Chimes Family of Services (Chimes), a nonprofit provider of services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, supported employment opportunities and behavioral health services, recently announced that Dr. Tracey L. Durant has been elected as the new Chairperson of the Chimes Foundation Board of Directors.

Since 2012, Dr. Durant has served as a key member of the Chimes Foundation Board of Directors, accepting roles of increasing responsibility. Her term as Chairperson will officially begin on July 1, 2019.

Dr. Durant is the Director of Equity for Baltimore City Public Schools, where she is responsible for planning, developing, implementing and evaluating equity initiatives designed to close achievement gaps and increase academic rigor. Her previous professional experience includes serving as Specialist in the Department of Equity and Cultural Proficiency for Baltimore County Public Schools, Director of Professional Development for Maryland Nonprofits and Executive Director of 100 Access College Program.

In addition to lending her leadership skills and experience to Chimes, Dr. Durant is also Board Chair for Child First Authority, President of the Maryland Multicultural Coalition and President of the CollegeBound Foundation Alumni Association. She also serves as Treasurer & Mentoring Chair of PASS, Incorporated and as an Advisory Board Member for the Positive Schools Center.

Dr. Durant earned a Doctorate Degree in Education from Morgan State University, a Master of Science Degree from Coppin State University and a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Sojourner-Douglass College.

Dr. Durant was also one of the first participants in the Associated Black Charities (ABC) Board Pipeline Development Program in 2009. She credits this experience with helping to inspire the progression of her leadership skills and her ability to take on roles of increasing responsibility with the organizations she dedicates her time to in a board capacity.

Chimes is the largest nonprofit provider of community services for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, autism spectrum disorder and other co-occurring disabilities. Chimes Foundation provides financial and other assistance that helps make these programs and services possible.

About Chimes

Chimes was founded in 1947 as a school for five children with moderate intellectual disabilities whose parents rejected the then prevailing wisdom that their children would never achieve meaningful or productive lives. From those modest beginnings, Chimes has grown into one of the industry’s largest providers of services and supports for people with barriers to independent living. Today, Chimes Family Services offers a wide range of programming, including day habilitation, residential, educational, vocational, employment, and behavioral health services and supports for nearly 20,000 individuals annually in six mid-Atlantic States and the District of Columbia. Chimes is also closely affiliated with Chimes Israel through Board representation, and assistance with program design and funding. Chimes distinguishes itself from other disability service providers through its unique emphasis on client centered, evidence-based program design.