David Baldwin Barnes began his career on Capitol Hill representing Harlem with Congressman Charles B. Rangel (D-NY 13th District), and then moved on to serve Brooklyn with Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY 9th District). He eventually became the Press Secretary for the House Foreign Affairs Committee under the leadership of Chairman Howard L. Berman (D-CA 28thDistrict). During those years, David glided through the corridors of Capitol Hill as though he owned the place. He was always impeccably dressed, which caused him to be named one of the 25 best dressed men on Capitol Hill. He was a mover and shaker on the Hill, where he earned the respect and admiration of his peers and developed relationships with everyone from members of Congress to fellow staffers to reception sommeliers. He founded the Caribbean-American Congressional Staffers Association and built a coveted list that afforded entry into exclusive programs and “invitation only” receptions. He created a network on Capitol Hill that earned him the title, “David Baldwin Barnes, King of the Hill.” David was an outstanding young man who dared to live in the realm of possibility with no holds barred. He aspired to return to the States to prepare himself to eventually become “David Baldwin Barnes, the Senator from California."

 

David Baldwin Barnes had a big heart. His aim was to make a difference in life. He always fought for the “underdog” and was often indignant whenever he encountered injustice and inequality. He blended the roles of philanthropist and entrepreneur in his professional endeavors. He created Gait Consulting to support professionals in creating their personal brands; he believed that image consulting was not frivolous, but an opportunity to teach self-expression and communication beyond words. With his sister, Gabrielle, David created the Diction Media Group through which he hoped to change the face of media by cultivating a new generation of authors, artists, and executives who would tell the untold stories of our diverse world. He and his best friend, Christopher Washington, created SOLVE as an enterprise to answer world challenges such as famine and economic issues, especially in Africa. It was from this vision that he moved to Africa in 2012 to begin his quest to change the world; Ghana was his first step. He lived in Accra for 13 months pursuing his dream of financial independence and impacting the world though sustainable, organic, urban farming and food production methods. However, this pursuit was arrested on the fateful evening of February 18, 2013 by a fatal hit-and-run accident.

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