In late 2006, a proverbial Who’s Who Among Ward 7 Nonprofits set out to create an organization that would empower Ward 7 nonprofits to reach their full potential and improve the quality of services delivered to its clients. The players were various Ward 7 movers and shakers who were at the helm of such organizations like Marshall Heights Community Development Organization, Life Pieces to Masterpieces, and Pride Youth Services. The plan was to develop an organization that would help increase the effectiveness and efficiency of Ward 7 nonprofits through capacity building, technical assistance, and collaboration, as well as serve as an “umbrella” under which all Ward 7 nonprofits could unite for myriad mutual benefits. The end product of that collaboration of ideas was The Ward 7 Nonprofit Consortium.
DC City Council Chairman, Vincent C. Gray (then, Ward 7 Councilmember), saw a need for a support system within his ward to increase the viability of nonprofit organizations there. Ward 7 stalwarts like Wanda Aikens (Ward 7 Arts Collaborative), Mae Best (East River Family Strengthening Collaborative), Lawrence Dark (Good Samaritan Foundation), Toni Ford (Double Nickels Theater), Saleem Hylton (African American Music Association), Rodney Spinks (Ridge Road Parent Association), and Carrie Thornhill (Washington East Foundation), just to name a few, concurred with Gray’s assessment and bought into the vision. The Ward 7 Nonprofit Consortium was born.
As the original Board of Directors, Villareal Johnson (DC & Beyond), Morris Redd (IDEA Public Charter School), Jackie Carter (Ana’s Gold Children’s Theater), Curtis Watkins (LifeSTARTS, Inc.), Patricia Marks (Patmos Ministries), and Dennis Chestnut (Groundwork Anacostia River DC) took the lead in developing the Consortium. Between 2007 and 2008, the Consortium received its 501(c) 3 status, incorporated in the District of Columbia, was awarded earmarked funds from the city, changed its name to the Ward 7 Nonprofit Network (The Network), opened offices in the heart of the Deanwood community, hired a dynamic staff, began offering programs, and launched its website.
The Network is headed by a well-rounded Board of Directors and currently boasts a membership roster of eighteen diverse organizations. For its members, the Network institutes collaboration to build organizational capacity, focusing its efforts in five areas: fiscal soundness, governance and management, demonstrated effectiveness, marketing and public awareness, and collaboration.
The Network is located in the Dr. William K. Collins Memorial Empowerment Center at 4645 Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue, NE, Suite 203. The day-to-day operations of the Network are handled by Ms. Phyllis Powell (Program Director), Mr. Dana Ashford (Program Assistant), and Ms. Cherity Perry (Office Administrator). The Executive Officers are Mr. Morris Redd (Chairman), Mr. Curtis Watkins (Treasurer), and Dr. Patricia Marks (Secretary).
Mission | Member Organizations | Strategic Partners | Board of Directors | Founding Steering Committee
The mission of the Ward 7 Nonprofit Network is to collaboratively build organizational capacity to improve the delivery of higher quality services to Ward 7 residents.
Dr. Patricia N. Marks, Secretary, currently serves as the Executive Director of Prison Outreach Ministry, Inc., a Welcome Home and Reentry Program for previously incarcerated persons. In addition to being a Founding Member of the Ward 7 Nonprofit Network, she serves on the DC Department of Corrections Citizen Advisory Committee, is a Deaconess with the United Methodist Church, and former Director of Patmos Ministries, where she successfully garnered grant funds for a variety of non-profit organizations. Dr. Marks' joy comes in "seeing synergy created by collaboration."
Curtis Watkins, Treasurer, is the Founder and Executive Director of LifeSTARTS, Inc. (formerly known as the East Capitol Center for Change) and is a Founding Member of the Ward 7 Nonprofit Network. He has been the E.D. at LifeSTARTS since 1997. Mr. Watkins is a master at representing community interests and is often a featured speaker on issues related to youth development, violence prevention, and community development. In addition to presenting before community organizations, congressional committees, city agencies, businesses, local think tanks and national/local conferences, Curtis hosts a weekly radio program on WOL 1450-AM.