Staff and Board
Staff Members
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Jana Adams
Jana Adams, the National Training Coordinator for the DART Center, grew
up in Jefferson Township, right outside Dayton, Ohio. After twelve years
of teaching in public schools, she completed graduate work at United
Theological Seminary and the Presbyterian School of Christian Education.
Dr. Adams then served Bethel Baptist Church in Dayton as a fulltime
Christian Educator for six years. In 1990, she was introduced to DART
and quickly became engaged in the church’s work in
congregation-based community organizing. Jana was hired in 1999 to be
DART’s National Training Coordinator. “Congregation-based
community organizing provides our church a vehicle for coming together
with a diverse group of congregations to hold the systems accountable
for what God created them to be.”
Learn more about Jana
John Calkins
John Calkins, the Executive Director of the DART Center, has decades of
direct community organizing experience dating back to 1969 when he
started as the director of the Wisconsin Welfare Rights Organization.
He's also been the Lead Organizer for groups such as Active Clevelanders
Together, People United to Lead the Struggle for Equality, and Justice
for All in Broward. In addition to decades of experience being a local
organizer, John has built and developed numerous community organizations
throughout the country. “Injustice takes many forms in our
nation’s cities. But just getting angry doesn’t mean things
will change. I have learned over the last three decades that we need to
build systematically power to be able to hold accountable the systems
that make important decisions affecting our lives.”
Learn more about John
Holly Holcombe
Holly Holcombe, the Associate Director of the DART Center, has been
organizing professionally since 1977 when she started as the lead
organizer of a senior citizens group in south Florida. She went on to
build PACT, one of DART's oldest and most accomplished organizations.
Currently working as a consultant and organizational developer, Holly
has established powerful community organizations in Florida, Michigan,
Ohio, Kentucky, and Virginia. “DART is possible and successful
because of the hundreds of committed local leaders, the strong team of
senior organizers, and a promising next generation of organizers
emerging through the Organizer’s Institute.”
Learn more about Holly
Ben MacConnell
Ben MacConnell, the Recruitment Director for the DART Center, grew up in
Bay Village, Ohio and graduated from Indiana University Northwest in
Gary, Indiana in 1995. After college, Ben became a fulltime volunteer
with the Brethren Volunteer Service, as part of the wider mission of the
Church of the Brethren. In 1997, Ben underwent field organizing training
with Green Corps and worked on six different campaigns to protect the
environment. He was introduced to DART while working with an affiliate
in Louisville, Kentucky for two years. And in 2001, Ben worked to
establish the DART Organizers Institute training program, and has been
coordinating that effort since. “Our communities are facing
injustice at every turn and there’s no shortage of folks
expressing their anger over it. But there’s a dearth of people
with the skills to organize them. The DART Organizers Institute prepares
those with the essential commitment to fill the gap.”
Learn more about Ben
Board Members
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President
Bishop Calvin O. Schofield
Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida (retired)
Vice President
Hugh Clear
Director, Ascending Life
Archdiocese of Miami
Treasurer
Dr. Robert Hogner
Florida International University
Secretary
Bruce Hanson
Center for Community Change (retired)
Board Members at Large
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Maria Jerkins
Director
Office of Black Catholic Affairs (Archdiocese of Miami)
Dr. Jeffrey P. Kee
Pastor of New Faith Baptist Church of Christ in Columbus, Ohio
Dr. David Rees
Pastor at the Church By the Sea in Miami, Florida
Fr. Alejandro Roque
Vocation Director
Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate Southwest Area.
Ms. Dorothy Thomas
member and key leader
FAITH organization in Daytona Beach, Florida
Rev. Phil Tom
Consultant
Urban Ministry Office, Presbyterian Church USA
