Ed is the Chief Vision Caster, establishing a vision for community impact that is achieved through the efforts of a diverse team of high-performing leaders, staff and volunteers alike; the Chief Mobilizer, leveraging the power of relationships and networks, and working across private, public and corporate sectors to improve conditions in the community; and the Chief Overseer, dedicated to shared and measurable goals for the common good – creating, resourcing, scaling and leveraging strategies for broad investment and impact.

An ordained minister in the Baptist tradition, Ed has a particular passion for social justice issues. This passion coupled with his many years of experience as a teacher and teacher educator has strengthened his commitment to community building through education. Ed believes that the number one priority in any community should be the proper education of its children and that, as a result, a viable community will not only thrive but be sustained.

Ed received the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Curriculum, Teaching & Educational Policy from Michigan State University, the Master of Science degree in Inorganic Chemistry from Clark Atlanta University, and the Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Alabama A&M University.