Keith E. Cradle, Ph.D

Community Engagement Specialist / Author / Cultural Arts Advocate / Podcast Host

Dr. Keith Cradle is the Juvenile Services Liaison for Healthy Blue NC/BCBS and responsible for working with judges, law enforcement agencies and key court influencers around the state to build relationships and identity opportunities to drive systems change.

Previously, Dr. Cradle was the Director of Youth/Juvenile Services for the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office and responsible for juveniles/youthful offenders dealing with detention and the staff associated with successful implementation of rehabilitation/re-entry and youth development programs/initiatives.

Dr. Cradle is currently on the Board of Directors for The Mint Museum Contemporary Art Board, Charlotte Trail of History (www.charlottetrailofhistory.org) and Outward History Bound of NC. He has previously sat on the Board of Directors for Inspire the Fire, Carolina Voices, Hands on Charlotte, Juvenile Crime Prevention Council, the Charlotte Advisory Committee for the Knight Foundation and the Ada Jenkins Center. Keith’s involvement and commitment to the development of the arts and cultural sectors of Charlotte have led him to help start the Jail Arts Program at the Bechtler Museum that works with youth in detention discover, develop and harness their appreciation for art.

Prior to his role with Healthy Blue NC/BCBS and the Sheriff’s Office, Keith was the Program Director for Male Involvement Programs at the Mecklenburg County Health Department, where he spent 8 years, and received the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Community Service Award in 2002. His Male Involvement Program was awarded the 2001 NACO award for outstanding program of the year in the state of North Carolina, the Golden Project Award 2004 from the North Carolina Public Health Association, the Kathy Kerr Outstanding Health Education Project Award 2004, 2006 APPCNC Award for pregnancy prevention program of the year in North Carolina, and the 2007 Outstanding Service Award from Crossroads Charter High School [CMS]. In 2012, he was awarded the Young and Powerful for Obama Rising Star Award and in 2018 the Excellence in Leadership for Public Service Award from UNC-Charlotte.

Dr. Cradle is a native of White Plains, NY, currently resides in Charlotte, NC with his wife and daughter and is an active member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.He has a BA in Communications from Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, NC and his Master’s degree in Health Administration from UNC- Charlotte, a dual Master’s of Business Administration and a Master’s of Science in Leadership and Organizational Change from Pfeiffer University in Charlotte, NC. and his Ph.D. in Leadership and Organizational Change from Walden University. His first book, “Cut the Check!” and podcast “Crafted With Cradle” are now available on www.keithcradle.com.