David Caprara is a nonresident fellow in the Global Economy and Development program. His research focus includes volunteerism, global development, global poverty and civil society.

He also serves as director for the Global Peace Service Alliance. He formerly directed Faith-Based and Community Initiatives at the Corporation for National and Community Service in Washington, D.C. and Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA), promoting mentoring programs, asset development, homeland security and other initiatives to strengthen children and families throughout the country. Caprara conceived and codirected the International Roundtable on Volunteering and Service with Points of Light Foundation, US AID, and Corporation for National and Community Service. In 2006, he co-directed the International Conference on Faith and Service with former USA Freedom Corps Director John Bridgeland and the National Conference on Citizenship. In the spring of 2006, over twenty-five interfaith youth services projects were launched through this initiative in the US, Africa and Middle East during Global Youth Service Day.

Caprara formerly served as Deputy Assistant Secretary and Director, Office of Resident Initiatives, under Secretary Jack Kemp at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Subsequently, he served as Director of the Virginia Governor’s Commission on Citizen Empowerment and as Director of the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. He conceived and launched the Hands-Across-Virginia initiative, overseeing disaster volunteer efforts following severe flooding in the mountain region.

Caprara helped craft and directed the nationally acclaimed five-city “Violence-Free Zone” gang intervention initiative at the Center for Neighborhood Enterprise (CNE) which led to Congressional appropriations for grassroots initiatives. He also guided successful tenant management, entrepreneurship, and homeownership demonstrations that led to the authorization of landmark Congressional legislation and key presidential initiatives. In addition, he developed familystrengthening provisions for the White House Task Force on Disadvantaged Youth, developed nationwide state legislative policy exchanges, and co-founded the bicameral, bipartisan Congressional Empowerment Caucus.

Global Development, Social Policy, Innovation, Thought Leaders, Think Tanks, Brookings Institute, influential, Policy, Public Policy,