Background
France, Erwin Abney was born on October 26, 1938 in St. Louis. Son of Joseph L. and Inez (Jackson) France.
France, Erwin Abney was born on October 26, 1938 in St. Louis. Son of Joseph L. and Inez (Jackson) France.
Bachelor of Science, George Williams College, 1959. Master of Arts, Loyola University, 1967. Doctor of Philosophy, Union Graduate School, 1975.
Director Committee Youth Welfare, Chicago, 1959—1965. Deputy chief Illinois State Employment, 1965—1967. Administrative assistant to mayor, 1967—1975.
President Erwin A. France & Associates, since 1976 (formerly known as; SPA/REDCO, Palmer-France-Green & King, Palmer-France & Associates. Now known as The France Group).
Dr. France spent nearly 20 years in public service prior to entering into private enterprise. He served as Administrative Assistant to the late Mayor Richard J. Daley of Chicago Illinois and Executive Director of the Model Cities/Chicago Committee on Urban Opportunity, now known as the Department of Human Services. He was Co-Chairman of Chicago’s Community Development and Housing Coordinating Committee. He served as Director of the Chicago Network of Youth Opportunity Center; Deputy Director of the Illinois State Employment Service in Metropolitan Chicago; Assistant Executive Director of the Chicago Commission on Youth Welfare; was Interim Executive Director for the Chicago Housing Authority; served as Transition Chief and Special Counsel to the late Mayor Eugene Sawyer of Chicago.
Dr. France had been adjunct professor at George Williams College, Loyola, Roosevelt and Chicago State Universities.
Dr. France is listed in Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in the Midwest, Who’s Who in Government, Who’s Who among Black Americans, The Ebony Success Library, Outstanding Negroes in Chicago, Notable Americans of 1976-1977 and the Dictionary of International Biography. He was selected to represent the United States of America in Several missions abroad:
Member, United States Delegation to the United Nations Conference on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Delinquents - Stockholm, Sweden, 1963;
Member, United States Delegation to study the development of industrialized housing and new towns in several European countries, 1978;
Leader, first delegation of American youth permitted to tour the People’s Republic of Chin, 1973; and
Chairman, section on the child International Conference on Social Welfare – Israel, 1978
Chairman DuSable Museum African American History, Chicago.
Commissioner, Chicago Plan Commission
National Task Force on Perinatal Health Care in High Risk Community - March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation
Life Member, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated
National Officer, Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated
Member, Management Committee, YMCA Camp Pinewood
Former Chairman, Board of Trustees, Congregational Church of Park Manor
Member, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Secretary’s Task Force on the National Center for Housing Management and Triangular Partnership program Advisory Panel
Chicago Architectural Assistance Center
Chicago Board of Education
Chicago NAACP
Chicago Theological Seminary Board of Associate
Community Renewal Society
George Williams College Board of Trustees
Housing Task Force 1st Congressional District of Illinois (Chairman)
Joint Negro Appeal
March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation/Chicago Chapter
Mayor’s Lakefront Study Commission
Roosevelt University (Member, Board of Trustees)
Seaway National Bank of Chicago
Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity Foundation
TRUST, Inc.
YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago (Member, Board of Managers)
Children: Mark Joseph, Eric Stephen.
