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ASCI Founder & CEO Receives Award for Community Leadership

On Friday, December 6, Sharon L. McDaniel, MPA, Ed.D., president and CEO of A Second Chance, Inc., received the 2019 Ronald H. Brown Award for Community Leadership in the Greater Pittsburgh community. The award was presented by the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh at its annual Ronald H. Brown Leadership Awards Gala at the Westin Convention Center Hotel. 

Under Dr. McDaniel’s leadership, ASCI has become the nation’s leading agency that exclusively delivers services to the entire kinship triad – child, caregiver and birth family. 

In a collaborative effort to expand this community-based work, in 2015, Dr. McDaniel  founded the African American Strategic Partnership (AASP), a membership organization of African American-led organizations that work together to “correct disproportionality in child welfare, education, and other deep end systems where equity is achieved through the skill and experiences of African American organizations,” as stated in its vision statement. 

Some AASP member organizations include: A Second Chance, Inc.; Small Seeds Development, Inc.; Center for Family Excellence; Greater Valley Community Service; Familylinks; Macedonia Family and Community Enrichment Center Inc.; Mel Blount Youth Home; Three Rivers Adoption Council; Gwen’s Girls; Homewood Children’s Village; Three Rivers Youth; Hill House; Project Destiny; Bible Center; and Touching Families.

With over 30 years of professional experience in child welfare, Dr. McDaniel continues to be an influential leader and voice in her community, impacting the lives of countless children and families. 

The Ronald H. Brown Leadership Gala was established by Esther Bush, president and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh, along with the Board of Directors, and is named after the former United States Secretary of Commerce and former National Urban League Vice President. Endorsed by the Ronald H. Brown Foundation, the awards gala honors outstanding individuals, organizations and corporations in the Greater Pittsburgh community who “exemplify leadership in improving the quality of life for African Americans,” as stated on the Urban League’s website. 

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of A Second Chance, Inc.

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