THE REVEREND ERIC OVID DONALDSON
To schedule Rev. Donaldson for Workshops, Speaking Engagements, Spiritual Counseling, Mentoring or other Spiritual Services call 202-306-1953 or email at rev.donaldson@divinitycenter.net. 

Inducted into the Martin Luther King Jr. International Board of Preachers at Morehouse College, Eric Ovid Donaldson has dedicated his life and his talents to the health and well-being of many America’s communities. A program developer, speaker, entrepreneur, and a Past President of the International Youth of Unity, Reverend Donaldson is licensed and ordained by the Universal Foundation for Better Living, Incorporated and serves on the Board of Directors. He and his wife Valencia have two children, Deja and Davon.  Through the teaching of universal spiritual principles, the dissemination of information, inspiration and action, Reverend Donaldson’s background, tremendous creativity and vision lends to the healing, well-being and vitality of humanity.

Current Activities

Rev. Donaldson is the founder of the Divinity Center for Better Living Study Group of Washington DC, and the Spiritual Unfoldment Center for Better Living Study Group o Richmond, VA; both spiritual communities committed to establishing a church and a spiritual educational facility in their respective areas.   Rev. Donaldson is also the Director of Better Living Studies at the Path of Life Center for Better Living Fellowship, led by Pastor Richard Duffy, whom Rev. Donaldson mentors.  Rev. Donaldson was also recently re-elected to the Universal Foundation for Better Living Board of Directors.

Past Activities

Associate Minister of the One God One Thought Center for Better Living, Baltimore, MD – Rev. Donaldson was appointed Associate Minister by the Reverend Bernette Lee Jones in November, 2003.  He served in that capacity through December, 2007.  The One God one Thought Center is a powerful catylist for change that teaches people how to connect with the indwelling presence of God in order to have a happy, healthy, peaceful and prosperous life.

The Capital District International New Thought Alliance Conference Planning Committee – Helped plan regional conference entitled, “Coming Together As Love”, as a precursor to the 2004 National INTA Congress, held in Washington , DC.

Executive Director of One Church - One Family Inc. – ROne Church One Family was the umbrella organization to three national programs: One Church One Child, One Church One Addict and One Church One Inmate. Rev. Donaldson served as National Executive Director and was directly responsible for the procurement and/or administration of the following state, federal and academic partnerships and programs:

The Dr. Lonnie E. Mitchell  National HBCU Substance Abuse Conference Planning Committee Member, 2002-2003 and 2003-2004 –  Annual conference that provides and promotes the exchange of cutting-edge knowledge of substance abuse treatment, prevention, research, and education between clinicians and African–American students.  Donaldson serves on Planning Committee. 

The Conference on the State of the African American Male – The National Conference on the Status of African American Males assesses the issues affecting African American men and boys by bringing together individuals and organizations engaged in this work, and by using networks that are actively involved in and empowered by the democratic process. Donaldson serves on Planning Committee brought together by Congressman Danny K. Davis of the 7^th District of Illinois. 

Center for Substance Abuse Treatment: One Church - One Addict has implemented six regional conferences for faith communities involved in One Church-One Addict, One Church-One Inmate and One Church-One Child initiatives.  The conferences have strengthened faith community involvement in substance abuse issues through the understanding of CSAT resources and programs as well as encourage networking and collaboration.

Center for Substance Abuse Prevention:  OCOA’s Program, Project Teach and Reach is a training initiative that provides access to substance abuse prevention information to youth and their families through Faith communities, then assist volunteers in successfully implementing activities that develops and enhances protective factors in young people and deters initial substance use and experimentation. Project Teach and Reach also provides training, information and tools from local and national substance abuse prevention resources that equip families and youth in making and supporting drug and alcohol-free choices.

Department of Housing and Urban Development: One Church - One Addict has completed a cooperative agreement to develop and expand participating Faith Organizations into comprehensive Outreach Centers.  The Outreach Centers act as a repository of local and state resources for Public Housing Residents and their surrounding community.  As a result, One Church-One Addict was nominated by The Department of Housing and Urban Development as a Best Practice Program for 1999.

