John Paul Robinson, who goes by JP, has been on the job for about three months as the new executive director of the Martin Luther King Jr. Center in Erie.

Robinson, a Cleveland native with a background in higher education and hospitality, took over leadership of the center in mid-July. He says he’s already learning and growing into the role.

“I think if you have the heart to care for the people and to serve the people, that you can easily do this work. I’m a very quick learner, I’m very adaptable, and so I’ve been able to adapt as I grow,” Robinson said.

Robinson says he’s committed to the MLK Center’s mission of improving the conditions of work, play, study, health and living in the city of Erie.

Much of the center’s current work is focused on children through its daycare and after-school programs.

Robinson says the after-school program provides students with support from staff and a specialized curriculum designed to help them succeed.

“We have youth coming in after school for the after-school programs. They’re getting attention from our staff who are working around them through a specialized curriculum,” he said.

The center’s childcare program is also growing, with Robinson saying the goal is to serve as many children as possible while helping prepare them for school.

Robinson also plans to maintain the center’s signature events surrounding the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

That includes the annual MLK Awards Dinner in January, as well as the center’s annual march.

The speaker for the upcoming awards dinner has not yet been announced.

Robinson says the goal is to continue those traditions while finding ways to improve them.

Looking ahead, Robinson says the center needs upgrades in technology and he wants expand. He spelled out the specifics. “To expand funding specifically and to serve more people. I think that we could do a better job at doing that. I think we have the capability to make sure that we’re making the impact that I know that we can make, and it’s going to take intentionality. It’s going to take us getting out there in the community to do that work, but I think that we are in the position now to actually do that.”

You can hear more from JP Robinson about his vision for the Martin Luther King Jr. Center on The Insider, Erie News Now’s public affairs program, this weekend with host Lisa Adams.

To learn more about the Erie MLK Center, click here.