Congo Initiative

Congo Initiative equips the rising generation through transformative education for a flourishing Congo.

Congo Initiative USA

Congo Initiative USA

Bethany Wolcott

May 14, 2024
Bethany started her accounting career at Deloitte Tax in Northern California but after a few years of grueling tax seasons realized that her passion for serving people experiencing poverty did not align with her day job. In an effort to match a love for finance with humanitarian focused work, she uprooted to northeastern Congo to […]

Bethany Wolcott

by Meredith Benson

Bethany started her accounting career at Deloitte Tax in Northern California but after a few years of grueling tax seasons realized that her passion for serving people experiencing poverty did not align with her day job. In an effort to match a love for finance with humanitarian focused work, she uprooted to northeastern Congo to […]

Emma Smith Cain

Mar 21, 2024
Emma Smith Cain joined the board for Congo Initiative – US in January 2024. In her professional life, she currently serves as the Associate Director of International Programs at Mennonite Central Committee. In that role, she gives leadership to the work of MCC in 45 countries globally. Previously, she served with World Vision International and […]

Emma Smith Cain

by Meredith Benson

Emma Smith Cain joined the board for Congo Initiative – US in January 2024. In her professional life, she currently serves as the Associate Director of International Programs at Mennonite Central Committee. In that role, she gives leadership to the work of MCC in 45 countries globally. Previously, she served with World Vision International and […]

Francine Nabintu

Aug 29, 2022
Francine Nabintu is a Bilingual (Fluent: English and French) Gender Technical Advisor with significant academic and work experience focusing on Program Management and Global Health. Originally from Congo, Francine started her career in peacebuilding (with a focus on gender) in the Great Lakes region in East Africa, and since coming to the US she has […]

Francine Nabintu

by Emily Rhodes

Francine Nabintu is a Bilingual (Fluent: English and French) Gender Technical Advisor with significant academic and work experience focusing on Program Management and Global Health. Originally from Congo, Francine started her career in peacebuilding (with a focus on gender) in the Great Lakes region in East Africa, and since coming to the US she has […]

Ann Mastergeorge, PhD

Aug 29, 2022
Dr. Mastergeorge is a developmental psychologist and holds an endowed professorship at Texas Tech University in the department of Human Development and Family Studies. She directs the Institute for Developmental Science and is the senior director for engaged scholarship initiatives in the Office of the Dean in the College of Human Sciences. Her research focuses […]

Ann Mastergeorge, PhD

by Emily Rhodes

Dr. Mastergeorge is a developmental psychologist and holds an endowed professorship at Texas Tech University in the department of Human Development and Family Studies. She directs the Institute for Developmental Science and is the senior director for engaged scholarship initiatives in the Office of the Dean in the College of Human Sciences. Her research focuses […]

David Eagle, PhD

Aug 29, 2022
David Eagle is a faculty member at Duke University in the Global Health Institute and the Department of Sociology. He also serves as research Director for the Clergy Health Initiative at Duke Divinity School. His passion for shaping and forming healthy and effective leaders for the church builds from his six years serving as a […]

David Eagle, PhD

by Emily Rhodes

David Eagle is a faculty member at Duke University in the Global Health Institute and the Department of Sociology. He also serves as research Director for the Clergy Health Initiative at Duke Divinity School. His passion for shaping and forming healthy and effective leaders for the church builds from his six years serving as a […]

Susan Heller Evenson

Aug 12, 2022
Susan Heller Evenson was first introduced to DR Congo through the world of specialty coffee. As a green coffee trader at Seattle-based Atlas Coffee Importers, she frequently travels to the African Great Lakes region to strengthen relationships with Atlas’ coffee-producing partners. She’s actively involved in strengthening the coffee value chain in DRC and has also […]

Susan Heller Evenson

by Justin Hubbard

Susan Heller Evenson was first introduced to DR Congo through the world of specialty coffee. As a green coffee trader at Seattle-based Atlas Coffee Importers, she frequently travels to the African Great Lakes region to strengthen relationships with Atlas’ coffee-producing partners. She’s actively involved in strengthening the coffee value chain in DRC and has also […]

Emily Rhodes

Nov 12, 2021
Emily Rhodes joined the CI-USA team as Administrative Coordinator in November 2021. She has worked for more than 15 years in nonprofit organizations, both in the U.S. and South Africa, covering a range of functions from office management to client service to program development. She is excited to be part of the Congo Initiative team […]

Emily Rhodes

by Justin Hubbard

Emily Rhodes joined the CI-USA team as Administrative Coordinator in November 2021. She has worked for more than 15 years in nonprofit organizations, both in the U.S. and South Africa, covering a range of functions from office management to client service to program development. She is excited to be part of the Congo Initiative team […]

Christen Price

Jun 14, 2021
Christen Price is a human rights lawyer who engages in legal advocacy to end impunity for all forms of sexual exploitation.  In that capacity, she works to influence courts and legislatures toward protecting human dignity and equality for survivors, through legislative advocacy and litigation, particularly with respect to sex trafficking, prostitution, child sexual abuse, and pornography. Christen received her JD […]

Christen Price

by Justin Hubbard

Christen Price is a human rights lawyer who engages in legal advocacy to end impunity for all forms of sexual exploitation.  In that capacity, she works to influence courts and legislatures toward protecting human dignity and equality for survivors, through legislative advocacy and litigation, particularly with respect to sex trafficking, prostitution, child sexual abuse, and pornography. Christen received her JD […]

