Creating an Education Pipeline on the Georgia Avenue Corridor
CCAA Co-Founder Serves as Panelist
A panel of educators and community leaders explore with the audience the academic needs of our children in Ward 4. Entitled" Creating an Education Pipeline on the Georgia Avenue Corridor", the event is happening on Wednesday, October 30, 6:00-8:30 PM at the Juanita Thornton/Shepherd Park Library and is sponsored by the Georgia Avenue Business Improvement District & Development Corporation (GABIDDC) and The Black Student Fund, (BSF). Mr. Leroy Nesbitt, Executive Director of BSF, will serve as panel moderator. Panelist include Ms. Rikki Taylor, Principal Takoma Education Campus, Ms. Faith Wheeler, ANC4B01 Commissioner, Mr. Frank Jones, III, Co-Founder Calvin Coolidge Alumni Association and Richard F. Lawrence, Jr. Ed.D, Principal, Coolidge High School.
"Impediments to African American Youth Involvement in Science"
By CCAA 2013 Honoree, Dennis Chestnut, Director of Groundwork Anacostia
Dennis is a master carpenter and educator, but his dedication to youth development, community improvement and civic duty has led to his involvement with many projects and enriching experiences. He is also a lover of the outdoors and has a passion for conservation and the environment. Dennis has dedicated himself to cleaning up and restoring the health of the Anacostia River, improving the green spaces located in his community and Washington, D.C. Due to his work in Ward 7 and east of the river has been described as the "Greenest" Ward and section of Washington, DC. His volunteer leadership includes serving as Chairman of the Hillbrook Community Association, Chairman of the Development Committee for the Lincoln Heights/Richard Dwellings New Communities Advisory Committee, Vice Chair of the District of Columbia Anacostia Watershed Citizens Advisory Committee, Board member of the Casey Tree Foundation, member of Friends of Watts Branch (a sub-watershed organization), and former executive committee member of the DC Chapter of the Sierra Club. Dennis is an appointee of Mayor Vincent C. Gray's Green Ribbon Committee.
Dennis has found his way back to Coolidge through the Calvin Coolidge Alumni Association and the lifelong friendships forged there. He is now involved in the greening of Coolidge through innovative green infrastructure and environmental education projects.
