David A. Harris is currently a graduate student in Urban Studies at the University of Nebraska Omaha, and an independent nonprofit organizational consultant. His research focus is on community engagement, leadership and sustainability issues facing low-income and working-class communities. His consulting firm, Sustainable Futures LLC. provides resource development, strategic planning, and management services to nonprofit and philanthropic organizations. David is the volunteer President of the Legal Environmental Assistance Foundation (working on environmental justice issues in AL, FL and GA), and a board member of several local and national organizations (including the Charles Drew Community Health Center, African American Empowerment Network, and PlaceMatters).
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Most recently, he was Vice President of Grants and Initiatives at the Iowa West Foundation. Before joining Iowa West, David was Director of Regional Policy & Florida Philanthropy for the John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, a Program Officer at the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, and Executive Director of Jobs for Youth (NY). David also worked at CBS, the Nigerian Television Authority, and Morgan Stanley earlier in his career.
A Harvard College graduate (1980) and lifelong community builder, David (among his many community leadership roles) was the volunteer Chair of the Equity & Engagement Committee for the Heartland 2050 (Omaha-region) Sustainable Communities Initiative; founding Chair of Parents Across America; Vice Chair of the Funders Network for Smart Growth & Livable Communities; and, former Vice-Chair of both the Association of Black Foundation Executives and National Parenting Association. As a youth development leader, David was Vice Chair of the National Youth Employment Coalition; Chair of the New York Youth Employment; Coalition; U.S. Delegation Chair to the 1979 World Youth Rally; and, National Youth President of Junior Achievement Inc.
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A Bronx, N.Y. native, David has been married to his high school sweetheart, Roxanne, for 34 years and is the proud father of two sons – Marcus, a banker in Philadelphia; and, Malik, a U.S. Navy Officer stationed in San Diego.
