Get to Know Our Organization
- Our Mission
- Our Core Philosophy
- Our Promise
- Empowering Local Leaders Who Strengthen Communities
- Culturally Viable and Sustainable Solutions
- Cross Cultural Exchange
- Green Policy
Village Volunteers (VV) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that works in partnership with rural village and capacity-building programs to support the development of sustainable solutions for community survival, education, and growth.
The Village Volunteers community:
- believes in the immense potential of all people;.
- has respect for the diverse perspectives, creativity and talents of all individuals;
- is committed to the principles of market-based, local economics, and entrepreneurship;
- believes in the power of partnership and collaboration to work towards social justice and gender equality;
- is committed to facilitating educational opportunities to all who reach for their potential, and medical care for all who need help;
- is dedicated to environmental conservation and biodiversity.
Village Volunteers will work to leave a legacy that supports self sufficiency and has a profound impact on the health and welfare of children in the communities we serve.
Founded in the belief that partnership and advocacy is a key factor in the renewal and healing of areas plagued by poverty, hunger and disease, we partner with communities to reach their full potential through collaborative sustainable approaches to agriculture, health care and public health awareness, environmental conservation, access to clean water, sanitation, education, food sovereignty and security, and economic stability.
Culturally Viable and Sustainable Solutions
Rather than hindering growth by creating a dependency on outside management, the Village Volunteers’ model is based on empowerment: all village projects are initiated, executed, and managed by locals. Village Volunteers supports local community efforts by providing grant writing assistance, developing income generating projects, and mobilizing the resources of volunteers worldwide.
Empowering Local Leaders Who Strengthen Communities
Committed to honoring community autonomy, Village Volunteers works in collaboration with community based organizations to implement sustainable solutions to community challenges.
Village Volunteers acknowledges that community members know how to solve their communities’ problems, but do not have access to the necessary resources and support. To that end, Village Volunteers brings together worldwide collaboration in support of inspired community leaders in Africa and Asia who empower local people, rely on indigenous resources, and build upon their existing cultural and economic context.
The opportunity for volunteers to live and work side-by-side with people in other parts of the world and to exchange knowledge, information, skills, and stories, gives everyone involved the opportunity to develop a meaningful common bond with our global community. The mandatory hospitality fees from Village Volunteers’ cadre of volunteers is sent ahead of arrival and will directly and indirectly support sustainable development programs in a host village.
We recognize that each and every one of us, individuals as well as organizations and businesses, must make a commitment to preserve and protect our environment.
Dedicated to preserving resources, we are committed to lessening our environmental footprint and strive to be a “carbon neutral” organization. Below are some of our key practices.
- Village Volunteers and partners promote appropriate technologies, renewable resources, conservation and innovation to enhance economic stability, community and environmental well being.
- We strive to be paperless in all ways possible, and rely heavily on technology to do so. All volunteer orientation materials are accessed online from our website, and we do not mail brochures or fundraising materials.
- To offset the carbon produced by the air travel for each volunteer, 10 moringa trees are planted in the tropical regions that we serve.
- We continuously apply sustainability principles to the way we operate our organization. We are committed to being proactive in our environmental stewardship and continually work on improving our sustainable practices.
From The Founder and Executive Director
Village Volunteers Founder and Executive Director, Shana Greene
In an increasingly interconnected world, what happens around the globe affects us all. The challenge of growing poverty, hunger and disease worldwide can be addressed if we individually recognize our role as a global citizen, become aware of the issues and take steps to create a more just world for all.
Village Volunteers promotes self sufficiency by partnering with programs to enhance economic and educational opportunities, food security, and health conditions, with respect for the environment and culture. Village Volunteers is dedicated to assisting communities in their quest to achieve a healthy, self sustained life.
This vision of hope is possible with the help of people like you.
Sincerely,
Shana Greene
Founder & Executive Director
Shana Greene incorporated Village Volunteers on October 17, 2003, the same day the UN declared as the International Day of Eradicating Poverty.
