A native of Arkansas, Dr. Mason is a graduate of Morehouse College, earned a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) with a concentration in Applied Urban Economics from Indiana University, a Juris Doctorate from Columbia Law School, a Master of Divinity from New York Theological Seminary and on May 16th, 2009, received his Doctor of Ministry Degree from New York Theological Seminary. Dr. Mason’s D. Min. Project is titled A NEW PARADIGM FOR URBAN YOUTH MINISTRY: THE STORY OF UTH TURN IN NEW YORK CITY 1999 – 2008.

Dr. Mason is a member of the Faculty at New York Theological Seminary and is the C.E.O. for the Fund for Community Leadership Development, Inc. that operates Uth Turn and since 1999 has served several thousand at-risk youth in New York City. 94% of Uth Turn’s court mandated youth were not re-arrested and the annual cost per Uth Turn participant is $2.53 per day. Dr. Mason has been a member of the historic Abyssinian Baptist Church since 1976, served as a Trustee from 1978 – 1988 and has served on the Deacon Board since 1990.

Rev. Dr. Mason married his beloved wife Thelma on May 30th, 1967, the day he graduated from Morehouse and the day after she graduated from Spelman and from this union they have three wonderful adult children — Kimara, Khalila and C. Vernon, Jr. and a grandson, Harleem Addae Robinson born July 30, 2007.