Kristi Merriweather is a profoundly deaf Georgian currently working as an educator of the deaf at Clarkston High School near Atlanta. Kristi specializes in learning strategies, literacy/language arts, and history. She also serves as an independent Deaf Education consultant and as an ASL instructor at Georgia State University. A graduate of Spelman College, Howard University, and Georgia State University where she earned degrees in psychology and deaf education, Ms. Merriweather is a veteran Deaf community advocate, having served in various capacities with organizations/boards such as the Maryland Commission Board of the Deaf, National Black Deaf Advocates, the Maryland Association of the Deaf, as well as being a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Ms. Merriweather is a poet with few of her works published in books such as American Deaf Poetry Anthology and Introduction to American Deaf Culture (by T. Holcomb). She enjoys holistic health practices, traveling, dancing, reading, puttering on house projects, interior decorating, recording family history, watching sci-fi and documentaries, creating and appreciating art, and occasionally throwing thematic parties.
David Reekers, a native of St. Louis, Missouri, has lived in Washington, D.C. since 2003. For 11 years he has been fortunate to work at Gallaudet University in various roles and currently as a Major Gifts Officer in the Development Office. David recently married an amazing woman, Shanna Winesburg, whom he met at Gallaudet. They are proud owners of two Vizslas who live up to their reputation daily as velcro and lap dogs. David’s passion involves advancing the lives of all Deaf people in many different ways, including connecting us with every animal out there who needs us. David is thrilled to be given the opportunity to contribute to F3.
Del Wynne is an Atlanta native and veteran teacher of 30 years. In the summers during college, she returned home to do science lab work at the Center for Disease Control. Because of her Georgian roots, Five Freedoms Farm is extra special to Del. Her deep fondness of animals also adds to her excitement about F3’s formation.
Del holds a B.S. degree in Biology from Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY and a masters degree in Education from University of Rochester. While teaching at the Model Secondary School for the Deaf and Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., Del was able to deepen her knowledge of biology with attainment of a second masters degree from the University of Maryland. She led the Science Department at MSSD for the last ten years prior to her retirement in 2014.
Del stays busy at present with contracting work at MSSD, entertaining family and friends at her waterfront home at Lake Anna in Spotsylvania, VA, and taking care of her two rescued dogs. She also enjoys various activities during her travels in the US and in other countries. One eye-opening trip for her was a safari adventure in East Africa, seeing all kinds of animal in action. Del also takes pride in her recent Master Scuba Diver certification and plans to continue exploring sea life.
David D. Turner was raised in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in northeastern Georgia. He has lived in Georgia his whole life with a couple of exceptions, one being in California for a while. David has traveled nationally and internationally with his work and continues to do so. He has been a professional interpreter for 29 years and has been actively involved in the Deaf Community for over 30 years. He has a B.A. degree from Georgia State University in Spanish, with a minor in international business. He holds a CI, CT, and NIC Master certification from the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf. Having grown up on a farm in rural Georgia, David has a great love for all animals and all of Mother Nature. David comes from a large family, but is especially proud of the family that he has chosen. It is diverse and far reaching.