Samuel J. Cook, III (born November 12, 1983) is an American playwright, journalist, educator and writer currently serving as director of the 7th Ward Neighborhood Center in New Orleans, a non-profit organization designed to improve quality of life conditions for residents of New Orleans' historic 7th Ward.
Also an educator, he formerly worked with at-risk youth at Walter L. Cohen Senior High in New Orleans.
He has participated in the New York Times Journalism Institute and the National Association of Black Journalists Student Projects Program.
Cook has given over seventy scholarly lectures on issues pertaining to race, culture, art and spirituality.
He is a descendant of Mary Belle Thompson, a well-known minister who founded the Pinewood Tabernacle Church in Toledo, Ohio.