Leadership

Neal Sikka, MD

Medical Director

Andrew Meltzer, MD

Medical Director

Rev. Kendrick E. Curry

Community Director

The Reverend Doctor Kendrick E. Curry advances the cause of Jesus Christ within the church and community. During his 16-year tenure as the Senior Pastor of The Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church, the congregation has developed a Kingdom-focused ministry that continues to thrive and be renewed. The church has a variety of intentional ministries and activities designed to meet the needs of seniors, women, men, young adults, and youth. It also partners with over 10 civic, social, and professional groups including AARP DC Chapter #3473, an addiction recovery group, and Toastmasters to help bring about communal transformation. Specifically, through partnering with a mental-health day treatment program for DC residents, producing cultural arts events, and convening family-oriented workshops, the church becomes aware of the relevant issues affecting the wider community.

Pastor Curry values education and has been academically prepared for life and ministry. He earned a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Prairie View A&M University in Prairie View, TX; an M.S. and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI; and a M.Div. (Masters of Divinity) from the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University in Richmond, VA. Pastor Curry was trained as a community organizer at the renowned Midwest Academy for Social Organizing of Chicago. He has also done advanced studies at Wesley Theological Seminary in DC, Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, VA, and Northern Seminary near Chicago.

In addition to pastoring, Pastor Curry worked in the corporate sector for Union Carbide Corporation (now Dow Chemical) and Eastman Kodak and in the government sector for Lawrence Livermore National Labs. Additionally, he also worked in the non-profit sector for the United Negro College Fund Special Programs Corporation directing the prestigious NASA/Harriett G. Jenkins Predoctoral Fellowship Program. In academia, Pastor Curry was the Associate Research Director and an adjunct faculty member at West Virginia State University. He is a small business owner who leads engineering and educational development teams.

Pastor Curry is a prophetic voice in the public square. As such, he is active on the Board of Directors for the DC Baptist Convention and the Marshall Heights Community Development Corporation. As a member of Faith Strategies, he serves with collective of clerics who bring faith-based solutions to social injustices in the DC metropolitan region. He also actively serves as Co-Chair of the Board of Directors of DC Jobs with Justice.

Pastor Curry advocates for Senior’s rights at the local and national levels via his position as DC State President of AARP and through his work with the board of the Stoddard Baptist Nursing Home. Having cared for both parents until their recent deaths, Pastor Curry is passionate about caregiving for the sick and elderly,and helps those 50 plus years of age to age in place well, obtain affordable prescriptions, and never live in isolation.

Because of his passion for equity in education, Pastor Curry serves on the Chair of the Board of Directors for Education Forward DC, and he has served on the Board of Trustees of the University of the District of Columbia. Pastor Curry is an alternate member of the Board of Directors of DC Water, and he frequently consults in engineering and for academic, interfaith, and community organizing groups.

Based on Pastor Curry’s service on behalf of the residents of the District of Columbia, he has received numerous awards including the Wilhelmina Rolark Outstanding Citizen Award by the Metropolitan Washington Council AFL-CIO, and the Community Service/Partnership Award by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.

Pastor Curry is happily married to the Reverend Karen Whitney Curry and is the proud father of two wonderful children: Keyona and Kendrick, II.

Rev. Karen Curry

Community Director

Rev. Karen Curry has worked to improve the quality of life for District of Columbia residents for over 30 years through her service at The Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church (Ward 7), and at The House DC, Inc. (Ward 8), a highly-effective after school ministry that has been transforming the lives of youths and their families since 1999. She has developed and taught creative, thought-provoking workshops and retreats focused on spiritual, social, economic, life skills, and leadership development for high school students and adults. She has also provided spiritual guidance and mentoring to help women, teens and parents successfully navigate through issues such as peer pressure, low self-esteem and tragic losses.

In addition to ministering to the community, Rev. Curry also provides communications services for clients ranging from small non-profits to Federal agencies, including DCTV where she has been an on-camera host for the station’s “Student Exposure” broadcast. She also previously served as chair of the Enlistment Committee of the District of Columbia Baptist Convention, and worked with the Time to Fly Foundation, a ministry which helps women and children heal from abuse. She currently serves on the DC State Athletics Commission.

Her formal education includes an Associate of Arts degree from Prince George’s Community College, where she has worked as an Adjunct Professor and launched a creative and critical thinking course she developed entitled, “Think About It! Write About It! Do Something About It!” She also earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism with an emphasis in Public Relations from the University of Southern California, and a Master of Theological Studies from Wesley Theological Seminary. In her spare time, she enjoys writing and performing her original poetry and raps.

Rev. Curry is happily married to Rev. Dr. Kendrick E. Curry, Pastor of the Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church. The Currys are the proud parents of Keyona E’Lise and Kendrick E. Curry, II.