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Leon Rodrigues was born in Kliptown, South Africa, one year after the Freedom Charter was signed in this historical town (1955 Congress of the People). Leon grew up and attended schools in this non-white township, which is adjacent to Johannesburg. Due to the apartheid system he was only allowed to attend an education institution for his own racial group and became a student at the University College of the Western Cape. He attained a BA in Social Work and began working in the disadvantaged communities he grew up in. He holds degrees from the Cape Technikon in Youth work, and a post-graduate degree in Social Work Management. Since high school, Leon has been involved in resisting the apartheid system and was an active member of the United Democratic Front and later a member of the African National Congress, after it was unbanned by the past South African regime. Leon has been the regional chairperson for the Western Cape Chapter of the National Association of Child Care Workers and served on the government task force to remove children from prison in South Africa. He has been a community activist and assisted grassroots organizations develop their focus and impact on community issues. He also worked full-time as a social work supervisor and assistant director of Boys Town in South Africa (Western Cape). At his local church he ran groups for parents and young people in an attempt to reduce the alienation between parents and politically active youth. Leon continued to work toward political and social change and like many other Black South Africans was extremely relieved that the country reached a political settlement in a democratic way, rather than an armed confrontation. Leon and his wife Sophie, who is a biology teacher have three children and came to the United States following their political commitments and their Christian beliefs, to seek opportunities to elaborate on their knowledge and skills. Sophie is presently enrolling for her Masters in Early Childhood Education. Leon completed a Master's degree in Youth Development Leadership at the University of Minnesota and is now in the advanced stages of his doctoral degree in Work, Community and Family Education. His focus is on family empowerment and conflict resolution and wants to return to South Africa to help address the problems created by the past apartheid system. Leon's research interests include giving voice to marginalized communities. He completed a Masters degree research project with township youth in South Africa. His doctoral research will focus on reconciliation and reconstruction: Giving voice to families of apartheid in South Africa. Leon is presently involved as a research assistant at the University of Minnesota and is an instructor in Critical Pedagogy in the Family education department at the University. His family is keen to volunteer in their local neighborhood organizations and schools. He has served for the past three years as a board member for the Camp Fire Boys and Girls organization and is chairperson for the Conciliation Committee of the University Family Housing. He has been part of a consultative team to the Government of Bermuda and is an international advisor to the organization, Reclaiming Youth International. Leon addresses conferences and small workshops on issues in South Africa and has been involved in cross-cultural training for an organization, which specializes in overseas placements. He and his family are committed to returning to their home country to "make their contribution".
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