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About DeDreana

WHERE SHE COMES FROM

Raised by a single mother with five of her nine siblings, DeDreana experienced the struggle of racial and income inequity and has dedicated her life to demanding power for those who are most impacted by social, economic, and environmental injustices. She leveraged her strengths from early experiences to earn a bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University. Later in her career, while being a wife, mother, city council member, and working her daytime job, she earned a Master of Public Administration from North Carolina Central University.

CAREER

DeDreana served as the Director of Partnership Development for CornerSquare Community Capital, a subsidiary of the North Carolina Rural Center. CornerSquare partners with Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and Minority Depository Institutions (MDIs), supporting efforts to increase community investment through small businesses and entrepreneurs. In the span of one year, DeDreana successfully built a network of strategic partnerships, fostering trust and collaboration with key stakeholders. Her effective outreach and engagement led to substantial growth in investments from $2.4 million to $24 million.
 

Before joining CornerSquare, DeDreana worked at Durham Children’s Initiative (formerly known as East Durham Children's Initiative), a non-profit providing a pipeline of high quality services for families and youth from birth through high school to prepare children for college or career. Over the span of nine years, she served as the Community Ambassador, Outreach Coordinator, Community Engagement Manager, and finally as the Special Assistant to the President. During this time, she was responsible for coordinating, planning, and leading community engagement and outreach, and leading strategic efforts for Durham families.

Relevant Experience

City Council Committees Appointed By Mayor

  • Audit Services Oversight Committee (Alternate)

  • Carolina Theatre Board of Directors

  • Durham County Criminal Justice Advisory Committee (Alternate)

  • Durham Open Space & Trails Commission (Alternate)

  • Environmental Affairs Board 

  • Gang Reduction Steering Committee (Alternate)

  • Joint City-County Committee

  • Joint City-County Planning Committee

  • Northeast Central Durham Subcommittee

  • Triangle J Council of Governments, Chair

  • Workforce Development Board 

  • Council Subcommittee on Housing

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Elected/Appointed Positions:

  • N.C. Democratic Party State Executive Committee (SEC) 2016-present

  • N.C. Democratic Party, Convention Delegate 2014-present

  • National League of Cities (NLC) Transportation & Infrastructure, Federal Advocacy, Racial Equity Committees

  • National League of Cities Race, Equity and Leadership (REAL) Council

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Other Community Involvement:

  • North Carolina League of Cities - Women In Municipal Government, Former President

  • Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina, Racial Justice and Reconciliation Committee, Past Co-Chair (2016 - 2021)

  • Durham Early Childhood Action Steering Committee

  • Episcopalians United Against Racism, Co-Founder/Core Team Leader

  • Organizing Against Racism (OAR) Durham, Coordinating Committee/Organizer

  • Inter-Neighborhood Council of Durham

    • Subcommittees included: Transportation, Zoning and Traffic (2009-2017); President (2015-2017)

  • Partnership Effort for the Advancement of Children’s Health (PEACH), Steering Committee/Consultant/Volunteer/Trainer (2010-2013)

  • City of Durham-Community Capital Improvement Plan Committee

  • Northeast Central Durham Leadership Council (2014-2017); Chair (2015-2017)

  • Junior League of Durham and Orange Counties - Women in Leadership Committee

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Previous Elected/Appointed Positions:

  • Durham Democratic Party, 1st Vice Chair (2022-2023)

  • Democratic National Convention Delegate 2020

  • Durham Democratic Party Precinct 17, Chair (2012-2018)

  • Durham Democratic Party, 3rd Vice Chair (2014-2015)

  • Durham City & County Planning Commission (2013-2017)

  • County of Durham Transportation Advisory Board (ACCESS), Chair (2013-2017)

  • Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) North Carolina Division of Public Health (NCPH), Healthy Homes Task Force

  • Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) North Carolina Division of Public Health (NCPH), Lead Poison Prevention Task Force

  • North Carolina Division of Public Health (NCPH), Durham County Health Department – Healthy Families Durham - Obesity & Chronic Illness (OCI)

  • City of Durham’s Office of Economic & Workforce Development - Streetscape Advisory Steering Committee

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Previous City Council Committees Appointed By Mayor

  • Jordan Lake One Water Alliance

  • Mayor's Committee For Persons With Disabilities 

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Other Leadership Development

  • Higher Heights Senior Civic Leadership Fellow (2020, Inaugural Cohort)

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