Danielle McKinney is passionate about serving the community, building connections and inspiring collective action.
McKinney learned the importance of embracing other cultures, education and using her unique strengths in service to the community through volunteering, participating in arts and leadership organizations and recreation activities starting at an early age. She carried these interests and values with her when she moved to Prince George’s County in 1999 to complete her master’s degree in educational leadership and policy at the University of Maryland. While at UMD, she created the America Reads-America Counts afterschool tutoring program at Springhill Lake Elementary School.
Following graduate school, McKinney continued to work for educational equity in leadership roles, training educators, community organizations and leaders. For the past 12 years, McKinney has worked for Marriott International, currently serving as senior director of learning and development where she designs and facilitates training programs on service, leadership and hotel operations.
When looking for a home in 2018, McKinney and her husband felt that Greenbelt aligned with their values and interests. She joined the Greenbelt Station Homeowner’s Association Grounds Committee. In 2021, she was elected to the HOA Board, serving as treasurer. In 2022, she established the Greenbelt Station Greenspace Collective working with the city and the Neighborhood Design Center to create a master plan bringing residents together to better utilize the green space in the community.
McKinney is passionate about building a healthy lifestyle and inspiring others to do the same. She is a member of the Greenbelt Community Garden Club and enjoys connecting with other Greenbelters while taking classes at the Greenbelt Aquatic & Fitness Center. For the last six years, McKinney has also served as a volunteer leader for a national nonprofit which offers monthly outdoor recreation activities such as biking, kayaking, hiking and camping in Greenbelt and other local parks.
Born in Rochester, N.Y., McKinney holds a B.A. in government with a minor in Black studies from Claremont McKenna College in southern California. She is an alumna of Teach For America’s 1997 corps, where she taught fifth grade and created an arts, science and recreation after-school program in the Long Beach Unified School District.
McKinney looks forward to joining Greenbelt residents on their journey forward.