2015 Poverty and Homelessness Conference
Keynote Speaker

Donald Hugh Whitehead

Donald Hugh Whitehead, Jr.

Donald Whitehead is recognized as one of the country's foremost experts on homelessness. He has more than 20 years experience in non-profit management. In past roles,
he has served as the:

  • Executive Director of The National Coalition for the Homeless
  • Executive Director of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless
  • Assistant Director at St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore
  • Program Director at Ohio Valley Goodwill
  • Grant Manager at Goodwill of Greater Washington
  • Director of Communications at Greenpeace Ohio

Donald also served two terms as President of the board and currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the National Coalition for the Homeless, two terms on the Board of Directors for Faces and Voices of Recovery, and two terms on the Georgetown Center for Cultural Competency. He has served on advisory committees for Presidents Bush, Clinton, Bush II and Obama.

On a personal note, Donald is a stand-up comedian and actor. He has performed in six movies, and has received a regional Emmy for a role in the Showtime Movie “Open the Sky.” Donald's book, Most Unlikely to Succeed (2011), captures his inspiring life story.