Working first in Kenya, the goal was to address poverty at multiple levels, recognizing the impact that interrelated issues play in its continuation. Kenya, a country particularly vulnerable to poverty due to the high rates of HIV/AIDS infections, has more than one million orphaned children as a result.
Village Volunteers has had to and still relies on the efforts of dedicated volunteers who have provided thousands of hours of expertise and valuable skills in our Seattle office and around the world.
Today, Village Volunteers’ work impacts the lives of thousands daily, works with partner organizations in Asia and Africa, and continues to grow as a self sustaining organization with a reputation for tangible and meaningful results.
Meet the Board of Directors
Village Volunteers’ Board of Directors consists of ten Directors with a strong, balanced blend of skills and experience.
CHRIS MORELAND – BOARD PRESIDENT
Chris Moreland is currently CEO and Co-Founder at Donald-Moreland Inc.; Co-founder and Board member at “Ready 4 School;” an independent Strategic Consultant at Microsoft Inc.; and Board President at Village Volunteers. A skilled business executive with experience at Fortune 500 icons leading successful teams in sales, sales operations, marketing, and business development.
Chris was a Captain in the United States Air Force, holds a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from the United States Air Force Academy, and an MBA from Central Michigan University.
ROBERT HOWE – BOARD TREASURER
Robert Howe is the CFO of Howe Real Estate, LLC, a real estate investor and manager since 2006, and Board Treasurer at Village Volunteers. Robert has over 30 years of asset executive management experience in real estate finance, sales and accounting.
Graduating Magna Cum Laude, Robert earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics from UCLA.
KIMBERLY TIPPENS, ND, MSAOM, MPHc
Dr. Tippens is currently a Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (F32) fellow receiving training in health disparities and health services research, while completing a Master of Public Health degree program through OHSU.
Dr Tippens received her Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine and a master’s degree in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Bastyr University in Seattle, Washington, and completed a family practice residency at the National College of Natural Medicine with an emphasis on community health. Dr.Tippens was awarded a National Institutes of Health-funded post-doctoral fellowship, received an Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) Certificate in Human Investigations, and participated in research evaluating expectancy in the treatment of metabolic syndrome and obesity.
CAROL RADLO, MD
Carol Radlo is a family practice physician who has practiced in Kirkland for the past 15 years. She received her medical degree from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and completed her family practice residency at Swedish Hospital in 1984. After practicing in Wenatchee for almost 7 years, both at Wenatchee Valley Clinic and North Central Washington Migrant Health Center she moved back to the Seattle area to practice.
In the spring of 2006, Carol travelled to Muhuru Bay with her 17 year old daughter and spent two weeks as a Village Volunteer working at Mama Maria Kenya Clinic. Her professional interests include women’s and children’s health, disease prevention, and health education and communication.
TRACY BRIGHAM
Tracy Brigham has a Masters of Science Degree and teaches classes in Health, Nutrition, Global issues and college studies at Highline Community College. For the majority of the 2000-2001 school years, she was on professional leave traveling on the African continent researching the AIDS epidemic, female health issues and malnutrition.
During the summer of 2005, Tracy traveled with a Fulbright team to southern Africa where her emphasis was on the effect of different modalities of AIDS education and the de-stigmatization of HIV positive people. During the fall of 2005, she went on a second professional leave to the Indian subcontinent to study the HIV/AIDS epidemic, female rights issues, family planning, refugee issues (Tibet) and tsunami reconstruction (Sri Lanka.)
JOHN AGYAPONG
John Agyapong is a Procurement Manager with the Boeing Company, at the Everett, Washington site. John is responsible for developing innovative support solutions for the Commercial aerospace division, as well as business execution using a functional leadership model.
Prior to his employment at Boeing, he worked at Microsoft and AT &T . He is a native of Ghana, West Africa, and immigrated to the United States at the age of 16. John mentors young people at Mariner high school in Everett, where he volunteers in a class primarily geared to encouraging women and minorities to obtain careers in the sciences and engineering. He obtained his BS in Finance from Central Washington University in 1996, and his MS in Finance in 1998.
