By Alliance President Terry Gips
I’m filled with gratitude to the source of this event, the Kindr Foundation, which was founded by its President Dr. Doug Carnine, an educational psychologist, Professor Emeritus at the University of Oregon and his wife, Dr. Linda Carnine, a teacher, school administrator and curriculum developer in both public and Bureau of Indian Education schools.
They are incredible, evidence-based, heart-centered and visionary leaders from Oregon who have continued to innovate solutions for people experiencing some of life’s biggest challenges, beginning with at-risk young people and then evolving into schools, workplaces and even prisons.
That body of work in itself would be more than enough. However, they generously put their own personal money, Doug’s family inheritance and even their home fully behind their work, donating more than $4 million to create the Kindr Foundation three years ago. Their investment has produced real results, as Kindr has given more than $2 million in grants to schools and communities while reaching more than 780,000 students and 9,000 incarcerated people.
That impact was made possible in such a short time with the impressive leadership of Kindr Foundation Executive Director Dr. Donna Dwiggins and her capable staff, including Kindr Schools Coordinator Kimberly Cage-Mbuyamba and Ernesto and Kathleen Rodriguez with the Prison Program.
Donna combines her background in art with years of teaching at-risk youth in public and charter schools from US distressed inner cities to Guam and Indigenous peoples in Australia. She received her PhD in Special Education & Rehabilitation and spent years teaching at various universities and leading educational programs in prisons, mental health facilities and school programs serving at-risk youth.
The Summit itself was amazingly pulled together in a short time with the leadership of Donna’s long-time friend from Guam and visionary, energetic entrepreneur Rachel Karry. She is one of the biggest-thinking, most capable, and connecting young leaders I’ve ever known.
Rachel utilized every ounce of her passion for mindful kindness, graduate work in leadership, Executive Directorship of a nonprofit mediation and restorative justice center in Guam and extensive business experience, including as Co-founder/President of the 360 creative agency and multimedia company World Artists United, LLC. Her life and business partner Jalen James Acosta, a talented musician, music producer and CEO of World Artists United, LLC, did the Summit tech and spoke on the media panel.
Rachel conceived the Summit’s depth and intersectionality with the help of her colleague Jody R. Weiss, who now serves as Kindr’s Director of Development. Jody is both a fellow meditator and tireless, self-described social activist and serial social entrepreneur. She is always up to “good trouble” over the years I’ve known her through the Social Venture Network.