Reverend Dr. Nicholas Hood Sr, is Minister Emeritus of Plymouth United Church of Christ, Detroit, Michigan. After graduating form Yale University Divinity School in 1949, he began his ministry in New Orleans, Louisiana as Senior Minister of Central Congregational Church. During the nine years that he pastored in New Orleans, he was a founding member of the Southern Christian Leadership Council, with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as leader.
For 27 years (1958‑1985), as Senior Minister of Plymouth United Church of Christ, Rev. Hood ministered to his congregation’s needs as well as to the concerns of the larger community. Elected to the Detroit City Council in 1965, he worked ceaselessly to improve the conditions of people who were displaced by urban renewal: the economically disadvantaged, those who were discriminated against and, developmentally‑disabled adults.
At Plymouth Church, Rev. Hood created a housing ministry; thereby, making housing opportunities for low and moderate‑income families. He spear‑headed the building and development of the 230 unit Medical Center Courts apartments in 1963. This was one of the first church‑sponsored low‑to‑moderate housing developments in America constructed by a church. In 1975 he lead in the construction of Medical Center Village Apartments, consisting of 450 apartments, town houses and high‑rise building for a senior citizens . Through the Housing Ministry of Plymouth United Church of Christ, 40 acres of formerly slum property, in the heart of Detroit, was transformed into a model community of low‑income, moderate income and middle income families. This property has increased in value during its 30 years of existence.
Dr. Hood also led the way to delivering services to the needs of developmentally‑disabled and mentally retarded adults by founding Cyprian Center in honor his daughter, Sarah Cyprian Hood. Through this agency, which has an annual budget in excess of three million dollars, the following buildings were built and developed to accommodate varying programs and disabilities: a day school for the developmentally disabled (Cyprian; Partial‑Day Program, 1974); a residence for developmentally disabled (Cyprian House, 1984); an assisted‑living residence for emotionally‑impaired adults (Cyprian Manor, 1985); a brief‑stay home for developmentally‑disabled adults whose parents/guardians need a respite from their labors as care‑givers, Cyprian Respite, 1986); an apartment building where developmentally‑disabled adults live independently(Smith Apartments, 1990); and two residences where mentally‑impaired women live independently with supervision( Rosemont House, 1992 and Cadillac House, 1994).
Rev. Hood retired from the Detroit City Council in 1993, after serving for 28 years. He has served on many governing and advisory boards, committees, and agencies: inclusive of the following: The Advisory Board of the Federal National Mortgage Association, Washington, D.C.; President, Ministers Life and Casualty Board of Directors, Minneapolis, Minn.; Hutzel Hospital Board of Trustees; Detroit Economic Development Corporation, The Hannan Foundation; The Board of Directors for the Cyprian Center, and the Cyprian Foundation.
He holds the following academic degrees: B.S. from Purdue University; B.A. from North Central College, and a Masters of Divinity from Yale University. Honorary doctorates have been bestowed by Purdue University, North Central College, Olivet College, and the University of Chicago School of Religion.
Dr. Hood has inspired several young men and women to enter the Christian Ministry, including his own son, Rev. Nicholas Hood, 111, Senior Minister, Plymouth United Church of Christ, Detroit. Rev. Dr. Dwight Andrews, Senior Minister, First Congregational Church, Atlanta, Ga., Rev. Dr. Andrew J. Young, former Ambassador, United Nations, and former Mayor of Atlanta, Ga.
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