SAM CHEN
Sam Chen is an IT Consultant with IBM Global Services. Sam has extensive experience helping clients capture business benefits through the use of technology. He manages teams of architects, developers, analysts, and testers to implement client specific solutions. His responsibilities also include business development and sales support.
Sam has a MBA from the University of California at Berkeley, and a BA in Business Administration from the University of Washington.
CASEY O’CONNOR
Casey O’Connor first volunteered with Village Volunteers in 2004 and, in May 2006, traveled to Kenya to experience, firsthand, the impact VV is having. While there she conducted a clean water awareness assessment to gather information for the completed ceramic water filter project. In addition to her studies, Casey has worked for a variety of non-profit organizations both domestically and abroad including Grants Administration at the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation in San Francisco.
Casey has a BA from the University of Washington in International Studies and is currently pursuing her JD at NYU Law where her studies focus on legal empowerment.
JANA PARAGAN
Jana Paragan is the Corporate Support Account Manager for KUOW NPR. She has had over16 years of extensive experience in development as an Account Executive for the Seattle Times/ Seattle Post Intelligence, Seattle Magazine and Northwest Home and Garden, Seattle Metropolitan Magazine, and the Seattle Weekly.
Jana is also a world traveler, having been everywhere from San Miguel de Allende, to Uruguay, Croatia, Turkey, Italy and beyond.
JANA PALLIS
Jana Pallis is a consultant for nonprofits, e-commerce businesses, and health organizations regarding sustainable growth and organizational transformation. She has been an interfaith minister since 2004 working with the elderly, at-risk youth, people with disabilities, the homeless, the hungry, and women from diverse cultures and religious backgrounds to live to their greatest potential.
Jana graduated with a B.A. in International Business with honors from Seattle University, and her Masters in Transformational Leadership from the School of Theology and Ministry at Seattle University.
JEREMY FARKAS
Jeremy Farkas is the Social Enterprise Business Advisor at PATH, an international non-profit providing appropriate health technologies and vital strategies that improving global health and well-being. A strategic leader with 9 years of marketing, project management, and managerial consulting experience, Jeremy’s areas of specialty are market research, direct marketing, search engine marketing, and business.
Jeremy formerly focused on international economic development and poverty alleviation as manager of Global Programs at Unitus. He also managed business strategy and analysis at Expedia Corporate Travel. Jeremy earned his MBA in Marketing and Entrepreneurship from the University of Washington, Michael G. Foster School of Business and a BS in accounting from Lehigh University.
KRISTEN NELSEN
Bio to come.
Meet the Advisory Board
The Advisory Board is an international network of experts who advises the Village Volunteers on strategic decision-making processes. Members offer Village Volunteers meaningful help in areas including health, permaculture, organizational development, technology, policy, and outreach. The Advisory Board’s collective abilities, experience, and knowledge complement both the goals of Village Volunteers’ partnerships and initiatives, as well as the organization as a whole.
PERCY “BUTCH” SHADWELL
Percy “Butch” Shadwell has a successful consulting practice in applied physics and electronics, mostly in new product development including opto-electronics, embedded microprocessors, digital and analog designs, and custom software development where he has also provided management and strategic business planning services to several of his clients. Mr. Shadwell is a lecturer at universities and technical societies around the US and abroad. His expertise ranges from robotics, aerospace, medicine, industrial controls and sensors, automotive and consumer products. As a long term member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics (IEEE), Mr. Shadwell was elected the international chairman of the Humanitarian Technology Challenge – Reliable Electricity Committee at the National Academy of Sciences, an initiative from the United Nations Foundation and IEEE. He is also a member of MENSA.
Beyond his considerable experience with technology, electronics and computer programming, he has expertise in nuclear and optical physics as well as the bio-medical field. Mr. Shadwell installed a solar energy system he designed for one of our partners’ school in Kenya. He will be working on several appropriate technology projects that improve the lives of people around the world including the water hyacinth sanitary pad project.
