Staff – Ward 8 Woods Conservancy

Our Staff

Nathan Harrington, Executive Director

Nathan Harrington was born in Washington, DC and grew up in Rockville, Maryland. After graduating from Bates College in Maine, he taught social studies and Spanish in DC area public schools for 11 years and earned an M.Ed Degree in Educational Leadership and Policy from Howard University. Nathan has lived and been civically active in Ward 8 since 2009, chairing the Committee to Restore Shepherd Parkway and managing the Ward 8 Farmers Market. In 2018 he spearheaded the formation of the Ward 8 Woods Conservancy. He has also worked as a local urban gardener and professional tour guide.

Nigel Brake, Park Steward Crew Leader

Nigel is a Native Washingtonian who grew up on Bolling Air Force Base . During his service in the U.S. Army, he lived in Germany, South Korea, and Hawaii. Back in DC, he led after-school and summer youth program for People Love Animals, and served for seven years as Dean of Students at Stanton Elementary School in Ward 8. He is an experienced Special Police Officer 2021 he’s operated his own freight hauling business, Brake A Dake Trucking. He is a youth football coach, a musician, and poet. He lives in Bellevue and enjoys fishing, playing in bands, and spending time with his two kids.

Keith D. Jones Jr., Outreach Coordinator

Keith D. Jones, Jr. brings over 10 years of experience working to reduce littering. He served three DC Mayors in the Office of the Clean City, helping to increase the membership of the Adopt-A-Block program and conducting cleanliness assessments. A Native Washingtonian, he attended Friendship Collegiate Academy and has a B.S. in Political Science from Morehouse College in Atlanta. He has been recognized as a local leader, earning the DC Black Pride Leadership Award in 2015, the Alumni Community Service Award from Friendship Alumni in 2021, and the Young Gifted & Green Award from Black Millennials 4 Flint in 2023. He resides in the Ward 8 neighborhood of Fairlawn.

Rondell Pooler, School Garden Coordinator

Rondell Pooler is a 4th generation Washingtonian with more than a decade of experience in urban agriculture and environmental education. He has led programs for various organizations and agencies and is founder and co-owner of Rooted and Sustained, a small business that provides greenspace maintenance while training and employing others to beautify and care for their community and the environment. With experience recruiting, training, and directing over 5,000 volunteers, interns, and trainees, Rondell is committed to growing productive and environmentally harmonic green spaces. He lives in Ward 7.

Park Stewards

From left: Eddie Greene, Chris Williams, Robert Carpenter, Jomokin Dickens.

Since 2018, the Ward 8 Woods Park Steward program has provided living wage income, meaningful work, and green jobs training to Ward 8 residents who face barriers to employment such as criminal history, disability, or lack of credentials. Park Stewards are the boots on the ground for all of our forest restoration, trail building, and outreach efforts.

Pamela Fullerton, Bookkeeper

Pamela Fullerton is the owner of Empire Office Services, a DC-based company specializing in bookkeeping and advisory services to new and fledgling businesses. A native of London, England, she lives in Ward 4.