Candidate for
Council Member; City of San Diego; District 4

Dwayne Crenshaw is a native San Diegan and a 37-year District 4 resident. Dwayne's deep knowledge of San Diego's neighborhoods and his community activism, which began at age thirteen, are invaluable in his high visibility role as a neighborhood leader and advocate.

Prior to assuming his current position as Executive Director of San Diego Pride in May 2011, Dwayne served as Executive Director of the Coalition of Neighborhood Councils (CNC). Dwayne spearheaded the CNC's effort to unite neighbors to own neighborhood change. During his 5-year tenure, the CNC's annual budget grew from $50,000 to more than $1.5 million and the staff grew from one part-time employee to a team of 24. In addition to leading this phenomenal period of growth, Dwayne was also responsible for researching, recommending and developing ongoing strategies and resources to promote broad community participation in sustainable community development projects such as Market Creek Plaza. With over 100 jobs created at Market Creek, Dwayne has also created jobs for hundreds of neighborhood youth and established education programs to help kids steer away from gangs and life on the streets and into jobs and college.

Prior to assuming his position with the CNC, Dwayne served for four years as the Director of Government Relations and Community Ownership for the Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation. Beyond his experience in the non-profit, community-building field, Dwayne has eight years of government experience as an aide to state and local elected officials including former California Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante and Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell.

Dwayne began his career in public service as one of only 18 Unruh Assembly Fellows chosen annually from hundreds of applicants to serve in the state capitol in Sacramento. While in Sacramento, Dwayne completed his coursework at CSU Sacramento for a Master's in Government.

Dwayne is also a 1994 graduate of San Diego State University where he majored in elementary education. At SDSU, he was elected student body president of the 35,000-student campus. In 2011, Dwayne earned his Juris Doctorate from California Western School of Law, where he twice earned the highly coveted Distinguished Advocate recognition.

Dwayne Crenshaw was named in 2007 by San Diego Metropolitan Magazine as one of "San Diego's Smartest Young Professionals + 40 under 40." Dwayne's strong reputation and excellent leadership skills has resulted in him being sought after to serve on numerous boards and civic committees. Dwayne's community service includes his current membership on the San Diego Community College District Trustee's Advisory Board and the Police Chief's Advisory Board. Additional recent service includes the Encanto Neighborhoods Community Planning Group, Southeast Rotary Club, Torrey Pines Banks Community Reinvestment Board, and the Lincoln High School and High Tech High School's Advisory Board, among others.

Dwayne Crenshaw resides in the O'Farell/South Encanto community of District 4. He is the proud and active uncle of four nieces (with a great niece on the way) and enjoys weekly dinners with his entire immediate family at his parent's home. When not with family, you can often find Dwayne exercising his dog "Kobe" at a local dog park.