Executive Director

Derrick W. Byrd has served as an advocate for children and families for over 38 years. Derrick has served in various leadership positions in many local, state and national non-profit organizations and governmental agencies. Derrick is highly regarded as an independent African-American leader of change and empowerment. Derrick has been sought to provide consultation, training and facilitation in developing programs and policies impacting children and families throughout the United States.

Derrick spent 20 years at Wake County Human Services managing a comprehensive service delivery system for children and their families receiving child protective services, organizing and directing the work of social work staff, team decision making meeting facilitators, clinical staff and other related human services programs. Derrick is also the founding member and currently serves as Executive Director of the Family Resource Center South Atlantic, a 501c3 nonprofit agency. Derrick currently co-leads the NC Fatherhood Conference.

Derrick served in various leadership positions on state and national organizations including National PTA, Covenant with North Carolina’s Children, Wake, Chatham, and Orange County Head Start program, HopeLine, Inc. and the North Carolina Family-Based Services Association. Derrick served as a member of the Raising Achievement and Closing the Gap Advisory Commission of the State Department of Public Instruction and co-chairperson of the Raising Achievement and Closing the Gap Committee for Wake County Public Schools. Derrick served as Co- Chairperson for the Raleigh Organizing Against Racism Committee and The Flood Group of Wake County.

Derrick has been featured and quoted in local and national press and publications. He is one of the most highly inspirational and insightful speakers, addressing a variety of topics including family involvement and engagement, fatherhood initiatives, advocacy, racial disparities and disproportionality, child welfare, child mental health and public education reform.

Derrick’s honors include Cambridge’s Who’s Who of Distinguished Individuals, National PTA’s Distinguished Service and Life Member Awards, Connecticut PTA Life Achievement Award, New York State and North Carolina Life Member Awards, Family Resource Center South Atlantic’s 10 years’ service and Fatherhood Conference Trailblazer awards and other local, state and national recognitions.

Derrick has a Master’s in Public Administration from John Jay College of Criminal Justice and a Bachelor of Science Degree from Touro College both located in New York, NY.