What interested you and for how long have you been involved with Shanta?
Our Executive Director, Wade Griffith, is a close friend and was my Pastor in Birmingham, AL, before taking his current role at Shanta. I remember how excited Wade was about Shanta’s Development Model, passionately explaining why it was so different, and how excited he was to move his family to Colorado. Wade and I had many conversations about Shanta in his first year with the organization, and ultimately my wife Ashley and I flew to Durango to meet the Board & Staff in July 2021. Shortly thereafter, I joined the Board. (Click HERE to read Mark’s bio)
After a few years as board member, you became chair- what interested you in this position?
I’ve served and led many Boards, and what immediately stood out was how talented and driven the Shanta Team was – our Staff and Directors believe in Shanta’s model, understand how it creates permanent change and work tirelessly to pursue maximum impact! While I was new to international development work, I was eager to learn … and the more I did, the more compelled I became to serve. Frankly, being a part of Shanta is a gift, and I’m very honored and happy to serve as the current Board President.
Have you been to our villages? Where? What was your experience?
I have been to Zambia twice and hope to go to Myanmar one day! I was part of a team that traveled in May 2022 to vet and ultimately recommend People’s Action Forum (PAF) as Shanta’s implementing partner in Zambia to the Board. I’ve since returned with my family just this summer on an Insight Trip and absolutely loved every second of it. Since our 4 villages there are relatively new partners, it was an incredible experience to see many things from the ground up! I was amazed to see that the four villages have already established community banks and completed several large infrastructure projects. The Shanta model isn’t just effective, it is also efficient!
Favorite part of Shanta?
I have always been drawn to causes and missions addressing poverty but struggled personally with efforts creating dependence vs. independence and growth. Shanta offers a proven sustainable model for permanently eliminating poverty, one rural village at a time – I connect to this at a very personal and spiritual level. And as a banker by trade, I must admit I love our Community Bank!
If Shanta were to be on the cover of a magazine in five years, what would the story be about?
“Shanta, a small non-profit out of Durango, CO expands into Central America as it’s 3rd area of operation. Now recognized as a thought leader in International Development work, Shanta builds an in-country training hub as a direct operator, enhancing historical success as a program implementer and fueling even more impact!”
