Silver Spring, MD., October 20, 2021. AfriThrive Inc. announced Doug Walker as the new Board chairman during its September Board of Directors meeting. Mr. Walker assumes the leadership of the Board following the transition of Dr. Truphena Choti to become AfriThrive’s President and CEO. “We are excited to welcome Doug on board, and I believe as our new chair of the Board of Directors, he will help AfriThrive further its mission of creating economic opportunities for underserved black immigrant communities” said Dr. Choti. “His wealth of leadership experience across several organizations coupled with his deep commitment to serving others, will strengthen AfriThrive’s reach as we strive to build vibrant and thriving communities.”

Doug Walker is the Director of Communications at Better Markets where he oversees the organization’s day-to-day and long-term media operations.  He is responsible for developing and implementing a creative, proactive and comprehensive communications strategy to engage and inform the public on economic, financial and financial reform issues, as well as deepening and broadening Better Markets’ reach to media, policy makers, opinion leaders, and other influencers. Mr. Walker brings 20 years of experience managing advocacy communications and as a communications executive in the public sector, leading communications operations at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Social Security Administration, and the Department of Labor.  He has also led marketing communications in the Higher Education and in NGO spaces. Mr. Walker recently completed the MBA program at Washington Adventist University and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications from Howard University.  He also completed the Program for Senior Executive Fellows at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.

An elder, Sabbath School teacher, and board chair at the Beltsville (MD) Seventh-day Adventist Church, Doug has held various staff and volunteer positions at Andrews University, WGTS-FM, and Washington Adventist University (WAU) including a stint as development director of WAUS-FM at Andrews and serving on the WGTS board and, later, as interim general manager. “I am excited to take the torch from Dr. Choti and engage in this amazing work of serving immigrant and minority families, Mr. Walker said.  “Strengthening our communities by strengthening families—especially through providing culturally appropriate food—is indeed the Lord’s work.”

About AfriThrive

AfriThrive Inc is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization dedicated to creating economic opportunities for underserved African immigrant communities by building sustainable and culturally appropriate local food systems that empower families to control how they grow, sell and eat culturally appropriate healthy foods. Our vision is to build sustainable communities where every family thrives especially for those who have been systematically marginalized. AfriThrive is currently instrumental in the mobilization and distribution of culturally appropriate healthy foods and other resources to hundreds of black immigrants and minorities in the Greater Baltimore-Washington DC area, adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. AfriThrive in partnership with sponsors, donors, and volunteers have served more than 550,000 pounds of fresh food and approximately 800 families benefiting from its services. To learn more about or donate to AfriThrive, call 240-706-1517 or visit: https://www.afrithrive.org/, like AfriThrive on Facebook and follow us on Twitter here. Share your photos on Instagram with us using #afrithriveorg.