MEET DANIELLE
Danielle McKinney is an expert in developing people, organizations, and communities. As an experienced learning strategist, facilitator, and planner, her mission is to help individuals, teams, organizations, and communities build culture, spaces, and experiences that allow them to excel and thrive.
Born in Rochester, New York, Danielle comes from a family of educators, civil servants, community activists, athletes, and church and business leaders who guided and encouraged her interests, passions, and civic pursuits throughout her childhood. She is passionate about inspiring people and communities to grow and affect change and is excited about the possibility of being part of Greenbelt's next chapter.
COMMUNITY ENGAGED
Danielle's commitment to community and leadership led her to study Government and Black Studies at Claremont McKenna College. While completing her undergraduate degree, she also served as a Program Coordinator in the Office of Black Student Affairs and participated in internships at the American Red Cross, Claremont Public Schools, and Disneyland Office of Government and Community Affairs and Educational Programs. Upon graduating in 1997, Danielle joined Teach For America and taught 5th grade in Long Beach Public Schools.
Danielle went on to complete her Master's in Educational Leadership and Policy at the University of Maryland College Park. During her time at UMD, she also worked with educators at Springhill Lake Elementary School in Greenbelt to create an Americorp-funded tutoring program for students in Grades 3-5.
After completing her graduate work, she continued to work in educational leadership roles serving as Executive Director of Teach For America, Baltimore City, Senior Program Officer for the Fund for Educational Excellence, as Project Specialist for the Montgomery County Collaboration Council, and as founding Administrative Director at the Center for International Business, Education, and Research at The George Washington University.
RECOGNIZED LEADER
In addition to serving on the Greenbelt City Council, Danielle also serves on the Greenbelt Station neighborhood Homeowners Association, In her role on the board, she works with her fellow board members to continue to make the neighborhood a safe and dynamic place for current and future residents.
In 2022, Danielle founded the Greenbelt Station Greenspace Collective which is dedicated to creating and maintaining safe and inclusive green spaces for the residents of Greenbelt Station and the surrounding neighborhoods to use and enjoy for outdoor recreation, gardening, sustainability initiatives, furthering food security, and building community connections.
For the past 12 years, Danielle has served on Marriott International’s Global Learning and Development team including her current role as Senior Director of Learning Design and Development. In 2023, she was recognized for her leadership by being accepted into CALIBR, a leadership and member network for mid- and senior-level Black leaders in the public and private sectors.
Neighborhood Advocate
Danielle worked with Greenbelt city officials and the Neighborhood Design Center to engage the community and create a greenspace master plan. This plan is intended to guide future planning and decisions on how to enhance the public spaces in the community. Danielle is also a member of the Greenbelt Community Garden Club.
An avid gardener, she is passionate about growing and planting her vegetable and herb garden and meeting other neighborhood gardeners, sharing stories, and learning about the history of the gardens and connections to the community.