Contact: Nicholle Granger
ngranger@voaches.org
JULY 24, 2025
Volunteers of America Chesapeake & Carolinas (VOACC) is proud to announce The Honorable J. Walter Tejada as the new Chair of its Board of Directors. A dedicated public servant and trailblazer in local government, Tejada brings decades of leadership, policy expertise, and deep-rooted commitment to advancing equity, affordable housing, and human services across the region.
Tejada has served on VOACC’s Board since 2019. During his tenure, he has held key leadership roles including Co-Vice Chair, Chair of the Governance Committee, and Board Representative to the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force. He also serves as Vice Chair of the Mid Atlantic Neighborhood Development Corporation (MANDC), VOACC’s affordable housing arm, and played a pivotal role in shaping VOACC’s Vision 2030 Strategic Plan as part of the Strategic Planning Committee.
Tejada made history as one of the first Latinos elected to public office in Virginia, serving on the Arlington County Board from 2003 to 2015. He was elected Chairman twice and Vice Chairman three times, and was a champion for affordable housing, human services, immigrant rights, and community development. During his service, he led initiatives that established the Office of the Public Defender for Arlington & the City of Falls Church, the Arlington Non-Profit Assistance Center, and the Community Volunteer Network for young adults. His advocacy around Smart Growth, transit connectivity, and walkability has shaped more equitable and livable communities throughout the region.
In addition to his public service in Arlington, Tejada was appointed by the Governor of Virginia to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Board of Directors, where he co-chaired both the Dulles Corridor Committee and the Sustainability Committee. He also contributed to the Ethics Review, Human Resources, and Risk Management Committees. Nationally, Tejada held leadership roles in the National Association of Counties, including as Chairman of NACo’s Immigration Task Force, and served in leadership positions with the Virginia Association of Counties and the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.
“I was first inspired by VOACC’s bold move to create the Mid Atlantic Neighborhood Development Corporation to address the urgent need for affordable housing in our region,” said Mr. Tejada. “But what truly moved me was a moment I’ll never forget—visiting a Day Worker site in Oakland back in 2004, run by Volunteers of America. I witnessed firsthand how VOA dignified and cared for vulnerable immigrant populations. That memory stuck with me. It’s what ‘Called to Care’ means to me—being moved by compassion and acting through service.”
– J. Walter Tejada, Chair of the Board of Directors
As Chair, Tejada looks forward to supporting VOACC’s President & CEO, senior staff, and fellow board members in advancing Vision 2030, with special focus on branding, advocacy, and organizational inclusion.
Please join us in celebrating and welcoming The Honorable J. Walter Tejada as Chair of VOACC’s Board of Directors!
About Volunteers of America Chesapeake & Carolinas
Volunteers of America Chesapeake & Carolinas (“VOACC”) is a faith-based, nonprofit organization whose mission is to inspire self-reliance, dignity, and hope through housing, health and human services.
At VOACC, we have been helping to create Healthy Communities for All for over 129 years by aligning housing, health and human services. We actively pursue health equity by filling the gap in housing and care for underserved populations, including those who are experiencing homelessness, low-income, underinsured or uninsured, justice-involved and veterans. By offering integrated housing and care, we address the social determinants that impact the long-term stability for those in need.
Through a dedicated team of management, staff and volunteers who are guided by our Core Values – Visionary, One Body, Integrity, Compassion, Excellence, and Faith – we are the safety net for thousands of men, women and children each year across Maryland, the District of Columbia, Virginia and the Carolinas. We operate over 49 programs focused on 8 areas of service: homeless services, affordable housing, mental health, substance use recovery, intellectual/developmental disabilities services, community re-entry, veteran services and workforce development.
VOACC has over 800 staff members and more than 2,000 volunteers. The organization helps over 9,675 individuals and families every year from Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia and the Carolinas. For more information on VOACC, please visit www.voachesapeake.org.