As a Senior Program Officer at Wend Collective, Charles has led the implementation and evaluation of an expanding education and social capital grantmaking strategy totaling $7 million annually. He has been instrumental in identifying opportunities to increase funding for non-profits led by leaders of marginalized communities and spearheading internal efforts to align funding practices with social justice best practices. Charles has also established partnerships with local and national philanthropic organizations to create joint funding opportunities and increase awareness for Colorado non-profits and community leaders.
Previously, as the Education Policy Director and Interim Deputy Director at the City of Denver’s Office of Children’s Affairs, Charles supervised teams, managed budgets and contracts, and engaged with senior managers to address educational policies impacting youth and families. His representation at state and national conferences contributed to building strong collaborative networks, and he played a pivotal role as the primary contact for post-secondary and school readiness initiatives.
With experience as the Director of College and Career Success Programs at Aurora Public Schools and the Director of College Access Initiatives at Denver Public Schools, Charles has proven expertise in creating awareness and access to career pathways for students. He effectively led teams, improved program operations, and collaborated with principals to address post-secondary workforce barriers and provide accelerated learning opportunities.
Throughout his career, Charles has held leadership roles at the Colorado Department of Education, managing grant programs and advocating for resources to support rural communities access to workforce resources.
Charles holds a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Grand Canyon University, an M.A. in Education Foundation Policy and Practice from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and a B.A. in Political Science from Colorado Mesa University. He actively contributes to various boards, including serving as a Trustee for Community Boards Colorado Mesa University and Keystone Policy Center. Charles is also a Board Member of The STEAD School and has been involved with the Denver Early Childhood Council.
