James R. Woody

A native of Washington, D.C., James Woody is passionately committed to the creation of opportunities for children of color to fully develop their unique gifts.

James recently retired as founding Executive Director and President of the Bishop John T. Walker School for Boys, an innovative tuition-free Episcopal school for boys from traditionally under-resourced communities east of the Anacostia River in Washington, DC.

He has been involved in non-profit management and governance for over 25 years. He previously served as Executive Director of Communities In Schools of the Nation’s Capital and New York City’s Bowery Mission’s children’s arm, Kids With a Promise.  James spent eight years as President and CEO of Community of Hope, Inc., and supported the needs of children and families impacted by incarceration as the National Director of Strategic Alliances for Prison Fellowship Ministries.

James attended Houghton College and earned an MA in Counseling from Regent University. He is a graduate of Leadership Greater Washington and serves on the Advisory Board of the Sutton Scholars High School Enrichment Program in Baltimore, MD.  James and his wife, Valerie, have three adult children and seven  grandchildren.