Cynthia L. James, Neighbor

Cynthia James is the Executive Director of Community Bridges, Incorporated and has experience in Non-profit management, fiscal compliance, operations compliance, capacity building, community organizing, and human resources. Having served as a founding executive director for a national AmeriCorps program, she is equipped not only with the necessary background with start-ups but also with extensive experience in turn-arounds and sustainability, through her board and consulting work with nonprofits. Her passion for girls and youth development comes from her over 15 years in leadership development and capacity building with small to mid-size nonprofits and community work. Her work with Public Allies, Incorporated as launching Director of Public Allies Pittsburgh, a nonprofit organization that helps to build young leaders in the Pittsburgh area in 2006, Cynthia led the site to grow exponentially and has also been recognized for its best practices in the areas of recruitment by the national office and also by the Corporation for National and Community Service for the site’s projects during National AmeriCorps Week in 2009. While there, Cynthia developed and implemented an executive-level training apprenticeship program for young leaders interested in becoming non-profit managers that is now being utilized as a best practice model nationally.

James received the 2011 Jenny A. Carter African American Legacy Award from her undergraduate institution and was named by the New Pittsburgh Courier as one of the top 40 young professionals of 2010 and in PUMP and Pittsburgh Magazine’s 40 Under 40. In December, 2013 Cynthia received a 2013 Leading Women awarded by the Daily Record for her work with Community Bridges as a top woman under the age of 40 doing incredible work for the Maryland Region. James earned a Master of Science in Business Ethics and Leadership from the Duquesne University of the Holy Ghost, and was awarded a bachelor’s degree from the California University of Pennsylvania. Cynthia is also a proud member of the national organization of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated and has served many roles both locally and statewide in Pennsylvania. James is a native of Pittsburgh, Pa., a current Maryland resident.