New Launch Leader: Kathleen Olson

Kathleen Olson, Executive Director for the Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County, has been tapped to head the Global Neighbor Project's Steering Committee. She succeeds Kevin Phelps and Ken Grassi, who co-chaired the effort this past year.

Kathleen has had a distinguished career in development, public relations and marketing for non-profit organizations, including a term as Executive Director of FISH Food Banks of Pierce County and Program Director of Lutheran Social Services. She has also led The Zoo Society, a private organization that serves as the development arm for Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium and is a Past President of Tacoma Rotary 8.

On a Mission

The Global Neighbor Project--and the growing number of residents, business owners and managers, elected officials and other community members engaged in its work--was highlighted today at Missions Fest Seattle. This two-day event is drawing thousands of attendees from across the Northwest--people who already have an interest in other nations and hearts for service.

Here's the information on GNP's seminar as advertised in the program:

Engaging Your City by Becoming Global Neighbors: Tacoma and Lesotho

Dean Curry is challenging citizens and community leaders throughout Pierce County to help children devastated by AIDS in Lesotho, Africa. Hear from Dean Curry and other participants in this landmark effort how Tacoma is mobilizing its entire
community to help an African community–as well as how this model might be applied in other communities across the Northwest.

Attendees at Missions Fest visiting this page are encouraged to join us in serving the children of Lesotho!

Another Hand Up--from Washington--to Lesotho

Lesotho is one of the smallest nations in Africa, completely surrounded by South Africa; its small size helps to keep its affairs obscure to most citizens of the world. Recently, though, the devastation wrought by the AIDS epidemic has focused world attention on the tiny country. This blog will report some of this worldwide notice as it may be helpful to those involved in our project.

U.S. Congressman Jim McDermott was recently knighted by the king of Lesotho during a ceremony in Maseru, the capital. The knighthood acknowledges the Seattle lawmaker's leadership on the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which has enabled Lesotho to become the foremost African exporter of apparel to the United States. McDermott sponsored AGOA, which he credits with creating 50,000 jobs in Lesotho.

Life Center Recognized for 'Courageous Leadership'

Recently, Life Center Tacoma was the recipient of the 2007 Courageous Leadership Award from the Willow Creek Association and World Vision for its work in support of the Global Neighbor Project .

The Association was founded in 1992, and works to link like-minded, action-oriented churches with each other and with strategic vision, training, and resources. The Courageous Leadership Award was created just this year to inspire all leaders by honoring churches doing their part to bring assistance to the holistic needs of under-resourced communities around the world. This recognition included a $5,000 grant to continue the work.

No Event Too Big, No Donation Too Small

The Global Neighbor Project is a volunteer-driven effort that is doing big things across Pierce County to draw attention to the needs of children in Lesotho:

• Yesterday, Life Center Pastor Dean Curry and Ken Grassi, a business leader and a member of the University Place City Council, staffed a booth at Business EXPO 2007, the Puget Sound's largest business showcase event. The event drew hundreds of business owners and managers from throughout Tacoma and Pierce County. Ken and Dean, along with members of World Vision's staff, were able to share GNP's goals and accomplishments with many of these leaders from the commercial sector.
• In September, 63,000 people went through the World Vision Experience Village at the Puyallup Fair.
• On July 27th & 28th, Chapel Hill Presbyterian Church hosted a 2400 square foot exhibit featuring a stirring interactive audio tour combined with captivating photography that transported visitors to the heart of Africa .
• On July 1st, Life Center hosted a Red, White & Blue Celebration benefit concert with the Tacoma Symphony.

These were all very large events, well attended, and there are many more to come; nevertheless, the success of the Global Neighbor Project requires support from all parts of our community--no donation is too small, no effort is insignificant.

Join us today!

Welcome to Lesotho Log!

This blog is an ongoing effort to chronicle the achievements of the Global Neighbor Project, a partnership between World Vision and the Tacoma-Pierce County community with the community of Sekemang in Lesotho.

Lesotho has the fourth highest adult prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS in the world at 31 percent--a rate that shows no signs of dropping. UNAIDS estimates that 70 people are dying every day from AIDS-related causes; of the 2.2 million children in Lesotho, 93,000 have lost one or both parents to the disease--a staggering 17 percent of all children. Even while help is being rushed into the country, conditions are worsening: Hundreds of thousands of people in Lesotho will require international assistance for a third consecutive year due to the combined impact of another devastating drought and the worsening epidemic.

The Global Neighbor Project (GNP) is mobilizing the entire Tacoma-Pierce County community--residents, businesses, government leaders, churches and synagogues--to reach out across the ocean in love and with support.

Join us and monitor our community's progress here!