Julie Bryce

Feb 17, 2021
A corporate America citizen turned advocate for the New Way of Working, Julie began working as an independent, fractional Chief Market Officer in 2018 after 15 years of in-house marketing experience at B2B technology leaders like Red Hat and Oracle as well as startups backed by reputable VC firms like Benchmark Capital and Menlo Ventures. […]

Julie Bryce

by Justin Hubbard

A corporate America citizen turned advocate for the New Way of Working, Julie began working as an independent, fractional Chief Market Officer in 2018 after 15 years of in-house marketing experience at B2B technology leaders like Red Hat and Oracle as well as startups backed by reputable VC firms like Benchmark Capital and Menlo Ventures. […]

Timoteo Acosta

May 27, 2020
Timo joined the CI USA board in 2019 but his connection to Congo began in 2008 when he lived in Goma in eastern Congo for 9 months.  He wore a lot of hats but primarily worked with HEAL Africa and Global Strategies for HIV prevention to enable the local production of a Ready to Use […]

Timoteo Acosta

by Justin Hubbard

Timo joined the CI USA board in 2019 but his connection to Congo began in 2008 when he lived in Goma in eastern Congo for 9 months.  He wore a lot of hats but primarily worked with HEAL Africa and Global Strategies for HIV prevention to enable the local production of a Ready to Use […]

Mary Henton

May 18, 2020
Mary Henton had the privilege of being a CI board member from 2008 – 2011, during which time she spent several months in Beni. It was during that time that she experienced the power of a compelling vision despite overwhelming odds. She joined the staff of Congo Initiative as a Strategy and Development Facilitator in […]

Mary Henton

by Justin Hubbard

Mary Henton had the privilege of being a CI board member from 2008 – 2011, during which time she spent several months in Beni. It was during that time that she experienced the power of a compelling vision despite overwhelming odds. She joined the staff of Congo Initiative as a Strategy and Development Facilitator in […]

Caroline Kolins

May 15, 2020
Caroline’s love of Congo began during her undergraduate years when she took a course on Modern Sub-Saharan Africa taught by a retired diplomat. After that course she spent a summer as an English teacher in DRC. Her B.A. in French and Political Science from Texas Tech University and her M.A. in International Affairs from the […]

Caroline Kolins

by Justin Hubbard

Caroline’s love of Congo began during her undergraduate years when she took a course on Modern Sub-Saharan Africa taught by a retired diplomat. After that course she spent a summer as an English teacher in DRC. Her B.A. in French and Political Science from Texas Tech University and her M.A. in International Affairs from the […]

Bill Shewan

Jun 28, 2017
Bill Shewan serves Congo Initiative as our Senior Ambassador. In this position, Bill plays two vital roles for the organization. First, he is an advisor to the CI board and executive leadership. Second, Bill cultivates relationships with donors and seeks to develop networks of support for the organization.In his ministry with CI, Bill is able […]

Bill Shewan

by Justin Hubbard

Bill Shewan serves Congo Initiative as our Senior Ambassador. In this position, Bill plays two vital roles for the organization. First, he is an advisor to the CI board and executive leadership. Second, Bill cultivates relationships with donors and seeks to develop networks of support for the organization.In his ministry with CI, Bill is able […]

Laura Fleming

May 19, 2017
Laura has worked in the nonprofit realm since graduating from Gordon College in 2007. She is particularly passionate about student development as well as grant research and writing. Her previous roles included serving as an Assistant Resident Director at Gordon College and a Volunteer and Service-Learning Coordinator at a community hospital. Laura first learned about […]

Laura Fleming

by Justin Hubbard

Laura has worked in the nonprofit realm since graduating from Gordon College in 2007. She is particularly passionate about student development as well as grant research and writing. Her previous roles included serving as an Assistant Resident Director at Gordon College and a Volunteer and Service-Learning Coordinator at a community hospital. Laura first learned about […]

Chelsie Chan

Apr 30, 2017
Chelsie currently works at Google as a recruiter for engineering talent. Prior to working in recruiting, she spent 20 years in the faith-based international development sector. From 2007-2011 she lived and worked in DRC as the Service-Learning Coordinator at UCBC. She feels indebted to Congo Initiative’s leaders and students from whom she has learned much […]

Chelsie Chan

by Justin Hubbard

Chelsie currently works at Google as a recruiter for engineering talent. Prior to working in recruiting, she spent 20 years in the faith-based international development sector. From 2007-2011 she lived and worked in DRC as the Service-Learning Coordinator at UCBC. She feels indebted to Congo Initiative’s leaders and students from whom she has learned much […]

Justin Hubbard

Jan 30, 2016
Justin Hubbard’s journey with Congo Initiative began in 2007, when he was invited to help launch UCBC in Beni, DR Congo. What started as a one-year commitment quickly extended to two, then three, as he became increasingly passionate about the mission and witnessed firsthand the transformative impact of CI’s work. In 2010, Justin returned to […]

Justin Hubbard

by Justin Hubbard

Justin Hubbard’s journey with Congo Initiative began in 2007, when he was invited to help launch UCBC in Beni, DR Congo. What started as a one-year commitment quickly extended to two, then three, as he became increasingly passionate about the mission and witnessed firsthand the transformative impact of CI’s work. In 2010, Justin returned to […]