Making a difference in the world can begin anywhere, and Rodney Adkins is doing it right from home. As an executive board member of the Community-Police Relations Foundation (CPR Foundation), he is no stranger to the impact created by police-public interactions. Inspired by the Foundation's mission to help others and appreciative of those who serve and protect, Adkins plays a crucial role in bridging various communities with policing. 

 

Growing up between Overtown and Liberty City, his family and community significantly influenced him to become a leading electrical engineer, philanthropist, and business executive. Learning from a young age about the importance of helping others, treating people respectfully, and being prepared to pursue anything worth achieving, Adkins carries these values in his adult life to face life's challenges and improve communities today.

 

Adkins also uses past encounters with law enforcement as a driving force to make a difference by demonstrating the impact of healthy leadership. "Once I got the best advice of my life from an officer: 'Son, you look smart, stay close to home.' What that officer saw in me, who knows? But this was priceless advice I use when I get the opportunity to do so, including my advice to 'stay busy all the time. It keeps you out of trouble.'

 

Actively involved with the CPR Foundation, Adkins has had the opportunity to collaborate with others and further increase the awareness of community and policing relationships - a necessary tool to create positive change. "To me, all communities are not the same because all communities are not faced with the same challenges. I'm very proud of the effort and the gradual progress being made. Directionally impressive and proud, but respectfully, we still have much to hear in building trust given the historical divide between communities and policing."

 

His favorite funded project includes the Police Department's 'Night Out' event, which allows community members and officers to engage and better understand one another. All foster mutual appreciation, improve relationships and fully carry out the CPR Foundation mission.