Department of Health and Human Services’ Bureau of Primary Health: As a part of the 100% Access, 0% Disparity Campaign, One Church - One Addict has partnered with DHHS to help Faith Communities bring Primary Health Care Access to the addicted, indigent, underserved, uninsured and underinsured.  The initiative includes partnerships with Community Health Centers, National Health Service Corp Sites and other National, State and Local Organizations to increase access and eliminate disparities to Primary Health Care.

The Georgia State Board of Pardons & Parole, Georgia Department of Corrections: The Prison Commission of the Christian Council of Metropolitan Atlanta, and Catholic Social Services, Inc.:  One Church One Addict has conducted a series of trainings in conjunction with the above entities in an unprecedented collaboration of church and state to implement the One Church-One Inmate Program throughout Georgia.

Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance:  One Church –One Addict is training groups of Faith Community volunteers to function effectively as “families” for offenders. This pre-release and aftercare initiative helps reduce relapse and recidivism among substance abusing, criminal offenders.  

Office of Women’s Health:  One Church – One Addict has been awarded a pilot program that seeks to provide a comprehensive referral service as well as a peer mentor program for 15 newly released minority women living with HIV/AIDS/STDs.  

Affiliations (Past and Present)

The Coalition of Concerned Black Christian Men – An organization dedicated to improving the quality of life within the Prince Georges County, Maryland community.  Among other activities, CCBCM offers college scholarships to deserving black high school graduates.

The Healen Energy Farm – An organization committed to health and well-being through spirituality, and complimentary and alternative medicines and disciplines  (served on the Board of Directors).

Project Hero, a highly focused program that teaches challenged youth, young adults and formally incarcerated individuals to accept responsibility (and not blame) for who and what they are and to effect the changes necessary to live a safe, healthy and productive life.

The African-American Men's Health and Wellness Committee, conducts seminars and health fairs that provides free medical screenings and offers spiritual, traditional and alternative information for the health of African American men (co-founder).

Dreamquest Communications, specializes in communications and presentations for the information age, producing and providing, business communiqué, publicity, and print advertising for organizations.  Also conducts, seminars and workshops on a variety of topics for schools, companies, and corporations.

Lifespring/Humanus Institute, highly focused workshops, which provide an opportunity to discover and redesign the underlying assumptions from which we live life.   In the workshops, people experience a profound shift in their ability to relate to themselves and others.   From this shift, they are empowered to fully engage their heartfelt commitments, both personal and global with freedom and passion.

Presentations

Freedom:  The Paradise and the Paradox: At the Universal Foundation for Better Living's Panorama of Truth 2007, Washington, DC

The Black Church Response to the HIV/AIDS Epidemic: Community Symposium, co-sponsored by Douglas Memorial Community Church and Sisters Together and Reaching, Inc., Baltimore, Maryland

Roundtable on Faith, Media Literacy and Youth Drug Prevention: Executive Office of the President, Office of National Drug Control Policy, Washington, DC

Faith Partnership Initiative Focus Group: Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, Rockville, Maryland

New and Emerging Roles for Clinicians: Conference co-sponsored by the California Society of Addiction Medicine and the American Society of Addiction Medicine, Marina Del Rey, California

Partners for Substance Abuse Prevention: 14th National Prevention Network Prevention Research Conference, Charlotte, North Carolina

The One Church-One Family National Roundtable and Policy Briefing: Rayburn House Office Building, Capitol Hill, Washington, DC

Center for Drug Abuse Research, Howard University: 6^th African American Conference On Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Washington, DC

Saving Our Youth Through Faith-Based Learning Centers: The Chicago Conference for Faith-Based Initiatives, Chicago, IL

Principles of Prevention: The Houston Conference for Faith -Based Initiatives, Houston, TX and Beaumont TX

A Celebration of Sobriety, and Restoration of Community: Lonnie E. Mitchell Substance Abuse Conference for HBCU's, Baltimore, MD

Education

Bachelor of Science, Communications, Michigan State University, E. Lansing, Michigan

Previously Ordained Clergy Program, Universal Foundation for Better Living, Inc.  Miami, Florida

Johnnie Colemon Theological Seminary, Miami Florida

 Awards

The Mark of Greatness Award for Social Activism

The Key to the City of Lufkin, Texas

The Key to the City of Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Induction into The Martin Luther King, Jr. International Board of Preachers at Morehouse College