San Diego LGBT Pride has hired prominent community leader Dwayne Crenshaw as its executive director, effective May 16. Frank G. Scarpaci, who has served as interim executive director since February, will assist in the transition.
Crenshaw served five years as executive director of the Coalition of Neighborhood Councils (CNC), for which he spearheaded an effort to unite local citizens for creating neighborhood change. During his tenure, he grew CNC’s annual budget from $50,000 to more than $1.5 million while building up the staff from one to 24 employees. He was also responsible for implementing strategies and resources to promote broad community participation in sustainable development projects, such as Market Creek Plaza in Lincoln Park.
Prior to working with the CNC, Crenshaw served for four years as Director of Government Relations and Community Ownership for the Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation. Additionally, he served on the African American Advisory Board to the “No on 8” campaign and carries eight years of government experience as an aide to state and local elected officials, including former California Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante and Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell.
When beginning his career in public service, Crenshaw was one of only 18 Unruh Assembly Fellows chosen from hundreds of applicants to serve in the state capitol in Sacramento. There, he completed his coursework at CSU Sacramento for a Master’s in Government. He is also a graduate of San Diego State University, where he majored in elementary education and was elected student body president. In December, he will earn his Juris Doctorate from California Western School of Law.
“As we continue down the path of civil rights and social justice, I am looking forward to forging alliances with the broader community to further achieve the mission of Pride,” he says. “We’re also looking forward to celebrating Pride and the lives of LGBT people 365 days a year.”
San Diego LGBT Pride’s mission is “Fostering pride in and respect of all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities locally and globally.” This year’s San Diego Pride celebration will feature a political rally, July 15, in Balboa Park; a mile-long parade down University Avenue, July 16; and a two-day festival with live entertainment, July 16 and 17 in the park. For more information or to sign up for volunteer positions, call 619-297-7683 or visit the web site at SanDiegoPride.org.
