Evelyn M. Turner is a distinguished humanitarian, philanthropist and social activist who has lead a life devoted to working tirelessly in her community and state of New York at large in truth, scholarship and service.

She is the Founder, President & CEO of ITS KOOL 2 B SMART, Inc. (2019), a 501 (c) (3) and Founder of The Alvin C. Washington “Deuce” Memorial STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics) Fund (2020). Ms. Turner is also the Founder of the College, Career, & Resource Fair (for Grades 3rd – 12th) in Co-op City, the Bronx, New York. Since its establishment in 2012, over 2,000+ youth have met with and been inspired by various professionals- including the award winning Morris High School “2 Train Robotic Team” and their Robot, and a representative from NASA.

As a proud product of Warrenton, North Carolina and the North East Bronx, New York, Ms. Turner has been able to trace her shared genetic ancestry back to the MASA People living in Cameroon, West Africa. It was during her youth with immediate and extended family (all current Ancestors) that her foundation and value system was cemented. Her Maternal Grandparents were Farmers and built a Community School called “The Young’s School” in the Youngstown community. Her Paternal Grandparents were Landowners and built a Grocery Store “Turner’s Grocery” for the community. Her Paternal Grandmother, was a Midwife and safely delivered Evelyn and all other babies in the community. They fed the poor, Black and White, provided housing for others who were homeless and demanded registering to vote.

During her formative years, Spirituality and Church attendance was not an option for children and Evelyn went to the “Mourning Bench” and was “Baptized” in the nearby Creek. Evelyn soon after attended the Mayflower Elementary School, a Julius Rosenwald Rural School for “Colored/Negro Children” that consisted of two (2) rooms, three (3) grades each room with one Teacher for each room. Upon graduation, she attended and graduated from the John R. Hawkins High School for Colored and Native American Children where the first priority was academic achievement then several extra curricula activities to select from. Ms. Turner continued her education at North Carolina Central University, Durham, North Carolina. When the Civil Rights Movement was in full gear in the 1960’s, she found herself in this dangerous arena, was jailed twice and almost lost her life in Chapel Hill, N.C. as her belief in dismantling “Jim Crow Laws” was non-negotiable. 

After migrating to New York, Evelyn eventually entered Columbia University - School of Social Work, majoring in Social Case Work and Community Organization. At graduation she (Evelyn Turner Washington) was awarded “The Outstanding Leadership Award” presented by Mitchell Ginsburg. She received her Certificate of Completion in 2004 from the National Association of Black Social Workers National Academy for African-Centered Social Work.

Continuing the work, Evelyn is a proud member of numerous professional Social Work organizations. She initiated and received a $10,000 Grant from the late NBA all-star Malik Sealy Foundation to initiate a Sewing Program for Homeless Families in the Bronx. She advocated for four teenage boys in Foster Home Care, that had never left New York, to visit a Historically Black University, North Carolina Central University, for a weekend college experience. Ms. Turner addressed Homelessness at a National Social Worker’s Conference, in a paper titled “Homeless but Not Helpless, Why Support Services Help,” which was received as a smashing success. Evelyn also collaborated with community partners to create a “Family Fun Day for Kids on the Autism Spectrum,” along with initiating and securing funding for the first Infant/Toddler Program for Babies with Downs Syndrome and other disabilities at the former Shelly School Child Development Center, in Raleigh, N.C. after a Parent lamented “I have to work and no one wants to keep my Baby because she looks different.” 

Today Evelyn continues employment, as a Social Service Director, at a Homeless Shelter for medically fragile and traumatized women in the Bronx, New York. She is the loving Grandmother of Krstopher, Alvin John and Israel and Great Grandmother of King, Sky Marie and Bodhi. Her accolades include, but are not limited to: Proclamations from New York State Assembly, Community Service Award (Retirees of Dreiser Loop), Member of Congress “For Commitment, Hard Work to the New York Community, The Council City of New York - Proclamation “for her outstanding contribution to the City and the community”, the National Sojourner Truth Award “For Meritorious Community Service; for her deep concern for and presentation in all activities advancing the status of women”, the Phenomenal Woman of legacy and Leadership” – Dorothy I. Height Award. The Humanitarian Award from the “Throwaway Kids Foundation, Inc. Panelist, at the Simon Wiesenthal Museum of Tolerance, and she initiated and organized a Community “Share Our Shoes” Drive resulting in 20 – 25,000 pairs of Shoes collected for Haiti (2012). Lastly, she was awarded African-American Mother of The Year by the Carib News. Her Son submitted the winning essay.