Carol is a very special member of the African Road community. Her accomplished background in the Oregon nonprofit community has made her an incredible asset to African Road as Board Treasurer.
Her professional background includes 35 years as CFO, CEO and COO of various non-profit organizations, governmental agencies and businesses, including roles as executive vice president for Travel Portland and The Urban League of Portland. Now retired, Carol spends time oil painting, traveling, and looking after her grandson while enjoying the view from her beachfront home in Lincoln City, Oregon.
Carol with Kelly Bean and learning trip participants at a Batwa marriage ceremony
Carol originally became connected with African Road in 2013 out of friendship with Kelly Bean. She says, “I love African Road because the work it does is about listening to African community leaders about what they believe will be the best strategies for improving the entire community’s wellbeing. Then connecting those local leaders with other local experts and resources to make it happen. As an African Road board member, I am gratified to be a partner in securing the resources to be matched with bringing these strategies to fruition and watching our friends make their lives and there communities better.”
Batwa community members making traditional pots celebrating with Carol and other learning trip members
In 2014, Carol traveled to Rwanda and Burundi with African Road. Carol says that her experience on the Learning Trip is one of the formative experiences of her life. “The Learning Trip was a deeply meaningful opportunity that allowed me to become a part of the global community,” she says.
When asked about her most memorable experience with African Road, Carol recalls her time with the All Souls Women’s Cooperative in Rwanda as they shared their personal experiences during Rwanda’s 1994 genocide. “We were sitting in a circle and listening to their stories of survival and re-building their lives,” she says. “Hearing how they watched their friends and families be slaughtered and how they were able to survive the genocide. I was shaken by their stories and could not hold back the tears. One of the women reached out and took my hand and asked what was wrong. I told her I felt so overcome with emotion and didn’t know how I could possibly help. She looked deeply in my eyes and said, ‘You are here. You are listening to our stories and you are seeing how we are working together to make our lives better. We now have a new friend in America. Share our story’. I have never known such courage and could never have believed so much love and forgiveness could flourish after so much devastation. That and many more experiences on my trip changed my life forever.”
Carol presents a gift of appreciation to Western Psychological and Counseling Services for Gala Sponsorship
So why does this amazing lady choose to dedicate her time and energy to African Road? Carol says, “African Road isn’t about doing for others, it is about helping others to do for themselves and their larger communities. And it’s working. I’ve seen it over and over again with our African friends and partners.”
Thank you Carol for all that you give to African Road! You are a valued member of the team.