05-03-2025
Gwen L. Robinson, Cincinnati trailblazer and community champion, dies at 78
Gwen L. Robinson, who served as the president and CEO of the Cincinnati-Hamilton County Community Action Agency (CAA) for 23 years, passed away Monday at the age of 78.
The CAA, in an Instagram post, said Robinson was a "true champion" for the community, who "dedicated her life to ensuring residents live in a community where everyone is equipped with the tools and resources to be self-sufficient."
Robinson joined the organization in 1995. It strives to lift individuals and families out of poverty through services such as job training and housing assistance.
She served the organization for over two decades before officially retiring in 2018.
"Under her leadership, countless individuals and families found support, hope, and opportunities to thrive," the post reads. "Her impact will never be forgotten, and her passion for service continues to inspire us all."
During her tenure, Robinson received several accolades, including being named among The Enquirer's 2006 Women of the Year. The award honors outstanding women who've changed the Cincinnati community for the better.
"I just knew I always wanted to be moving forward," she told The Enquirer during an interview in 2006. "If something was going to change, I wanted to be part of that."
Among her other awards and honors:
2010 Profile in Courage
YWCA Career Women of Achievement
Ladies of Distinction 2007 Honoree
NAACP 2006 Wright Overstreet Award
Radio One Women Empowerment Award
Dada Rafiki Award
In addition to her work at CAA, Robinson served as vice chair on the Metro Board of Trustees. She was appointed by the City of Cincinnati in 2012.
According to Metro's website, she was also the first African-American president of the Cincinnatus Association, a civic group whose mission is "to initiate, recognize, participate in, and promote projects that improve the quality of life for all citizens in the Greater Cincinnati region."
The CAA's current president and CEO Mark B. Lawson said it's hard to imagine a world without Robinson.
"She was a force," Lawson said. "She was a visionary leader who cared passionately for her community and spent her career working to make things better for those struggling. We miss her."
Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval called her a "fighter of injustice" and "champion for equity."
"Thank you for everything you gave, and for the inspiration you leave behind," the mayor wrote on Facebook.
Information about the circumstances of her death was not immediately available. A memorial will be held at Corinthian Baptist Church, 1920 Tennessee Ave., in Bond Hill on Sunday, March 23. The family greeting begins at 12:30 p.m., with a celebration of life at 2 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Gwen L. Robinson, Cincinnati trailblazer and CAA leader, dies at 78
