Mr. Anderson is a Certified Diversity Professional with over 25 years of professional experience within diverse practice settings on a micro and macro level in non-profit, education, government, community-based organizations as well as health and human services.

He currently serves as Executive Director of Race Matters for Juvenile Justice (RMJJ) in Charlotte, NC. As a systems organizer, he leads, guides, and supports a collaborative leadership group of partner organizations and institutions. They work within the community to reduce disproportionality and disparate outcomes for children and families of color in their home system.

Mr. Anderson leads audiences across the United States on a journey to recognize and understand institutional and structural racism as well as provides transformational approaches to become equitable and inclusive.

He served as a former NASW Delegate, NASW-NC board member, First Vice President of Equity and Inclusion, and Southern Piedmont District representative. Currently, he serves as a member of the equity and inclusion subcommittee.

“The association is thrilled to honor Derrik for his significant contributions to the profession and NASW-NC. Derrik has committed his entire career elevating the work of dismantling institutional racism. He has devoted years of his time to not only advancing racial justice issues, but also educating thousands of social workers,” said NASW-NC Executive Director Valerie Arendt.

Mr. Anderson obtained a Bachelor of Social Work from South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, SC, a Master of Social Service Administration (MSSA) and a Master of Management of Nonprofit Organization (MNO) from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH. He has also served as Assistant Professor and Bachelor Social Work, Director of Field Education at Johnson C. Smith University.

Nationally, Mr. Anderson is an Elected Director on the Executive Governing Board of American Public Human Services Association (APHSA). Regionally, he serves as a member of the Racial & Ethnic Disparities (RED) Subcommittee for North Carolina Governor’s Crime Commission.