(Washington, DC) – Today, Mayor Bowser announced the appointment of Brenda Donald as the Interim Deputy Mayor for Greater Economic Opportunity, effective Friday, September 21. Donald will retain her role as Director of the Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA).
Courtney R. Snowden, current Deputy Mayor for Greater Economic Opportunity, will be leaving the Bowser Administration effective Friday, September 21, to pursue a new career opportunity outside of District Government. Snowden was the first-ever Deputy Mayor of the Office of Greater Economic Opportunity, which was created by Mayor Bowser. The office applied focused attention to chart measurable achievements for residents around Mayor Bowser’s three areas of focus: empowering people, investing in and growing small businesses, and transforming neighborhoods. The efforts paid off with deep cuts in the unemployment rates in Wards 7 and 8.
“Courtney R. Snowden served as the District’s first-ever Deputy Mayor of Greater Economic Opportunity, and I don’t think I could have appointed a better person to build this post from the ground up and deliver for our residents,” said Mayor Bowser. “In her time as Deputy Mayor, Courtney transformed our workforce system to a national model, expanded the MBSYEP program, established LEAP, DC Career Connections, Apprenticeship DC and Aspire to Entrepreneurship, opened the DC Infrastructure Academy, doubled our spending with SBEs, managed the production of the annual Greenbook, closed on the Uber Greenlight Hub in Ward 7 and Starbucks in Ward 8, and awarded millions through microloans and grants to small businesses. Courtney has been a trailblazer, forging pathways to the middle class for residents who needed someone to believe in them and give them a fair shot.”
Incoming Interim Deputy Mayor Donald has previously served in the Bowser Administration as Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services. Donald, who grew up in southeast DC, has served the District of Columbia in several positions under three mayors. She brings unparalleled experience to the post as the Administration begins the search for the next Deputy Mayor.
“I am grateful to serve Mayor Bowser and the residents of Washington, DC through my different roles, and know that in this new one, I am walking into an opportunity which has been solidly built by Deputy Mayor Courtney Snowden. At the same time, I will continue the important work of transforming CFSA into a high performing child welfare agency. Over two-thirds of the families we serve live in Wards 7 and 8, and economic stability is an important factor in reducing abuse and neglect. I look forward to continuing the aggressive work of ensuring all District residents have access to shared prosperity and pathways to the middle class,” said Donald.