Walter Palmer

Often called a renaissance man and teacher par excellence, as the founder and director of The Palmer Foundation, Dr. Walter Palmer has spent over fifty years of his life gathering and disseminating information for curriculum development and course design, for information consumers locally, nationally and outside the United States.

Like so many of our young people today, Dr. Palmer was born in abject poverty in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Later he moved to Philadelphia with his father, mother, and twelve brothers and sisters living in a two bedroom flat in the lower end (Black Bottom) of West Philadelphia.

Growing up in Philadelphia he did not do well in grade school, junior high or high school, and by the time he was twelve years old his father died and at thirteen years of age he was arrested for burglary, grand theft and larceny. Even though he was the head of the household with his mother he would be arrested every six months for fighting, disorderly conduct, disruptive behavior, etc., until his last year in high school. By the time he graduated from high school, he had been shot and stabbed numerous times.

By the time Dr. Palmer was twelve he became increasingly aware of race, poverty and other forms of social injustice. At age fifteen he made a conscious commitment to fight against hum oppression and social injustice in America. His mission has been to educate the American people on how to make America become the greatest nation in the world and live up to its promise of freedom, justice and equality for all citizens, i.e., rich, poor, Black, White, Native Asian, Hispanic, Mexican, Protestant, Jew and Gentile.

He found that going to jail for human rights was a lot nobler than going to jail for youthful distractions.

While in high school he created the Black People's University of Philadelphia (1950-1985) in response to the failing education of African American children in the urban and rural communities of America. He was a pioneer in establishing the early prototype for preschool and adult independent and alternative education in contemporary America. He has taught from preschool to graduate school and is currently an adjunct Professor at the University Of Pennsylvania Graduate School of social work, where he teaches American racism and gender bias.

After graduating from high school, Dr. Palmer initially trained at the University of Pennsylvania School of Cardio-Pulmonary Care, followed by business training at Temple University, and a degree in secondary education from Cheyney State University. He also has a Jurist Doctorate degree in law from Howard University, as well as a background in communications, religious studies and philosophy with an Honorary Doctoral Degree in comparative religion. Currently, he is a PhD candidate in another advanced studies program. He spent the last forty years of his life studying, developing and establishing himself as an educator, social activist and supporter of humanitarian causes, which has made him legendary in some areas inside and outside of the United States.
Dr. Palmer has been called upon over the years to consult, create, design and implement many successful political campaigns for presidential, senatorial, congressional, governor, state representative, mayoral, councilmatic to precinct elections. Many communities around the country have benefited from his community organizing skills and techniques, as well as, his ability to passionately provide inspirational and motivational speeches and lectures.

As an accomplished musician, dancer, and artist, he has been an active promoter of the cultural arts and supported several artists and cultural programs that have won national acclaim. He founded the Philadelphia Freedom Theatre in 1966 while at Cheyney University.

Professor Palmer participated in national track and field competition for twenty years old to forty years old, where he became a national, regional and world record holder in sprints and he still competes today. As a successful businessman at 19 years of age he established early success in large real estate accomplishments and solidified his position by creating Palmer Enterprises and the Palmer Foundation. Some other business successes include securing a commitment of $100 million dollars from Wall Street for acquisition of a $500 million dollar steel mill, the creation and development of the following: National Small Business and Consumer Union (NSBCU), Information Consultation Education Services (ICES), The Information Store, International Schools of Financial Services, to mention a few. Now he devotes 100% of his time to researching, writing and developing curriculum and training courses for schools, churches, corporations, social agencies, courts and city, state, county, and federal governments on issues of race relation, cultural diversity and youth leadership for the 21st century.

We think you would agree with the thousands of admirers who have met or heard Dr. Palmer teach, lecture, tell stories, etc., and he and his staff are uniquely qualified to provide useful information to the lay person or professional in a informative, educational, provocative and entertaining manner.