George Winn serves as Chief Operations Officer at The Children’s Center in Detroit, Michigan where he leads human resources, operations, information technology, and child welfare teams for a behavioral health and child welfare organization. Mr. Winn provides support and guidance in all aspects of program innovation and implementation. Mr. Winn takes a visionary approach to carefully assisting the agency in strategic planning, while focusing on community partnerships and improving internal systems. He has passion for, and belief in, the family system and believes our children are our future and we must provide innovative, high quality services to children and families. Mr. Winn also leads and supports The Children’s Center Fatherhood Initiative. He also serves in the role of the Diversity Officer and leads in the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee. Mr. Winn is very active in advocating in addressing racial inequity within the child welfare and community mental health systems.

It is our mission “to help children and families shape their own future” and it is our duty and responsibility to nurture and provide guidance to our children.

Mr. Winn’s passions are fueled by his strong belief in the importance of family. Thus, he has become a vocal advocate for the deliberate inclusion of fathers in the daily lives of children. Mr. Winn continues to try and support and change the narrative for our young black boys. Being a father of three boys it is important they receive the guidance, support, love and a strong visible role model so they can become the amazing men they were born to be. In June 2013, Mr. Winn was the recipient of the Michigan Chronicle Men of Excellence Award celebrating men who personify the exemplary qualities of respect, responsibility, passion, brotherhood and leadership.

Mr. Winn is a native Detroiter, a product of the Detroit Public School system and graduate of Cody High School where he was an outstanding scholar and athlete. He received an athletic scholarship from University of Wisconsin (Stout) and later transferred to St. Mary’s College in Orchard Lake, Michigan where he earned his bachelor’s degree in science. He earned his master’s degree in social work from Wayne State University in 1996.

Mr. Winn is highly regarded by his peers, who speak of his strong work ethics, passion for providing quality services and outstanding administrative capabilities.

Mr. Winn has also led, and participated in, the Mayor’s Task Force against abuse and neglect, diversity initiatives, as well as other advocacy initiatives engaging elected officials on ensuring every child has their basic needs met. He conducted many workshops and presentations on Fatherlessness, building strong communities, importance of emerging leaders and equity issues for families of color. He enjoys a range of professional successes having co-chaired the first fatherhood conference in Wayne County and piloted the first private agency contract on family to family in Michigan to maintain the family structure during the foster care placement process. Mr. Winn serves on the board of Neighborhood Legal Services of Michigan, board member of Human Service Association Workers Compensation Fund, member of The State of Michigan’s Committee on addressing racial injustice in Child Welfare, member of the Alliance Black Male Executive Leadership. In May 2015, Mr. Winn completed the Alliance for Strong Families and Communities/University of Michigan’s Executive Leadership Institute. Mr. Winn is a graduate of the Class of 39 Leadership Detroit. Mr. Winn is the co-chair for The Children’s Center’s Crisis to Connection: An Imperative for Our Black Boys.

Mr. Winn is a proud husband and father of three sons. He and his wife Verita are enjoying life rearing their three sons. Mr. Winn and his family are strong in faith and belong to the Word of Faith Christian Center. One of his greatest enjoyments is giving back to the community where he continues to serve as a role model and mentor for many young men. Mr. Winn continues to support several youth sports organizations. Mr. Winn enjoys being very active in the lives of his three children, his older son George Winn II is a former NFL player, his middle son is a graduate of Central Michigan University and pursuing his dream to become a medical doctor and his youngest son is in the United States Naval Academy.