the American Lung Association.

1980-1986

Director of Social Work at Pottstown Memorial Medical Center.

1987

Receives the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Work Alumni Achievement Award.

1987

Receives the Society for Hospital Social Work Directors Helen B. Clark Award.

1987-1991

Director of the Albert Einstein Medical Center.

1989

Receives the Founder's Award from the Tri-County Long Term Care Committee.

1990

Receives the Accion Comunal Latino Americano de Montgomery County, Norristown, Pennsylvania Service Award.

1990-1991

Studies bilingual-bicultural studies at LaSalle University.

1991

Becomes doctoral student at the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Work.

1991

Becomes Director of Social Work for the Boston Department of Health and Hospitals.

1991

Becomes member of Brookside Health Center, Urban Youth Connection Program, advanced communications.

1992

Publishes discharge planning update, "Understanding Cultural Diversity."

1992

Publishes discharge planning update, "Effective Communication: Basics to Discharge Planning."

1993

Receives America's Outstanding Business and Professional Women Award from Dollars & Sense Magazine.

1993

Becomes member of Roxbury Youthworks Board of Directors.

1994

Moderator, "Another Dimension of Domestic Violence," a forum on elderly abuse, Department of Health and Hospitals.

1994

Faculty, "Healthcare Reform," University of Pennsylvania School of Social Work presentation.

1995-1997

Director of the Roxbury Multi-Service Center.

1997

Becomes Executive Director of the Union Industrial Home for Children in Trenton, New Jersey.

1998

Interviewed on PBS program "Operation Fatherhood."

2000

Presents paper, "The Crisis of the Young African American Male in the Inner Cities" to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.