Frank Cohn

Based in his hometown of Vancouver, Canada, Frank has more than 20 years experience in managing and evaluating Community Development, Social Impact, and Education Programs. He is currently the Executive Director of a Refugee Mental Health organization, VAST, and is also a Lecturer in Social Work and Public Affairs at UBC, UNBC, Langara, Douglas, Native Education College, and NYU, Fordham, Rutgers, and Columbia Universities, and has provided guest lectures and Field Instruction at more than a dozen other universities. Frank conducts trainings for youth, educators, and managers, in 5 languages: French, Spanish, English, Mandarin Chinese, and Haitian Creole, and is functional in a few other languages. He has done leadership capacity building work with over 10,000 people in over 100 rural villages and urban neighborhoods in 22 countries in Latin America and Asia, and managed life-changing international travel exchanges for over 1000 youth. In 2007 Frank launched, and after 9 years as CEO, transitioned, Global Potential, an organization providing 5000 youth from low-income communities in five countries with transformational experiences and networks. Frank serves as a Consultant, Advisor, and Board Member for several non-profits, including The DUDES Club and the JUMP! Foundation. He has been a WTBD Instructor and Trainer since 2005. Frank was selected in 2011 as the New Yorker of the Week by NY1 Television, in 2010 won the Emerging Social Worker Award from the NASW–NYC Chapter, and in 2005 he was the Founding President of the Columbia University Partnership for International Development. Frank has his BA in Literature and Philosophy from UBC, and his Masters of Science in Social Work from Columbia University.