COLLINS ATEGO
Collins Atego is a graduate architect from the University of Nairobi, Kenya. Currently he is working with Peter Thomas Architects, a leading architectural firm in Nairobi. As an architect, Mr. Atego has worked on many different projects, such as housing, mixed use developments, community projects and in project management. His most recent project is in the design consultation process of building new surgical theatres for Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi. Mr. Atego has worked on several volunteer projects for United Nations Habitat under the Best Practices Program.
RENEE GASTINEAU, MBA
Renee Gastineau, MBA is owner and president of Gastineau Communications Inc., a Seattle-based public relations and communications consulting business that works with social enterprises. Ms. Gastineau has a diverse background in communications and public affairs, including news reporting, media relations, corporate communications and event planning. Ms. Gastineau is the author of business trend and marketing articles for professional journals and educational websites. She earned an MBA from Seattle University, a B.A. in Communication and English from James Madison University; a Certificate in Management from the University of Washington; and recently earned the distinction of Accredited Business Communicator (ABC), from the International Association of Business Communicators.
ZEPHANIAH AJODE
Zephaniah Ajode is a young conservationist in Kenya with great passion for building healthy ecosystems, community development and youth empowerment. He earned his Tourism and Wildlife Management Diploma from Moi University, Kenya. Mr. Ajode has worked for several non-profits and community-based organizations initiating sustainable projects such as organic farming, ecological sanitation, agroforestry; aquaculture, etc. He is an environmental educator, has non-profit management as well as environmental restoration experience. Mr. Ajobe has just completed his Earthcorps Leadership and Restoration training for future Global Environmental Leaders course in the US, and was asked to be an Ecology Educator at the University of Arizona, Cooper Center for Environmental Learning. He was one of twelve to be chosen for the Earthwatch Europe Fellowship program in 2010.
BRIAN P. MAGNUM, PhD
Brian P. Mangum, PhD received his MS in Medical Anthropology from Idaho State University and became an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Anthropology, where he focused his teaching and research on international healthcare and sustainable development. During this time, Brian developed a post-baccalaureate certificate program in medical anthropology that includes a significant international healthcare experience in the Caribbean Basin. Brian currently resides there as the core international faculty while conducting fieldwork for his joint MPH/PhD in Public Health Epidemiology. He brings a varied background in medical anthropology, public health, and medicine, ethnography consultant to preserve and record cultures.
KATE KILLERLAIN MORRISON
Kate Killerlain Morrison is the Marine Program Director for the Massachusetts Chapter of The Nature Conservancy currently. In the past, she was an Ocean Policy Analyst at the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management as a lead staff for the Massachusetts Ocean Management Initiative, working on implementation of the 2004 Ocean Management Task Force Recommendations, including assisting with proposed legislation. During that time, Kate has managed consultants working on ocean management projects, chairs the Massachusetts Interagency Ocean Planning Work Group, and represents MCZM on the Stellwagen National Marine Sanctuary Zoning Working Group and the Gulf of Maine Council Working Group. Kate was also Program Chair for The Coastal Society’s 20th International Conference in May 2006. Kate has a Master’s degree in Marine Affairs from the University of Washington where she studied international fisheries trade in West Africa, and has worked as a staffer in the Washington State Legislature prior to joining MCZM.
JENNIFER NYIRANEZA MPYISI
Jennifer Nyiraneza Mpyisi is a member of the Architectural Association since 1982 receiving the Royal Institute of British Architects I and II post Graduate research in appropriate design and technology followed by the Post Graduate Course at Harvard University Graduate School of Design and Tufts University This specialization was focused on creating Design Solutions for Health Care, Education and Institutional Design, with an emphasis on a holistic design approach, including landscaping. Her strengths in planning and evaluation, public relations and strategic management for non-for-profit projects have enabled her to integrate her training with her interest in working with community development.
