Christopher J. Charles CEO/Grant Writer
A Visionary Advocate: From Marine Corps Discipline to Policy Reform
Christopher J. Charles graduated from American University with a B.A. in Political Science, marking the next chapter in a distinguished journey defined by leadership, discipline, and an unwavering commitment to structural justice. As a Queer Black Veteran, Christopher leverages a unique worldview shaped by military service and deep community advocacy to tackle systemic inequalities in both national policy and local governance.
Academic Excellence Focused on Accountability
Christopher’s academic career at American University is characterized by rigorous research focused on two core areas: political ethics and health equity for marginalized populations. His influential policy work seeks to directly address the lack of government accountability and enforcement, which disproportionately impacts Black and Brown communities. For example, his health equity analysis of Washington D.C. proposes a progressive fiscal solution, known as the Homestead Deduction Cap Bill, designed to correct the historical “Structural Debt” caused by racial housing segregation and discriminatory taxation. This research offers a concrete plan for legislative action to reduce D.C.’s drastic 21-year life expectancy gap. Furthermore, Christopher’s Capstone project provides an advanced comparative study assessing how policy environments (specifically in Los Angeles and Dallas) correlate with measurable life expectancy disparities among LGBTQ+ adult populations. This work utilizes Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) to trace the exact pathway by which hostile or affirming policies translate into tangible health outcomes. Lastly, he has conducted significant research on legislative integrity, proposing the creation of an Independent Ethics and Transparency Board (IETB) to eliminate undue influence in Congress, specifically by ending gift-giving from lobbyists, while acknowledging the profound political challenges and implementation limitations inherent in such large-scale structural reforms.
A Foundation in Service and Leadership
Christopher’s commitment to service is built on a decade of transformative experience. He served honorably in the U.S. Marine Corps as both an Intelligence Analyst and a Marine Security Guard in places like Rwanda, Greece, and Tunisia, where he safeguarded national security and advised senior leadership. This experience instills the operational discipline he now applies to policy implementation. Transitioning to the civilian sector, Christopher took on critical roles at the Latin American Youth Center (LAYC), where he demonstrated his commitment to giving back and teaching young people. As the Health Promotions Program Manager, he led the organization’s swift response to the COVID-19 pandemic, an effort that resulted in new organizational initiatives, including chronic disease management and the creation of the Public Health AmeriCorps program. Through the Sexual and Reproductive Health Program and other initiatives, he educated and served over 2,000 youth. He later served as the Director for the DC Prevention Center Wards 1 & 2, overseeing a $1.1 million annual budget and managing 23 staff while continuing his dedication to community health advocacy. This period of intense community focus overlapped with a necessary pause in his academic studies. Subsequently, at the DC Department of Health (DOH), Christopher served as a Program Support Specialist, where he focused on advocating for Community-Based Organizations (CBOs). He managed sub-grantees and strategically modified internal operating procedures to better align DC Health administrations with community needs and concerns. This hands-on experience exposed him to the structural barriers that prevent effective enforcement of public health mandates, solidifying his belief in the need for greater legal and public health expertise to fully realize the Health-in-All-Policies (HiAP) framework in society.
Future Outlook: A Messenger for Change
Looking ahead, Christopher will continue his studies at American University toward a Master’s degree in Public Health Innovation and Practice. He intends to dedicate his career to leveraging his research to inform and empower community leaders, acting as a messenger to ensure underserved communities have a clear and powerful voice in policy decisions. Dedicated to supporting the underserved, his ultimate goal is to scale the DC health equity model to other states, advocating for greater accountability and timely enforcement to reduce the unacceptable mortality gaps across the United States.