We at CommunityWorks are truly excited to announce that David Cooper is joining our team. David will serve as a Regional Coach based out of Richmond, VA. David will work with neighborhoods, communities, congregations, and nonprofit organizations to help them discover the gifts, relationships, resources and capacities already present in their communities. Drawing on decades of multidisciplinary experience in social work, nonprofit leadership, pastoral ministry, construction and community development, David will help communities transition from “doing for” to “doing with” and develop shared responsibility, local leadership, results-based outcomes, and hope.
David is a highly experienced executive leader with a track record of addressing homelessness, poverty, and neighborhood well-being across the United States and internationally. He holds master’s degrees in Social Work and Divinity, a Post-baccalaureate Certificate in Public Management, is an ordained minister, and is deeply committed to helping communities cultivate the common good through the principles and practice of Asset-Based Community Development.
David has created more abundance, in terms of homes, food, opportunity, and meaningful relationships. Here are a few of his many achievements:
- Pre-developed 300 units of affordable housing in Richmond, VA.
- Planned, developed and delivered regional food security project: Shalom Farms.
- Applied poverty-resolving strategies through Circles USA and Mobility Mentoring®.
- Provided interfaith group advocacy to the presidential administration, US Congress, Virginia General Assembly, and local governments on affordable housing, and more.
We recently caught up with David to ask him about what he looks forward to achieving during his time at CommunityWorks. “As CommunityWorks’ Regional Coach for Virginia, I am ready to help communities discover what is already present among them—the gifts of their people, the strength of their relationships, and their capacity and will to work together for the common good (shalom) of their neighborhoods.”
David, we are grateful that you have joined with us in the community building movement!