Rev. Dr. Sandra Butler-Truesdale, A Life Time of Service
Rev. Dr. Sandra Butler-Truesdale is a native Washingtonian and a product of the District of Columbia Public Schools. She pursued education in many institutions earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Religious Education from Howard University’s Saturday College. She earned certificates in Labor Law from the George Meany Institute, Advanced Law Negotiations and Communications from the University of Massachusetts, Pennsylvania State University and the University of California, Berkley Campus. She received a certificate in Computer Science from the Center for Instructional Technology and Training at Texas State Institute. She earned a manager/instructors degree of Cosmetology from Poro Beauty School in Washington, DC. Rev. Butler-Truesdale is an ordained associate minister and local deacon in the Africann Methodist Episcopal Church. Currently, she serves as Associate Minister at Metropolitan AME Church in Washington, DC. and licensed and certified by the Superior Court of the District of Columbia on November 7, 1991. She was awarded Honoris Causa, Doctorate of Divinity in August, 1993. She was inducted into the Phi Delta Kappa Fraternity in November, 1993.
Rev. Butler-Truesdale served as a Community Organizer for the United Black Fund, analyzing community organizations and researching information to qualify organizations for funding. She served as director of the First Baptist Social Service Center managing 33 employees, developing programs, assigning duties and responsibilities to employees which effectively improved the quality of life of the surrounding community. Rev. Butler-Truesdale chaired the Ward 4 Democrats in 1988 where she was instrumental in reviving local participation in the party. She Chaired the Committee Chairpersons of the DC State Committee from 1988-1990. She was elected to the DC Board of Education in November 1990 and served as representative to Ward 4 for 8 years and Vice President to the Board of 3 years. Rev. Butler-Truesdale served as Associate Pastor of the Rock Creek Baptist Church. Rev. Butler-Truesdale is retired from Verizon and served as Residents Services Coordinator for the Campbell Heights Apartments now known as the Paul Laurence Dunbar Apartments. She served as President/Consultant of the Paul Laurence Dunbar Apartments Association Inc. As president of the Paul Laurence Dunbar Residents’ Association she led the residents in their move to purchase their building at 15th & U Sts., NW.
She is Principal/Curator of the Emma Mae Gallery in, DC, founding member of the DC Historic Music Association and founder of the DC Legendary Musicians, Inc., Chair of the Howard Theatre Restoration Community Committee. She promoted, produced and coordinated the acts for the Howard Theatre 100th year Celebration and the opening of the Howard Theatre. She is senior minister of The Ministries, Inc. and is retired from Verizon and The DC Board of Education. Rev. Butler-Truesdale, a DC historian, is dedicated to the wellbeing of DC’s professional musicians and the documentation of Washington, DC and its music history. Currently she serves as a programmer on at radio station WPFW and the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage
On April 12, 2009 she was awarded The Business Woman of the Year Award by the Century Club of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Club, Inc.