Peter W. Dangerfield, Jr., Ph.D.
NEW ORLEANS (9/30/08) - Peter W. Dangerfield,
long-time director of Total Community Action (TCA), one of the city's premier social service agencies, passed away at his home on Monday night, September 29, 2008. He was 65 years old.
Dangerfield, TCA's director since 1979, was diagnosed with acute leukemia in October, 2006. On leave of absence since his diagnosis, Dangerfield fought his illness, dividing his time between
Ocshner Medical Center, in New Orleans and M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston Texas. Highly respected and recognized as one of the City's top administrators, Peter Dangerfield spent his life
fighting the impacts of poverty and working to empower people.
Dangerfield was born at Charity Hospital in New Orleans, but would spend his formative years in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he worked shining shoes in his father's barbershop. His summers were spent with his mother in Woodville Mississippi on the farm that had been in the family for generations.
Peter's academic career started at Grambling State University in 1961. He would go on to receive a Bachelors Degree in Political Science from Southern University in Baton Rouge, a Master's Degree in Political Science from the University of Southern California, a Masters Degree in Quality Management from Loyola University, a Masters Degree in Liberal Arts from Tulane University and a Doctorate in Public Administration from the University of Southern California, with a concentration in Citizen's Participation in public policy making. He was a fellow of the John F. Kennedy School of Public Policy at Harvard University, studied organization research at MIT, survey research at the University of Michigan, and was an instructor of Public Administration at Southern University for more than ten years.
Dangerfield was a member of the Masons, and an avid civil rights activist. He served as Research Assistant to the Legislative Black Caucus, Urban Policy Specialist for the City of New Orleans, and he was instrumental in advising many elected officials on policy issues, including former Councilman Jim Singleton. He was a key policy advisor to Dorothy Mae Taylor, the city's first African American woman to serve on the New Orleans City Council, in the development of the Open Access Policy for the inclusion of minorities and women in government spending.
Dangerfield took over as Executive Director of TCA in 1979. His erudition was exceeded only by his determination in the fight against poverty. An advocate for the poor and underserved in New Orleans, programs under his direction included the Earned Income Tax Credit program, which provides income tax assistance to thousands of low-income families annual; the Individual Development Account program that matches the savings of low-income workers to support asset building; and the Telephone Tape Library which provides information to thousands of citizens on issues ranging from child support to HIV/AIDS. Dr. Dangerfield developed TCA's Eight- Point Poverty Reduction Plan, and produced the landmark video of the same name in 2006. The comprehensive plan is a guide for policy makers to help eliminate poverty in America.
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Dangerfield turned the agency's attention to repopulation and rebuilding, opening the City's first child development centers and producing informational videos on hurricane protection, rebuilding, and the availability of services for all displaced citizens. In 2006, Dr. Dangerfield co- authored the book, Voice of the Poor: Citizens Participation for Rebuilding New Orleans.
Dr. Dangerfield was married to the former Judith Williams. He was the father of four children, stepfather to two. He had seven grandchildren and one great- grandchild.
Funeral services for Dr. Peter W. Dangerfield, Jr. will be held Saturday, October 4, 2008 at 10AM at First Emanuel Baptist Church, 1829 Carondelet Street. Visitation will from 8AM- 10AM. Duplain W. Rhodes Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.