About David Maywhoor

Background and Experiences

Since 1970, David has worked to bring the voice of consumers to policy making tables at local, state and federal levels. He began his work as a Headstart teacher in a full year program in rural Northwest Ohio. He worked at the Auglaize Mercer Community Action Commission (AMCAC) advancing from teacher to Headstart Director and then to Executive Director all before he was 24. He remained there until 1984 crafting programs that addressed long term and crisis human needs. He worked with families to break the poverty cycle. In conjunction with locally elected low-income representatives to the AMCAC Board of Directors he worked to assure that consumer voices were a central to the development of all services offered.

It was during this period that he worked to develop and stabilize the statewide coalition known as Have A Heart Oho – a group of local human service providers and statewide policy groups intent on increasing the benefits available for families who were part of the Aid to Dependent Children programs. As a member of this group he honed his skills in working with both state and federal legislators.

In 1987 he moved to Columbus to be closer to the Ohio legislative process and began working as Associate Director at the Ohio Hunger Task Force (AKA Children’s Hunger Alliance). His first major task was to provide support and logistical assistance to a national group of physicians and faith leaders who were surveying Ohio’s steel and coal belt 20 years after the landmark Field Studies resulted in the food stamp program. Members of this group wanted to hear from consumers about their experiences with programs like food stamps, Women, Infants and Children supplemental food program and other efforts to reduce or eliminate hunger. This was the genesis of his commitment to community based outreach efforts, developing and implementing listening and planning sessions in as many Ohio communities as possible.

Whether directing the Ohio Association of Nonprofit Organizations, the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks or the Buckeye Forest Council he has worked to assure that the end user of services is involved in the policy making process.

Since the late 80’s he has also provided strategic consulting to a wide variety of local, state and national nonprofit organizations with a commitment to improving their capacity to deliver quality services which are outcome oriented. His list of clients is available on request.