Barbara Fraust, Chair of the Board of Community Services for Children (CSC), has announced the selection of Atty. Michael A. Walker as CSC’s new President and CEO.

Walker is CSC’s third president since its inception in 1981. He replaces Jane R. Ervin, who is retiring.

“After Jane told us of her intention to retire, the search committee sought a candidate with fresh ideas to take CSC into the future. Michael Walker is passionate about helping children get the best start in life. He feels this from his inner core because he has lived it,” said Fraust.

Walker provided legal counsel on a contractural basis for the second congressional district of Pennsylvania, advising on legislative issues related to the United States House Appropriations Committee. Former Gov Edward Rendell appointed him as a state commissioner on African-American Affairs.

Walker was President of the Urban League of the Pikes Peak Regions, Colorado Springs, Col.; Vice President of the Urban League of Philadelphia, and Director of Operations for Ken Crest Services, a multi-state human services organization.

Walker was raised in Philadelphia and is a former Head Start student. He began his career as a special education teacher. He received a law degree from Ohio Northern University and a bachelor’s from the University of Miami. He and his wife have three children.

During Ervin’s tenure, 2007-2015, CSC’s Head Start program was recognized as one of the Top 10 in the United States. CSC’s Regional Key program expanded from 13 to 18 counties. CSC developed and piloted the state’s first comprehensive STEM training program for early education teachers and launched the state’s first STEM-focused preschool.

CSC provides early childhood-related programs and services, including Head Start-Early Head Start of the Lehigh Valley, Northeast Regional Key, Pre-K Counts, CCIS of Lehigh County, lehighvalleycamps.org, The Newton School, CSC PreK Scholarship Organization and CSC Educational Innovation Organization. CSC serves more than 40,000 children and their families in 18 counties in Northeastern Pennsylvania with a budget of $43 million.