Demetrius Parker

Accents include: news broadcast neutral; Southern Anglo American twang; Southern African-American rural (elderly or young); Hip African American cool. Characterizations include: scary, evil villian for horror films, Holloween and undesirable perdicaments, experiences and situations; rich, snobbish elitist for upscale satirical commercials; hard-driving athletic coach and military sergeant; sexy lover; the comforting father, husband, doctor, sprirtual and religious advisor; a yoga and meditation teacher; a confidence builder and influencer for political messages, elite services and products; and for medical, lifestyle, health and wellness messages.

I began after college providing voice overs for radio PSA's and commercials. The v/o's included ads for the Metropolitan Charlotte, NC Arts and Science Council; the African American Cultural Center; Johnson C. Smith University's public affairs presentation and telephone messages. I went to New York City in 1981 and began v/o work for the Museum of Modern Arts' Chiildrens Art Carnival school. I also served as on-camera and v/o talent for the Siddha Yoga Dham Ashram in upstate NY. I was video talent for a meditation classe; the answering service; and also led live meditation courses. Currently at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, I provide radio, TV and recorded talent for a variety of projects for youth audiences focusing on nutrition, physical activity and safe sex; adult audiences with a focus on physical activity to help alleviate arthritis; HIV/AIDS and STD prevention; Red Blood Cell Morphology;the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief and the Ugandan Ministry of Health; H1N1 Pandemic Influenza Preparedness; and Tuberculosis Prevention in Africa. Demetrius' voice command was profoundly enhanced by his classical training in yoga and meditation in India. He has been a certificed meditation teacher since 1992 and a student of yoga and meditation since 1980. His degree is in political science with a concentraion in public affairs, government communication and English. I also have training as an actor, public speaker and creative writer. I studied at Carnige Hall with V/O master Ralph Bell. I also studied with the late, great Adolph Caesar, theater and screen actor and v/o master. My profession is strategic and integrated communication where I manage entertainment industry clients; coach senior executives on how to master interviews especially with hostile media; and how to present to live audiences. I write speeches, PSA's and edit all types of content.I am a Certified ToastMaster and still act. He is a trained public relations professional...member of the Public Relations Society of America; and a business and government relations professional...member of the Public Affaris Counsel. Demetrius leads the Entertainment Education Program, part of the Office of the Associate Director for Communication, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This program is a cooperative agreement with Hollywood Health & Society, an entertainment education initiative at the University of Southern California that provides the entertainment industry with timely, accurate health information for story lines including the major motion pictures I AM Legend with Will Smith and Contagioni with Matt Damon. Demetrius is instrumental in helping CDC engage communication offices in states, tribal nations, and territories through a cooperative agreement with the National Public Health Information Coalition. He also helps guide CDC’s research and application of cultural communication strategies to health and social marketing efforts. Demetrius has been involved in the arts and entertainment field since hsi college days at Johnson C. Smith University where he attended on a full football scholarship. He is a gifted athlete in football and basketball and now passionately enjoys golfing. He continued his pursuit of the arts after college. In 1979 beginning as a founding member of the Performing Arts Guild Ensemble, a professioal touring group in Charlotte, NC where he wrote and performed original poetry. Later as a college teacher, he began his own group that included select students, teachers and citizens. Dubbed, the POETS, (People Offering Energy Truth and Spirit), they performed at the Spoleto Arts Festival in Charleston, SC. He starred in the play, The Sty of the Blind Pig, performed at Charlotte's Ovens Auditorium and recieved favorable reviews for the Charlotte Observer. Demetrius believes passionately in service to humanity and focuses all his efforts on the upliftment of humanity wherever help is needed. A legacy project for which he wrote a successful funding proposal in 1980 was for the summer program, The Charlotte Theater Camp. The camp engaged youth ages 8-18 in creative writing, theater production, acting, dance, music and speech. Demetrius has more than 25 years experience in strategic and integrated communication management. He has worked with communication agencies, elected officials, corporations, nongovernmental organizations, and public health agencies nationally and worldwide. Hi career includes joining CDC in 2006, and leading communication activities and developing the CDC's first Cultural Communication function. Also: National Account Executive, Entertainment Public Relations and Corporate Social Responsibility. TriAd Consultants, New York, NY, dircting communication strategies for clients Warner Brothers Pictures, Sony Pictures and others. Account Director. Fleishman-Hillard International Communications, Atlanta, GA Deputy Director, Marketing and Communication. Office of the Mayor, Atlanta, GA Manager, International Public Affairs & Business-Government Relations; Corporate Community Involvement and Philanthropy; Corporate Issues Management. The Public Affairs Council, Washington, DC. Director, Public Relations, Media Relations and Social Marketing. Georgia Public Health Department. Atlanta, GA. Director, Government Communication and Public Affairs, VISTA Technologies, Inc. Washington, DC