Charles A. Dark, II (Certified Prevention Specialist/Professional) serves as the Director of the Wards 5 & 6 DC Prevention Center as a member of the Sasha Bruce Youthwork staff. During his 15-year tenure, he has worked in conjunction with the Addiction Prevention Recovery Administration (APRA), the Substance Use Disorders Services (SUDS), Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) to use a public health risk and protective factor approach as the guiding framework for the ongoing development of a Wards 5 & 6 DC Prevention Center. The targeted population for this initiative is youth and young adults ages 8 to 24 and those in the community that influence their decision-making (peers, families, caregivers, providers, schools, community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, businesses, health practitioners, law enforcement, LGBTQ, senior citizens and key community stakeholders). With his leadership the plan has been to address three District wide substance use outcomes, (Community Education, Community Leadership, Community Changes), and priority risk factors that have been documented as contributing to alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use (ATOD) among children, youth and young adults in the District of Columbia. With a background in education, Charles has worked in the DC Public Schools system, Prince George’s County Public Schools system, and worked at Capstone Institute at Howard University as the Director of Academic Support Programs working with youth, young adults, teachers and administrators with the best practices for African American students. Charles attended Virginia State University earning a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), English/Mass Communications and is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.