Robert Cooper Jr
Trauma Informed Leadership Expert
Robert
Cooper Jr.
Don't let your environment condition your mindset.
Robert Cooper Jr. grew up in the Norris Street Projects in North Philadelphia one of the hardest environments in the country. No coach saw something in him. No mentor stepped in. No one invested in his future.
He navigated his healing entirely on his own using basketball as structure, arriving at self-forgiveness, and choosing to release the resentment that could have consumed him. That journey became his life's work.
Today Robert is the founder of Young Men Becoming Men, Inc. — a 501(c)(3) nonprofit built to give young men what he never had: a structured, trauma-informed space to process adversity and rise through it.
His Story
From the Norris Street Projects to the Stage
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Professional Development Certificate in Trauma Informed Care — Indiana University School of Public Health
HarvardX Certificate in Family Engagement in Education
Author —The Authentic Man: Embracing Your Journey
Keynote & Topics
What Robert Brings to Your Audience
01
Redefine
Robert's signature keynote — based on Chapter 6 of The Authentic Man. Students learn to redefine who they are beyond their trauma, their zip code, and the expectations placed on them. Every attendee receives a copy of the book.
02
Greatness Over Adversity & Trauma
The G.O.A.T. framework — a trauma-informed approach to leadership that teaches young men how to use their hardest experiences as fuel rather than letting those experiences define their ceiling.
03
The Authentic Man
A raw, honest conversation about what it means to step into your identity — not the one your environment assigned you, but the one you choose when you're finally willing to do the inner work.
04
Trauma-Informed Leadership
For educators and administrators. Robert translates his lived experience and professional training into a framework that helps adults understand, reach, and lead young men who carry invisible weight.
Programs & Offerings
Built to Transform — Not Just Inspire
Signature Program
G.O.A.T. Leadership Experience
Grades 6–8 · School-Based Cohort
A 9-session trauma-informed cohort for young men in middle school. Students build identity, emotional regulation, self-esteem, and leadership — in a space designed specifically for them.
9 structured cohort sessions
Groups of 10 young men per cohort
Summer or fall cohort scheduling
Title I school friendly
Every offering is rooted in trauma-informed practice and delivered by Robert personally. This is not a box curriculum. This is a living, breathing experience built for your young men.
Redefine Keynote
Middle School · High School · College
Robert's signature keynote for any audience of young men — or the adults who lead them. Every student receives a copy of The Authentic Man.
45-minute keynote
Based on Chapter 6 of the book
Book included for every student
Available for assemblies & events
College Experience
Universities & Higher Ed
Three tiers for colleges and universities — from a single keynote to a full semester G.O.A.T. College Experience. Built for student affairs, DEI offices, and men's leadership programming.
Redefine Keynote
3-Session Workshop Series
G.O.A.T. College Experience
The Authentic Man
The Book
Required curriculum in every G.O.A.T. program. Included in every Redefine keynote. Robert's book is not a self-help manual — it's a mirror for men and young men who are ready to stop performing and start becoming.
The Authentic Man: Embracing Your Journey walks readers through ten chapters of transformation — from survival to self-awareness, from resentment to release, from identity confusion to purpose.
Required curriculum in every G.O.A.T. cohort
Bundled with every keynote for every student
Available with companion journal
Schools & Organizations
Trusted by Educators Who Believe in Their Boys
KIPP North Philadelphia
DuBois Collegiate Academy
PA Leadership Charter School
Reading Community College
“Dia L. Jones, Ed.D.
I had the pleasure of working with Robert at an intimate event for elementary and middle school students. Robert was the guest speaker and did a great job speaking to the children. I would recommend Robert as a speaker for the youth involved in organizations, especially in and around Philadelphia. Give him a call!”
“Dr. Karla Johnson
Chief Executive Officer
The G.O.A.T. program provided our male students with an invaluable summer experience, equipping them with essential leadership, organization, goal-setting, and planning skills.
Under the expert facilitation of Mr. Robert Cooper, students actively engaged in meaningful discussions and practical activities that fostered personal and academic growth. This program made a lasting impact, empowering our young men to take charge of their future confidently and purposefully.”
Whether you're a school counselor with a group of boys who need this, a principal building a culture of belonging, or a university investing in men's leadership — let's talk.
Let's Build Something Real for Your Young Men
Book Robert
Schedule a call
Calendly — 10-min discovery call
Organization
Young Men Becoming Men, Inc
Robert Cooper Jr.
Don't let your environment condition your mindset.
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