Dr. Keith Cradle is the Director of Youth/Juvenile Programs for the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office [Charlotte, NC] and responsible for youthful offenders dealing with incarceration and the staff associated with successful implementation of rehabilitation/re-entry and youth development programs/initiatives. Keith was involved in a plethora of programs offered by the Youth Bureau, including working in summer “Greening Project” for the Youth Employment Program where he received his first paycheck and build a love for community development.

Dr. Cradle is currently on the Board of Directors for The Bechtler Museum, The Charlotte Trail of History and the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council. Prior to his role with the Sheriff’s Office, Keith was the Program Director for Male Involvement Programs at the Mecklenburg County Health Department, where he received the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Community Service Award in 2002. His Male Involvement Program was awarded the 2001 NACO award for outstanding program of the year in the state of North Carolina, the Golden Project Award 2004 from the North Carolina Public Health Association, the Kathy Kerr Outstanding Health Education Project Award 2004, 2006 APPCNC Award for pregnancy prevention program of the year in North Carolina, and the 2007 Outstanding Service Award from Crossroads Charter High School [CMS].

Dr. Cradle is a native of White Plains, NY, currently resides in Charlotte, NC. He has a BA in Communications from Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, NC and his Master’s degree in Health Administration from UNC- Charlotte, a dual Master’s of Business Administration and a Master’s of Science in Leadership and Organizational Change from Pfeiffer University in Charlotte, NC and his Ph.D. in Leadership and Organizational Change from Walden University.