Donald Wood

Donald serves as Executive Director of Just Communities of Arkansas (JCA). A culture change agency with its roots dating back over half a century, JCA builds capacity for systemic change so all people in Arkansas can be treated like human beings and have the opportunity to reach their full potential. JCA’s programming focuses on building the individual, organizational and community capacity to: amplify human potential & relationships, connect diverse groups of people, co-create sustainable paths to inclusive systems, and train individuals to lead equitable and systemic change in their workplace and communities. In addition to guiding the JCA’s strategic vision, Donald’s primary role is training and consulting with organizational executives and managers to be inclusive, equitable culture change leaders.

Donald grew up in Arkansas and received his undergraduate degree from Westminster College in Missouri. He received his master’s degree in Communications focusing on civic engagement from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville while also serving as an AmeriCorps Fellow. Prior to JCA, Donald served as Executive Director of the one of the country’s largest non-profit hospice care organizations, Executive Director of Development for a top private liberal arts college and has worked in non-profit leadership since 2004. Donald’s passion for social equity and being an ally also can be found in his civic engagement. For example, currently he serves as a board officer for AR Kids Read (the state’s leading grade-level literacy organization), as a member of the Arkansas Minority Health Commission’s Community Advisory Council for Health Equity, and as national co-chair of The Racial Equity & Hunger National Learning Network. Donald lives in Little Rock with his wife, Jennifer, and daughter, Cameron.