SMS Staff

Alexander M. Padro is the executive director of Shaw Main Streets, Inc., the nonprofit organization charged with revitalizing the historic 7th and 9th Street commercial corridors in the neighborhood directly north of Downtown Washington, DC. Padro, an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner in Shaw, was one of Shaw Main Streets' founders and served as chair of the group's board of directors before being asked to assume the role of executive director.

As the organization's sole employee, Padro is responsible for the day-to-day management of the commercial revitalization effort in central Shaw. "This is an exciting and challenging time for Shaw’s business district," Padro observes. "At the same time that we're trying to strengthen existing businesses and drive new customers to them, we’re also working to train and attract entrepreneurs who will bring the other types of goods and services that residents have been requesting for years."

A graduate of New York University, Padro, 43, has been a corporate executive in the publishing industry as well as a small business owner. "I understand the challenges business owners face because I've been one," Padro notes. "And in many ways, Main Street organizations are small businesses themselves, with the same challenges and pressures."

A Shaw resident since 1997, Padro has been an active preservationist and spokesperson for affordable housing and the DC Public Library system.

"Shaw Main Streets' mission is to make Shaw a better place to live, work, shop, play, and pray," the new executive director says. "I've spent most of my free time during the past few years advancing that goal. Now I get to do it fulltime."

Charlotte E. Young is interning at Shaw Main Streets for the Spring 2007 semester until the end of the summer. She is a sophomore broadcast journalism major/community development minor at Howard University. Charlotte is responsible for interviewing and profiling both new and old business in the Shaw community, as well as reporting on events that Shaw Main Streets holds or supports. She is also responsible for assisting in publication of the Shaw Main Streets newsletter, event publicity, and community outreach.

Her experience includes working as a staff writer for the Hilltop newspaper at Howard University, a contributing writer for the District Chronicles, and the newsletter editor for the Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel Assistants. She is also a supervising producer for Spotlight, WHUT’s student training program. Last summer, Charlotte interned at WLTX-News 19 in her home town of Columbia, SC. Charlotte also tutors children through the Higher Achievement Program.

“I am excited to be working with Shaw Main Streets and learning about the developing Shaw area and its people,” the intern says. “I look forward to learning how I can tie in community development into the journalism field.”

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NEW: Check out photos from recent Shaw Main Streets events in our Photo Album.

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New Businesses on 7^th and 9th Streets, NW…Read More Here.

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1426 9^th Street, NW Washington, DC 20001-3330 ---- Phone: (202) 265-SHAW ---- Fax: (202) 265-7529 ---- info@shawmainstreets.com

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