Elyria native Robin Henry has had a lengthy career in the media, going from the journalism industry, to the world of comedy, entertainment and television.
Henry recently received an Emmy nomination for her work as a writer on the Disney Channel show “Raven’s Home.”
Before Henry was Emmy nominated or had even stepped foot in Hollywood, she was a youngster growing up in Elyria with no idea where her career would lead her.
“I originally wanted to join the Peace Corps,” she said. “My dad wasn’t in favor of that, so I went to college and thought I wanted to be a teacher.”
Henry said she did not have many people to look to who were in the entertainment industry growing up.
“When I was growing up, I didn’t see a lot, I didn’t know anybody that wrote for television or did anything like that,” she said. “I was just a little Black girl from Ohio.
“They told me I could either be a teacher or journalist, nobody ever told me I could write plays or do stand up.”
Henry did pursue journalism and took her first job out of college on the copy desk at the Plain Dealer in Cleveland after interning at local newspapers.
She went on to have editor roles at the Philadelphia Enquirer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
It was during her time in Atlanta when Henry got a taste of entertainment and comedy.
She started writing for sketch comedy.
Henry also did standup comedy while in Atlanta.
Around this time, Henry was approached by someone who worked in the television industry asking if she could do scriptwriting.
Henry sent in a script and waited months to hear back.
“I didn’t hear anything for like eight months,” she said. “I just thought ‘oh it must’ve sucked, not gonna worry about that.’
“And then he called me asking if I wanted to come in and interview for a job on a sitcom.”
Henry was able to take some time off from her job at the Journal-Constitution for the interview in California and landed the job.
“Next thing I knew, I was a TV writer and I quit my journalism career which I had done for almost 20 years,” she said. “It’s worked out.”
The move to California continued Henry’s life theme of experiencing new places.
In between stints in Philadelphia, Henry spent two years in China living in the cities of Shenyang and Dalian.
She said she believes living in a variety of places has influenced her ability as a writer.
“You get to see how different people are, how different cultures are, how different people talk,” Henry said. “As writers, we really listen to that.”
She said the transition from journalism to entertainment was smooth.
“I took a lot of my journalistic skills into the writers room,” Henry said. “I was used to managing people and that was something I did from early on in my journalism career.
“I came into writing having managed people.”
Since she began TV work, Henry has been a part of more than 20 programs, including Kevin Hart’s reality show parody series “Real Husbands of Hollywood,” which she said was one of her favorite experiences.
Henry also said she has enjoyed writing for “Raven’s Home.”
“I never thought I would write for children’s television, but it’s really been fun and Raven Symone is incredible to work with,” she said. “She is super funny and has this huge audience that already loves her.
“You can let your imagination run wild because she can do anything.”
Although Henry has left Ohio to pursue her career, she said she is proud to be from Northeast Ohio and Elyria.
She said she hopes her story will inspire youngsters from the area to strive for their dreams.
“I feel so strongly about telling young people that ‘you can do it,'” Henry said. “You can be from anywhere; you just have to have that drive.
“I just kept trying, and if I can be the inspiration for somebody else to try, I’m thrilled with that. That’s bigger than an Emmy to me.”
Henry and the rest of the Raven’s Home writing team will find out whether they won the Writing for a Preschool or Children’s Live Action Program award at the Children’s & Family Emmy Creative Arts Ceremony on Dec. 16.
Henry is the daughter of JoAnn and the late Leo Henry.
