He was the founder and CEO for The Fundamental Board of Education and a member of the fraternity Kappa Alpha Psi, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the Indianapolis Urban League.
[7] Then in 1935, while still working for the institute, Blackburn was offered the position of Superintendent of the Indianapolis social service agency, Flanner House.
[7] He was a member of the predominantly African American fraternity Kappa Alpha Psi,[1] the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the Indianapolis Urban League, and was a 33rd Degree Mason.
[10] By the time of his death, Blackburn was credited with practically single-handedly molding Flanner House into a nationally recognized inner-city help project.
Flanner donated two frame buildings to the Charity Organization Society with instructions to create a "Negro" community service center.
This organization's goal were the promotion of the social and physical welfare of Negroes, more particularly the young, and the establishment and maintenance of industry and other means of education.
Blackburn brought the skills, energy and vision necessary to build soundly on the achievements of his predecessors.
Flanner House trained more than 1,500 African Americans for jobs in defense plants and other industries during World War II.
That same year, Flanner House opened up the Martindale Health center for low-income families.
[14] The Board for Fundamental Education and Flanner House worked together on programs throughout the African American community.