Brian D. Banks, Neighbor

Brian D. Banks was born at the Columbia Hospital for Women in Washington, D.C. He is the son of Robert S. Banks, a former United States Air force officer, and his mother Charlena’ Bradley Banks a career health professional.  Brian has three brothers Aaron who like Brian resides in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, Keith resides in Atlanta, GA., and his youngest brother Brandon resides outside of Charlotte, NC.

As a child Brian developed three passions that would shape and mold how he spends his adult years. Those passions are to: provide needed services for those in need, playing the sport of football, and cooking gourmet meals. As a boy he was forced to sing to the elderly, assist the blind, and any other service activities his mother could think of. He will tell you, “I hated it”. The fact is these activities played an instrumental role in the person he has become today.

Brian is a 1996 graduate of Largo Senior High School located in Largo, MD. From there he moved onto Marshall University in Huntington, WV where he majored in Organizational Communications, played football, was a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, a member of the Big Brother Program of the Tri-State, and often visited the local hospital children’s wing to meet and greet sick children.  After spending three years at Marshall University Brian (and his now wife Caryl and son Dominick) decided to move on and finish his Bachelor’s degree at Salisbury State University located in Salisbury, MD. In Salisbury Brian continued playing football, and participated in the Black Student union, and Latino Alliance. Once he completed his degree he moved back to Washington, D.C.  Once back home he has worked in several places. See the list below:

1. Capital Area Food Bank (DC) – Director of Public Policy & Community Outreach

2. Hyde LPCS - Washington, DC - Transition Specialist/Testing Coordinator/ Public Policy Advisor

3. Alpha-1 Foundation- Annapolis,MD/Wash.D.C- Public Policy Coordinator

4. Congressional Black Caucus Legislative -Associate/Policy Analyst

5. George Wash. Univ. Med. Ctr. - Coordinator for Upward Bound

6. Catholic University - Associate Director of Admissions

7. Literacy Volunteers of America of Washington D.C. -Marketing Director

8. US Postal Service HQ - Human Resource Specialist

9. The Markey Committee – Congressman Ed. Markey

10. The Washington Post – News Desk Assistant

11. Missionary to Angola

During this time he also completed his Masters Degree in Politics/Congressional Studies from The Catholic University of America (CUA). Brian earned this degree while working at CUA, he also begin working within football as an Assistant Coach for Catholic Football and the Athletic Recruitment Liaison. He maintained membership with the District of Columbia Consolidated Educational Service (DCCES), the Maryland Rural Society, Young Democrats of Maryland, and was appointed by the Bowie, MD City Council and affirmed by the Mayor to sit on the Education and Community Outreach Committee for the City of Bowie, MD for a two-year term.

Brian has worked closely with members of the United States Congress, as well as other Federal agencies as an advocate and public policy official fighting for rights for those in need of health care, and for children’s education issues.  At one time Brian was the youngest and first African American Public Policy official to advocate for those suffering from breathing disorders as it relates to the flight industry. While working within Public Policy Brian saw the need for positive black men within the public school system. Without hesitation he left a lucrative career to work with High School age students, but not just any students. He wanted to work with students that come from low-income families, and from families where the cycle has been not graduating from high school, or worse. He decided to work at the Hyde Leadership Public Charter School there he worked within the Special Education Department as the Transition Specialist, Testing Coordinator, Education Policy Advisor as well as the Head Football Coach. During the 2007-2008 school year his team won the Capital Area Football Conference overall championship He also has several student-athletes that have signed to play at Division I colleges with full scholarships. Brian uses football as a tool to develop life skills that will develop his student athletes into productive citizens that will eventually give back to their respected communities. He continues to “break the cycle” of the sad expectation that his students will not make it. Brian also had the opportunity to participate in a pro football combine. He decided not to take advantage of this opportunity because he felt football defined him for most of his life and he no longer wanted that because he believed that this was not in God’s plan for him. 

Brian will rarely talk about his football experience. He honestly does not like talking about football he always says those that talk are those that watch the game and do not understand what the game is all about and how to teach a player to play the game and relate the game of football to the real world.  However he enjoys coaching and playing football any chance he gets.

Currently Brian spends his career and free time focusing on legislation and policies that focus on poverty related issues. Brian has not only brought a new vision to the Capital Area Food Bank as the Director of Public Policy & Community Outreach ,he works to empower, enlighten, and educate people in need, as well as community leaders and elected officials. Brian is a member of:

1. Governor O’Malley’s (MD) Partnership to End Childhood Hunger

2. Chairman of the Fair Budget Coalition’s Health & Nutrition Group

3. Member of Healthy And Affordable Food For All

4. Board Member of World Wide Community (Christian Sports & Academic Program that empowers youth to live a healthy lifestyle, and to grow and develop into productive citizens)

5. Young Democrats of Maryland

Brian currently resides in Bowie, Maryland. He enjoys traveling, cooking, politics, and of course football. Brian is most passionate about service to others, and believes every person should have a mentor.

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