OUR FOUNDERS

tiffany 10

TIFFANY M. GARDNER

Tiffany M. Gardner has a background in international human rights advocacy and domestic public interest. She has worked on human rights issues and grassroots organizing throughout Africa, Southeast Asia and the United States. She has had professional experiences at the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the United Nations International Law Commission and Human Rights Watch. In her most recent position she was the founder and director of the Human Right to Housing Program at the National Economic and Social Rights Initiative, where she created, designed and implemented the program that sought to address the serial displacement facing New Orleans survivors of Hurricane Katrina and unite poor peoples movements globally. Mrs. Gardner has published several articles on issues of social justice and global inclusion, including "Radio Jamming: The Disarmament of Radio Propaganda" (regarding the Rwandan genocide) in Small Wars and Insurgencies, "Race and Federal Recognition in Native New England" in Crossing Waters, Crossing Worlds: The African Diaspora in Indian Country, "The Commodification of Women's Work: Theorizing the Advancement of African Women" in Buffalo Human Rights Law Review, and "Human Rights Approaches in State Development Programming" published by Columbia University Teachers College. Her most recent publication is an article entitled "No Shelter from the storm: Reclaiming the right to housing and protecting the health of vulnerable communities in post-Katrina New Orleans" that was published by Health and Human Rights at the Harvard School of Public Health. She is a former Mergers & Acquisitions associate at the New York law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. She received a B.A. from Yale University, a J.D. from New York University School of Law and a LL.M. in human rights law from Columbia University Law School.  In addition to her professional pursuits, Tiffany is actively involved with the American Museum of Natural History, Apollo Theater's Women's Committee, the Central Park Women's Committee and the New Victory Theater.  She is a happily married mom with two adorable little boys. 

dana 1

DANA L. OLDS

In addition to working on youth development, Dana L. Olds is a seasoned international development expert skilled in managing large-scale democracy and governance projects. Dana's technical areas of expertise span: local governance, women's empowerment, social accountability, civic education, elections, civil society development, decentralization, basic services, improvement in education, health and water, community-driven development, youth leadership, organizational assessment, capacity building, strategic planning, and proposal development. She has more than 15 years of project management and community development experience in the United States, Africa, Southeast Asia, Haiti, and Afghanistan. Dana is a returned Peace Corps Senegal Volunteer, and has served as Director of Governance Programs with the International Rescue Committee in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In addition to her work with the IRC, Dana has worked with organizations including Chemonics International, Inc., the International Foundation for Electoral Systems, and the World Bank. She received a B.A. in International Relations and Japanese from Lincoln University, spent time as a visiting student at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and holds a Masters' in Public Administration from Rutgers University. Dana's article "Microcredit, Social Capital, and Politics: The Case of a Small Rural Town - Gossas, Senegal" was published in the Journal of Microfinance. Dana is a fluent French speaker. In addition to her professional pursuits, she is passionate about Zumba, Spin, Pilates and Bikram Yoga.

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Tiffany M. Gardner

mieko 1

Mieko McKay

Mieko McKay is a Senior Program Associate at EngenderHealth Inc., a leading international NGO that specializes in reproductive/maternal health; family planning and HIV prevention. She is dedicated to improving the right to quality reproductive and maternal health services for women, girls and couples. She has worked for over 10 years on international health issues throughout Africa and has lived in Senegal and Mali. She is an anthropologist and holds a Masters in Public Health from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Mieko McKay

Dana L. Olds

rob 1

Rob Robinson

Rob Robinson is a Special Advisor to the Campaign to Restore National Housing Rights, a coalition of grassroots groups from around the U.S. supported by the National Economic and Social Rights Initiative. He is co founder of the Take Back the Land National Movement and a member of the U.S. Human Rights Network. Rob has worked with Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights in Geneva, Switzerland as a member of the U.S. Human Rights Network to prepare for the United States initial appearance in the Universal Periodic Review. Rob has worked with homeless populations in Budapest, Hungary and Berlin, Germany.

Rob Robinson
RCM2

Medical Missions Adviser

Dr. Robin C. McKinney

Dr. Robin C. McKinney is a Board certified Family Medicine physician.  She is an adjunct professor at the Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine, where she is the Faculty Advisor for International Medicine Club. 

Being a National Health Corp. Scholar, Dr. McKinney's passion is empowering individuals and communities with knowledge and information to become better advocates in managing their own health and well-being.  To this end, Dr. McKinney participates in organizational meetings, community events, and governmental dialogues.  She also leads medical missions around the world. She obtained a B.A. in Psychology and Biology from Rutgers University and a medical degree from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-SOM. 

 

Dr. Robin C. McKinney - Medical Director
Screen Shot 2019-05-11 at 10.39.39 PM

Jamila White

Jamila White is an international development specialist with more than a decade of experience managing, designing, implementing, and supporting agric/agribusiness, economic growth, education, and emergency response programs in Sub-Saharan Africa. Before starting her career in development and economic growth, Jamila obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Hampton University and Masters in Public Administration, with concentration in Economic Development and International Affairs, from Indiana University’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs.

Jamila is Senior Africa Representative for Mercy Corps where she drives their Africa Strategy. 

Jamila White - Special Adviser