We're proud to announce the appointment of two exceptional leaders to our Board of Directors: David Walker and Dr. Natalie King-Pedrosso

David Walker

A respected leader in Franklin County, David Walker brings decades of service and a deep commitment to local youth and public health. Since relocating fromFort Lauderdale in 2003, Mr. Walker has been a vital part of community life in Apalachicola. He began his local service as site director for the Boys andGirls Club of the Big Bend, serving students at Brown Elementary in Eastpoint and Chapman Elementary in Apalachicola.

Following this work, Mr. Walker served for nine years as operations manager at the Franklin County Health Department. In 2019, he made history by becoming the first African-American CEO of George E. Weems Memorial Hospital, where he now oversees a staff of over 100. His leadership during the COVID-19 crisis earned him the distinction of Florida’s Top 2020 Rural Health Leader by theNational Organization of State Offices of Rural Health. His visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to community well-being make him a powerful asset to MEI’s board.

 Dr. Natalie King-Pedrosso

Dr. Natalie King-Pedroso, with deep ties to the Florida-Georgia border, dedicates her work to the preservation of culture and history. A formerAssociate Professor at Florida A&M University, her research focuses onAfro-South, Black women writers, and Africana literature. She co-edited*Critical Responses to the Black Family in Toni Morrison’s God Help the Child:Conflicts in Comradeship* (2019), examining the African American family inMorrison’s final novel.

King-Pedroso co-directs the Evergreen Plantation Archaeological Field School(EPAFS), integrating literature and Southern history, and contributed to the award-winning documentary Before Juneteenth: Florida’s Emancipations. She played a key role in The 20th of May: The History and Heritage of Florida’sEmancipation Day Digital History Project, which highlights the traditions and culture of Florida’s Emancipation Day.

As founder of the 20th of May Group, she educates communities aboutFlorida’s Emancipation Day. Her family’s genealogical story was showcased inLeon County-Tallahassee’s Bicentennial Celebration (2024) through “B(l)ack to the Past.” King-Pedroso also owns Cotton Boll Collective, a lifestyle brand celebrating Afro-Southern heritage.

MEI is honored to welcome these two dynamic leaders whose voices, expertise, and lived experience will support and shape the next chapter of our work in Apalachicola and beyond. We look forward to the transformative contributions they will bring to our mission and community.

Welcome, David and Natalie!

In solidarity,
Frenchy Haynes
Founder & CEO
Moving Education Institute, Inc.