Three young boys living in Arkansas influenced the name of Bodeo Transformation Systems. Poor, hungry, and fearing mob hanging, the Bodeo boys confessed to attempted theft of less than $5. Without legal representation, they quickly moved from a Texarkana trial to electrocution in state prison on a cold, rainy day. The most that a marginalized, underserved African American community could whisper was that the “Bodeo boys are gone.”

Bodeo works with organizations seeking to address historical injustice in national and global political economies. We believe that marginalized and underrepresented communities are best served by strengthening their presence in decision-making. Our approach is to use community-informed tools and strategies associated with community development to effect positive change in factors that determine health, education, economic status, and employment marketability. Bodeo serves all populations while recognizing historical and current experiences with systemic marginalization based on gender, race, ethnicity, ability, class and other demographic qualities.

“To be born is to be deserving of opportunity and room for actualization.”
- Clara Howard, Investor and Inspiration for Bodeo