Organization Names Gene Chasin as Founder and President Emeritus, Donnie Turlington as President and CEO, Dr. Kenya Johns as Vice President
WOODSTOCK, CT (March 16, 2023) – Community Catalyst Partners (CCP), an organization dedicated to developing the gifts and talents of all young people to prepare them for college or postsecondary training along with the opportunities and challenges of a rapidly changing workforce and global economy, has added capacity by expanding its executive leadership team in support of its partner communities and schools across the globe.
As part of its expansion, CCP architect Gene Chasin is assuming the new title of founder and president emeritus. Donne Turlington has been named as the organization’s president and CEO while Dr. Kenya Johns joins CCP as vice president of programs and engagement.
At its core, CCP is one organization with two missions – helping communities drive and ignite sustainable outcomes for their young people and building capacity among educators to teach their students how to become difference makers on a local and global scale. In making the announcement, Christopher T. Cross, chair of the CCP board, noted that this expanded leadership team places the organization in a very strong position to serve more schools and communities with the depth and skills required to meet the needs of young people as they navigate an ever more complex society.
“Gene Chasin’s work in the education field makes him a stellar figure and CCP is his greatest achievement,” says Cross. “Donnie Turlington and Kenya Johns are equally committed to the work that Gene has pioneered. With the challenges now facing the education sector, this team will continue to do exemplary work in meeting those challenges along with the needs of the communities and schools that CCP serves.”
The visionary catalyst behind the formation of CCP, Chasin will continue to provide strategic support, counsel and guidance to organization partners across the US and abroad as founder and president emeritus. Throughout his 40-plus year career, Chasin has worked in all arenas of education, serving young people and supporting organizations in literally all regions of the country.
“This is an exciting evolution in our leadership and a time of growth for our organization as a whole,” says Chasin. “In less than three years, we have expanded our core capabilities through the acquisition of the International Studies Schools Network (ISSN) and the inclusion of additional community-wide efforts. The day-to-day responsibilities of leading Community Catalyst Partners and the ISSN are in good hands thanks to Donnie and Kenya’s experience in launching, guiding and partnering with local, regional, national and international school and community leaders.”
As president and CEO, Turlington will oversee the day-to-day activities of the organization including the community-driven services and the ISSN network schools throughout the world. Turlington has served as vice president for CCP since its formation in 2020 and was named chief operating officer in 2022. Prior to joining CCP, Turlington worked in a variety of capacities for Say Yes to Education as he helped to launch and lead the Say Yes chapter in Guilford County, NC before joining the national office to serve in communications and new business functions. Turlington also has an extensive background in municipal government and communications.
Dr. Kenya Johns joins CCP with a diverse, people focused background. Johns is the Mayor of the City of Beaver Falls, PA where she is committed to economic growth, communication engagement and sustainable growth. In addition to her current role of mayor, she directed the Scholl Guidance Counselor Program at Geneva College and also holds several titles, including licensed professional counselor, diversity equity and inclusion consultant, national professional presenter, published author, researcher and educator.