Roxbury native Derek Lumpkins has been named the inaugural Director of Neighborhood Partnerships and Programs at Northeastern University. In this role, Lumpkins will engage the campus and the surrounding neighborhoods at a new venue, Northeastern Crossing. Northeastern Crossing is a focal point for neighborhood engagement and interactions, as well as a portal for community enquiries about university procurement, employment and scholarships.
In collaboration with the Center of Community Service, Lumpkins will support the mission of Northeastern’s Office of City and Community Affairs by managing the development and success of the Northeastern Crossing, as aligned with priorities of the university’s Institutional Master Plan. Key to the position are building and evolving reciprocal relationships with stakeholders, assessing community assets and needs, and aligning those needs with campus resources.
“I am excited to be at the heart of this new initiative,” Lumpkins said. “This platform provides opportunities to create new collaborations between the university and Boston neighborhoods, and to highlight some of the connections and resources that are currently available.”
A graduate of Boston Latin School, Swarthmore College, and the University of London (SOAS), Lumpkins brings a wealth of experiences and talent to the fore.
Prior to joining Northeastern University, Lumpkins was the Executive Director of Discover Roxbury for five years. Under his guidance, he pushed for Roxbury to be better integrated into the social and cultural fabric of Boston. He focused on elevating the voices, visions and ambitions of Roxbury’s residents by building a team of researchers, scholars and guides that developed tours of Roxbury’s arts, cultural and music heritage.
In 2011, Lumpkins led Discover Roxbury’s inaugural stewardship of Roxbury Open Studios as the cornerstone of the new ArtROX! Series. Over the years, ArtROX! programming included art walks, art-making events, exhibitions, a fashion show, networking sessions and workshops, the annual Black & White Party and a cultural exchange trip to Barcelona, Spain.
