Leading with a belief for the greater good and honoring a legacy with Dr. Charlene Drew Jarvis

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Dr. Charlene Drew Jarvis, neuroscientist and former Washington DC council member and chair of the committee on economic development, recounts stories of her father, Dr. Charles Drew, and shares stories of her life as a scientist and politician, and how the intersectionality of her passions empowers her to ask the right questions in solving complex problems and leading a community.

Some highlights:

Dr. Charles Drew’s life and legacy as the pioneer of blood banking
Dr. Charlene Drew Jarvis’ career as a neuroscientist
Why and how Dr. Charlene Drew Jarvis left science for politics
The importance of asking the right questions and how it helped Dr. Charlene Drew Jarvis in contributing to the economic development of Washington DC
How Dr. Drew Jarvis’ passion for helping women and people of color led to her becoming president of Southeastern University
Why Dr. Charlene Drew Jarvis believes that expanded support for mental health in insurance is highly crucial
Dr. Charlene Drew Jarvis’ advice to young leaders.
Advice on becoming an active older person

Mentioned:

EB Henderson, Former coach at Dunbar High School

Judge William Hastie, Former Federal judge

Mercer Cook, Former Chair at Howard University and second American ambassador to Niger

William Montague Cobb, Former head of anatomy at Howard University

Julius Rosenwald, Businessman, philanthropist, and founder of the Rosenwald Fund

Booker T. Washington, Educator, author, orator, and adviser to presidents

Spencie Love, Author of “One Blood”

Dr. DeMaurice Moses, Dr. Charlene Drew Jarvis’ husband

Arrington Dixon, Former chair and member of the council of the District of Columbia

Sharon Pratt, Attorney, politician, and the third mayor of the District of Columbia

Marion Barry, Former mayor of the District of Columbia

Muriel Bowser, Mayor of Washington DC

Jack Evans, Former member of the council of the District of Columbia

Abe Pollin, Former owner of Washington Wizards & Washington Capitals

Connect with Dr. Charlene Drew Jarvis:

Dr. Charlene Drew Jarvis on Twitter

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

MahanTavakoli.com

More information and resources available at the Partnering Leadership Podcast website:

PartneringLeadership.com

Dr. Charlene Drew Jarvis

Neuroscientist and Chair of the committee on economic development,

In her long and distinguished career, CHARLENE DREW JARVIS has held positions as a neuroscientist, legislator and university president.

Dr. Jarvis’ educational background led to a career as a neuroscientist at the National Institute of Mental Health in Bethesda, Md. (1971-1978). She received a BS from Oberlin College (1962), an MS from Howard University (1964), and a PhD in Neuropsychology (1971) from the University of Maryland, all the while balancing the demands of being a wife and mother of two active young boys.

Her research with co-investigators appeared in scientific publications such as the Annals of Neurology; Neuroscience Abstracts; Brain Research; the Journal of Neurophysiology; and Brain, Behavior and Evolution.

Responding to the need to help rebuild the economy of Washington, DC, after the riots that followed the death of Martin Luther King, Jr., Jarvis ran for public office and was elected 6 times to the Council of the District of Columbia (1979-2000).

Her work as Chair of the Committee on Economic Development for more than 20 years was pioneering. The Washington Convention Center, the Verizon Center, Business Improvement Districts, Tax Increment Financing, and legislative initiatives designed to prevent redlining by commercial banks stand as important and collaborative contributions.

Dr. Jarvis was appointed in 1996 as president of Southeastern University, founded by the YMCA in 1879. True to the mission of the YMCA, her goal was to give students both theoretical and practical applications of knowledge. Thirteen year… Read More