Sylvia Williams is Hired as Civic Site Director of Operations

Sylvia Williams brings 16 years of management experience at Bell South to the Civic Site. She will guide the team in implementing systems and structures that will increase the impact and effectiveness of the ACS work in NPU-V. She will also work to streamline the Civic Site's communications processes and vehicles so that it can better collaborate and connect with its partners. Sylvia also brings a deep commitment to community building and economic development, having been an active volunteer with the Atlanta Urban League. Her skills, experience and interests will greatly strengthen the Civic Site as it continues to deepen and expand its work moving forward.

Dr. Dana Rickman is Hired as Director of Research and Evaluation for the Civic Site

Dr. Dana Rickman brings a strong academic and policy-focused background to support the Civic Site. Dana earned a PhD from Georgia State University in Political Science and worked on vast, complex research projects while affiliated with the University. Her research focused on child outcomes related to poverty and education so she is well versed in the issues involved in improving conditions for children and families. Dana will work closely with Janelle Williams, the Research and Data Analyst at The Center for Working Families, Inc., evaluation consultants, Civic Site team members and partners to track and measure the impact of our collective efforts.

Darin Hall is Hired as Neighborhood Transformation Deputy Director

Darin Hall brings a wealth of experience in both the corporate and community development worlds to the Neighborhood Transformation Team. With a Bachelors Degree in Banking and Finance and an MBA in Finance, his corporate experience includes ten years at various banks and The Coca-Cola Company. For the past six years, he served as managing principal for an organization that provided consulting and investment banking services to businesses, nonprofit organizations and others in Maryland and Georgia. During that same time, he also served as executive director of the Poppleton Village Community Development Corporation in Baltimore which recently won an RFP from Baltimore City Housing Authority to develop 14 acres of real estate in Baltimore. His work has sought to bring capital to communities that are frequently left out of the capital investment cycle. In doing so, he has worked with community organizations to locate resources, create jobs and build affordable housing in an effort to change realities in challenged communities. These skills and experiences will support ACS efforts to ensure that the University Avenue development and other developments inside and around NPU-V benefit current residents.

Kwabena Nkromo is Hired as Family Economic Success Community Builder

Kwabena Nkromo brings a long background as a community organizer and a deep commitment to developing healthy neighborhoods to the ACS team. For two years, he served as coordinator of the Resident Development Institute at the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative in Roxbury, Massachusetts. Dudley Street is a highly-recognized best practice model in neighborhood development. Kwabena helped to launch a community development corporation in his West End neighborhood that advocates for asset-based community development principles. He also was elected to serve his community as chairperson of NPU-T after serving for two years as vice-chair. His extensive volunteer and professional community development experience will help ACS to ensure that its family economic success programs and strategies are informed by resident demand.

Michelle Hampton is Hired as Education Achievement Community Builder

Michelle Hampton is a long-time partner in the ACS Education Achievement efforts. For more than two years, she served the Communities In Schools Program Coordinator at Gideons Elementary School. There she worked closely with parents of elementary age children, ACS team members and community partners such as the Salvation Army. She led the School Readiness Team in the development of the inaugural Countdown to Kindergarten community event which provided neighborhood parents with the information they needed to ensure a smooth and successful enrollment process at Gideons. Her eight years with Communities In Schools combined with several years of experience working with Prevent Child Abuse Georgia and the DeKalb County Department of Family and Children Services provide Michelle with the contacts, knowledge and experiences she will need to ensure that NPU-V residents are aware of and engaged in ACS Education Achievement programs and strategies.

Cerrice Sanders is Hired as Early Learning Community Partnership Program Assistant

Cerrice Sanders brings a diverse background in nonprofits and community education. In addition to more than two years of service at The Center for Working Families, Inc. as an Operations Associate and Administrative Assistant, Cerrice was involved in education and outreach activities at several nonprofits in the New York City and the northeast. She supervised college-aged tutors and high school peer tutors and taught an eighth grade humanities course at The Door-A Center of Alternatives in New York. She recruited mentors to serve in the S.T.R.I.D.E.S. program at C.L.U.S.T.E.R., Inc. in Yonkers. She also provide classroom based and in-home instruction as a part of The Princeton Review’s SAT course. Cerrice brings these diverse experiences to her work to coordinate the Early Learning Community Partnership as a part of the Civic Site’s School Readiness strategy. In this new role, she is working with NPU-V residents and School Readiness staff and partners to ensure that the Civic Site’s programs and efforts are successful in ensuring that all NPU-V children are healthy and prepared to succeed when they enter school.

Sylvia Robinson is Hired as Receptionist for the Atlanta Civic Site Team

Sylvia Robinson is both a resident of Mechanicsville and an experienced office manager and executive assistant. She moved to the neighborhood in 2006 and quickly began to get involved in community activities. As the proud mother of three children, she is deeply connected with and committed to the Civic Site’s Education Achievement efforts. Her youngest child has been enrolled in the Sheltering Arms class for three year olds at Dunbar Elementary and her eight-year old out-performed her second grade class on the CRCT at Gideons Elementary. With a 16 year old son, she also understands the importance of the Civic Site’s K-16 strategy. As she works towards completion of her MBA, Sylvia’s contributions to the community and the Civic Site will only continue to increase.