Veteran health and education activist Susan Hester takes office as founding Executive Director of Cleveland Park Village. “For the first year, my vision for Cleveland Park Village has four aspects,” she told a gathering at the Cleveland Park Congregational Church in March. “To make it a reliable neighborhood resource; to create a corps of dependable volunteers; to become a visible neighborhood presence; and to enhance community spirit.”
A North Carolina native, Hester has lived in Washington since she arrived in 1980 as a chapter coordinator for the National Organization for Women (NOW). With a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Iowa, Hester worked previously in her family’s private education business, Hester’s Creative Schools, and managed the business’s ten preschools serving more than 1,000 families.
Susan’s resume showcases the skills she will need in her new job. She was development director for the National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL) in its major growth years from 1982-87; then a fundraising consultant; and then founder in 1990 and executive director of the Mautner Project for Lesbians With Cancer. There she launched programs of education, advocacy, research and training, including the National Breast Cancer Coalition. She has also served as executive director of the Wendt Center for Loss and Healing.
Susan Hester has won many awards for her service to the Washington community, including in 2011 the Barbara Seaman Award for Activism in Women’s Health, from the National Women’s Health Network. Her knowledge of health care, organizational development, fundraising and management bode well for the future of Cleveland Park Village. The Cleveland Park Village is a neighborhood organization committed to building community and helping our neighbors age safely and confidently in their own homes through the support of a network of dedicated neighborhood volunteers. Services include practical help with grocery shopping, rides to doctor’s appointments, errands, figuring out tasks on the computer, and help with simple household tasks. Other resources include social, cultural, and educational activities and events. There are 20 Villages in the DC metro area and more than 100 across the country, all with a track record of success in making their communities a better place for neighbors of all ages.
