News & Blog

Parker Suddeth Belongs at Broadmead

By Kathleen Truelove

Parker Suddeth, Broadmead’s newly hired Director of Culture and Belonging, says: "A true community is not just a place but a purpose—a commitment to see each other fully, respect each voice, and celebrate every perspective.”

There is a Quaker connection for Parker. Residents of the Kendal at Oberlin retirement community in Oberlin, OH, where he grew up, began a fund called Ninde Scholars to help minorities gain access to college, and Parker became a beneficiary, graduating from Hiram College with a degree in sociology.

After graduation, he first worked for the Ninde program, then went on to a number of jobs related to multiculturalism. He worked at the College of Wooster in Ohio, then at St. Bonaventure University in southwestern New York State. He also consulted with the Chautauqua Institution, organizing listening sessions and focus groups. Returning to Ohio, he did DEI work for Safelite (those “windshield people”) and then worked for a public relations firm in Cleveland. He found the Broadmead job posting online.

At Broadmead, Parker will be kept busy working with team members, residents, and clients of the marketing department. Eventually, he will do outreach marketing in the wider community to introduce Broadmead to older adults who are not already engaged with Broadmead. To this end, he has already joined the Baltimore Urban League Young Professionals group. After all, young professionals have older relatives.

Within the Broadmead community, he will work to promote a “culture of belonging,” working with various groups such as the Multicultural Committee and the Jewish Heritage Committee.

Born to older parents, Parker is the baby of his family and spent much time as a child around older adults. He says he is comfortable with the more formal style of older people. Music and fashion are Parker’s hobbies. As a seven-year-old, he told his mother he wanted a mink coat, which he didn’t get. But he did get a mink scarf, which he still has. His musical taste runs to Ray Charles (his first album) and blues, especially BB King, but his favorite singer is Aretha Franklin. Parker now lives in Mount Washington, an easy drive from Broadmead. He says he’s happy to be here.