ELIZABETH NYAWIRA MWANGI
Elizabeth Nyawira Mwangi has built a distinguished and successful career in Kenya in social development, specifically as a technical advisor in project planning, project management, and capacity building. Currently she has her Masters in International and Community Development from Deakin University, Australia. Over the past eight years, she has enhanced the capacities of organizations to effectively deliver poverty eradication strategies, lobby and advocate on human rights issues that affect local communities. Ms. Mwangi’s greatest strengths lie in project design, planning, monitoring, and evaluation of projects. In addition, she is skilled in data collection using Participatory Rural Appraisal/Rapid Rural Appraisal and analysis of data using software packages like SPSS and Epi-Info. Ms. Mwangi works with Catholic Relief Services/Kenya in the programming division and is a part-time consultant and a trainer of trainers.
RISHO EDWARD SAPANO
Risho Edward Sapano, a native of Sudan, Ms. Sapano has worked, both in her homeland as well as in the United States, in the area of disaster relief and community development. Ms. Sapano has worked as Program Field Officer for the Canadian Save the Children Fund in Sudan where she managed relief projects intended for internally displaced persons. These projects included supplementary feeding centers, primary healthcare clinics, education, income-generation activities, and water sanitation services. She also worked for the Sudanese National Committee for Eradication of Harmful Traditional Practices affecting women and girls. For ten years, she held leadership positions with the Sudanese Red Crescent Society and the Sudanese Girl Guides Association. She represented both organizations within Sudan and abroad in Austria, Egypt and Libya. Following her move to the United States, Ms. Sapano attended Clark University in Massachusetts, where she earned her master’s degree in International Development and Social Change. After graduation, she joined Oxfam America in Boston as the Program Assistant for Africa, providing programs and administrative support for the organization’s regional programs in Southern and West Africa. Ms. Sapano is also a member of the American Red Cross.
JONATHAN M. SCHERCH, PhD
Jonathan M. Scherch, PhD is a Core Faculty member of the Graduate Programs in Environment and Community at Antioch University, Seattle, WA. A certified permaculture designer and teacher, his background includes more than 25 years of sustainable community organizing and development initiatives, place-based appropriate technology design and applications, and teaching across five universities. Dr. Scherch is also a Returned United States Peace Corps Volunteer (Jamaica, 1991-93, Community Development Sector), and he teaches and consults on ecological design strategies emphasizing low impact solutions and local resource use.
RANDY RICE
Randy Rice completed his undergraduate work in Biology at the University of California, and graduate studies in Biological Oceanography at the University of Alaska where he had journal articles and his honors thesis published. He worked extensively with Alaska fish and shellfish species, and also conducted research in Antarctica. Before coming to the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute as their Technical Program Director, Randy worked with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, and the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation developing expertise in water quality and contaminants. He also worked privately as an Environmental Consultant and fished commercially in Alaska for 19 years, He is fully conversant with fisheries management methods, statistics, approaches, and issues and has considerable experience in working with natural resource regulatory agencies.
IN MEMORY: RICHARD MICHAEL TUCKER, MD (1956 – 2007)
Richard Michael Tucker was a medical doctor specializing in infectious disease at the Wenatchee Valley Clinic where he was a Clinical Associate Professor for the School of Medicine at the University of Washington. Dr. Tucker was also a medical staff member at Central Washington Hospital. He received a Masters of Business Administration through the American College of Physician Executives at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Dr. Tucker was a member of the North Central Washington Rural Health Foundation, and in 2000 served as chairman of both the Continuing Medical Education Committee and the Board of Directors. In addition, Dr. Tucker worked on the development of a healthcare delivery system for HIV/AIDS in the rural clinics that work with Village Volunteers. As published in the Seattle Times from June 2 to June 3, 2007:
“Richard was a pillar to his community where he was the medical director for quality and education at the Wenatchee Valley Medical Center and an infectious disease specialist. He was also vice-chairman of the medical center’s board of directors. He started the medical center’s research department in the 1990s and for many years worked with people suffering from infectious diseases, and the underserved and underprivileged. He was committed to his patients, his community, his family and his friends. In addition to his many local commitments, he was working with an African relief organization to develop a vaccine program and health care delivery system for villages in Africa ravaged by AIDS and HIV.”