Family
The legacy of Robert F. Kennedy has persevered because of his family's continued political and social activism. Each member plays an intricate role the pursuit of human rights, social consciousness, and the idea that every individual has the power to incite change.
Mrs. Robert F. Kennedy is a founding member of the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial and member of the Memorial’s Board of Directors. Mrs. Kennedy has remained very active in the Memorial, including human rights advocacy work since the RFK Human Rights Award was established in 1984. Most recently she has participated in strategic delegations to Haiti, Brazil and South Florida, participated in protest marches and has contacted various authorities on behalf of our laureates' causes.
Mrs. Kennedy’s other activities include being on the Board of Directors of Earth Conservation Corps www.ecc1.org; Gabriel Homes, Inc. www.gabrielhomes.org; and the Angola Education Assistance Fund www.aeaf.org.
Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, founder of the RFK Human Rights Award, has participated in the Center for Human Right’s (CHR) delegation to Guatemala, and provided follow-up advocacy.
Former Lt. Governor of Maryland, Kathleen is an adjunct professor at Georgetown University and President of Operation Respect www.dontlaugh.org. She also is active in community outreach including being on the Board of Directors of The John F. Kennedy Library Foundation www.jfklibrary.org; National Catholic Reporter www.natcath.com; Civic Works www.civicworks.com; Institute for Human Virology www.ihv.org; Character Education Partnership www.character.org; Institute For Women’s Policy Research www.iwpr.org; CeaseFire MD www.ceasefiremd.org; Center for American Progress www.americanprogress.org, and the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies www.sais-jhu.edu .
Joseph P. Kennedy II has provided advice to the CHR on projects involving Capitol Hill and the US State Department.
The former Congressman is currently Chairman and President of Citizens Energy Corporation www.citizensenergy.com, which he had established in 1979. Joe is also active on the Boards of Directors of: Provide Commerce www.prvd.com; Thomas C. Wales Foundation www.walesfoundation.org; Chicago Climate Exchange www.chicagoclimatex.com; I-Flex Solutions www.iflexsolutions.com and the WellChild Foundation www.nubibus.com/wellchild/html/home.html.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has collaborated with the CHR in supporting laureates’ goals that combine environmental and human rights issues. He gave the keynote address at the 2004 RFK Human Rights Award Ceremony in honor of Delphine Djiraibe.
Robert acts as Chief Prosecuting Attorney for Riverkeeper http://riverkeeper.org, as well as serving as Senior Attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council www.nrdc.org and as President of the Waterkeeper Alliance www.waterkeeper.org . He is also a Clinical Professor and Supervising Attorney at Pace University School of Law’s Environmental Litigation Clinic. He remains involve in many community organizations including: The Everglades Foundations www.saveoureverglades.org; San Diego Baykeeper www.sdbaykeeper.org; Black Mesa Trust www.blackmesatrust.org; and The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence/Westchester, Inc. http://verizonsupersite.com/ncaddinfo/door.
Courtney Kennedy is currently supporting the RFK Memorial through outreach on our 80th Birthday Commemoration Events. She has also assisted in advocacy for Archbishop Francis in Liberia. Courteny was formerly a representative for the United Nations AIDS Foundation.
Kerry Kennedy, founder of the RFK Memorial’s Center for Human Rights and Board Member, has stayed very active since leaving as the Center’s original director. Kerry has since participated in numerous delegations including recent visits to Kenya and Liberia, protest marches and provided advocacy to Capitol Hill, the United Nations and the World Bank.
Kerry is also the Founder and Chair of Speak Truth to Power www.speaktruth.org, a division of the Memorial which is committed to human rights awareness. She is also on the Boards of several organizations including: The Gleitsman Foundation www.gleitsman.org; Human Rights First www.humanrightsfirst.org; People For The American Way 2005 Spirit of Liberty Host Committee www.pfaw.org/pfaw/general/default.aspx?oid=17920; and the International Campaign for Tibet www.savetibet.org .
Christopher G. Kennedy has provided assistance to the CHR related to Corporate Social Responsibility issues.
Chris is currently the president of Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc www.mmart.com. He is very active in corporate and nonprofit organizations, especially in the Chicago area. These include: Ariel Mutual Funds; Interface Floor Covering Company; the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago; Children’s Memorial Hospital; the Heartland Alliance; the Center for Disability and Elder Law; the Illinois Council on Economic Education; Chicago Council on Foreign Relations, the Executives’ Club of Chicago and the Economic Club of Chicago.
Matthew Maxwell Taylor Kennedy has supported the CHR through participation in a delegation to Kenya and protest marches and providing advocacy for many of RFK's laureates including the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, Archbishop Francis, Gibson Kuria and Delphine Djiraibe.
Max, editor of “Make Gentle the Life of This World” is an attorney and author. He is on the board of directors of the Urban Ecology Institute, Inc.
Douglas H. Kennedy, Robert Kennedy Sr.’s youngest son, is a journalist currently working as a reporter for the Fox News Channel.
Rory Kennedy has most recently supported the CHR work on HIV related issues in Haiti. She has also particpated in numerous delegations in the last twenty years, including visits to South Africa, South Korea, and El Salvador.
Rory is an award-winning documentary filmmaker, producer and author, actively advocating for social change through her work and other community activities. She is co-founder of Moxie Firecracker Films www.moxiefirecracker.com, and has served on the Boards of Legal Action Center, the Project Return Foundation and the Joseph P. Kennedy Foundation.
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