November 2, 2017
Dear Friends of Heartland Alliance International,
When I became the first Executive Director of Heartland Alliance International (HAI) five years ago, I knew it was an organization of enormous potential, but I couldn’t foresee quite how rapidly it would grow.
Since 2012, HAI’s programs have tripled in size. This year, we will serve an estimated 700,000 victims of violence and human rights abuses across Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East – and right here in Chicago at the Kovler Center.
Over the years, HAI has been my professional home and also a source of pride and connection for me. It will be very hard to leave, but tomorrow is my last day as Executive Director. I’ll be joining the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, where I’m excited to have the opportunity to oversee grants administration across all of the Foundation’s domestic and global programs.
I’m proud of all that HAI has accomplished since its inception in 2012, and I’m confident in the future of the organization. HAI’s talented and committed team of human rights workers are among the best colleagues I’ve ever had. They will continue to provide healing and justice to the most vulnerable individuals and communities around the world.
HAI’s Board of Directors, together with Heartland Alliance president Evelyn Diaz, will be searching for an accomplished, dynamic leader to serve as HAI’s second Executive Director. More information about the search will be released shortly. In the meantime, the leadership of HAI will be in the capable hands of Brooke McKean, HAI’s Chief Operating Officer. She will serve as acting Executive Director while Heartland searches for my replacement.
I thank you for your interest in HAI over the years and I hope that you will continue to support our important mission. Your solidarity is now more critical than ever.
Onward to a world of human rights,
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Elizabeth Powley Executive Director Heartland Alliance International |
