September 14, 2012
For Immediate Release: Monday, September 14, 2012
Contact: Ranit Schmelzer, 202-538-1065, Press@NCoC.net
Washington, DC – The National Conference on Citizenship (NCoC) today named Ilir Zherka as its new Executive Director.
Zherka, who has served as Executive Director of DC Vote since 2002, will oversee the day-to-day work of this Congressionally chartered non-profit and provide strategic direction for NCoC, whose mission is to encourage a more active and engaged citizenry.
“NCoC sees active civic engagement as a movement – driven in partnership with NGOs, foundations and other thought-leaders – that thrives on the attention of policy leaders and the passion of Americans,” said Michael Weiser, NCoC Chairman. “My fellow directors and I believe Ilir Zherka’s strong ties to national leaders, and proven ability to build and lead coalitions, will be a strong asset to NCoC and the entire civic engagement movement.”
Zherka succeeds David B. Smith, who returns to his native California to take on new leadership assignments in civic engagement. “Ilir will have the opportunity to build on the work of David Smith, who has led NCoC with skill and passion,” said Weiser. Smith has served as NCoC’s Executive Director since 2008.
“I am honored to lead this historic and important institution, whose values and mission are so closely aligned with the American experience,” Zherka said. “As a naturalized American, I firmly believe that our communities and our institutions are stronger when people are actively involved in the civic life of our country. NCoC will redouble our efforts with our partners to meet the urgent need for constructive engagement in America.”
Zherka and his family, who are ethnic Albanians, fled the former Yugoslavia in the late 1960s.
Zherka, 46, joined DC Vote as Executive Director in 2002 and has led the organization’s national efforts to raise public awareness about Washington, DC’s lack of voting representation in Congress. Under his leadership, DC Vote has quadrupled in size, brought together a strong coalition of local and national organizations, and tangibly advanced the DC voting rights debate. Before joining DC Vote, he was Co-founder and the first Executive Director of the National Albanian American Council (NAAC). He has also worked at the US Department of Labor and as Legislative Counsel to Congressman George Miller.
Zherka’s announcement takes place at the ~1@BODYURL[id=114kcurl785]@ held in Philadelphia on Friday. The conference explores a new ~1@BODYURL[id=114kcurl786]@ which concludes that a strong civic foundation is directly linked to strengthening employment at the metropolitan, county, and state levels. According to the report, communities with better civic health have weathered the recent recession far better – and experienced considerably smaller increases in unemployment – than other communities that faced similar economic circumstances. More information about the research is available ~1@BODYURL[id=114kcurl787]@
Zherka will assume his duties as Executive Director officially on October 29, 2012.
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About National Conference on Citizenship (NCoC)
At the National Conference on Citizenship (NCoC), we believe every American has the power to make a difference. We are a dynamic, non-partisan nonprofit working at the forefront of our nation’s civic life. We continuously explore what shapes today’s citizenry, define the evolving role of the individual in our democracy and uncover ways to motivate greater participation. Through our events, research, and reports, NCoC expands our nation’s contemporary understanding of what it means to be a citizen. More information is available at www.NCoC.net.