David Searby

Background

About David Searby

Served from 1988 to 2016 as a U.S. Foreign Service public affairs and economic officer, focusing mostly on Latin America. Much of my work focused on sustainable development, including at-risk youth empowerment, support for non-profits and civil society, United Nations development programs, and public-private partnerships. I had an amazing experience working with Panamanian partners to create Super Chef Panama, a successful reality TV cooking competition to benefit at-risk youth begun in 2012 that continued until 2020. From 2016-2020, I worked on sustainable tourism projects in the Dominican Republic. Lately my focus has been on finding ways to bridge the growing partisan gap so Americans can confront common problems. I joined Metro Bethesda Rotary Club in 2015 and have also been active in the Punta Cana/Bavaro Rotary Club. I am currently the President of Metro Bethesda Rotary and the Rotary Representative to the Inter-American Development Bank. My latest focus has been on the nonprofit project of the Bridge Alliance Faith in Peace Concerts (formerly Light4America), where I've been working with the Concert for the Human Family project of the US Episcopal Church to extend its interfaith reach and connect to secular organizations. Currently working on extending the "Faith in Democracy" model of prayer and music after our third consecutive vigil January 5, 2024.