Eva Kaplan
Co-Founder and Co-Director, holds an MSc in Development Studies from the London School of Economics and a BA in Political Science from Wellesley College. She worked as a Program Manager at the Initiative for Policy Dialogue at Columbia University. She previously worked as an Evaluation Consultant for Innovations for Poverty Action in Busia, Kenya and as a Research Assistant in the Africa Programme at Chatham House in the United Kingdom. She is currently the managing editor of the Journal of Globalization and Development and is living in Kisumu, Kenya to work on Maria’s Libraries.
eva@mariaslibraries.org
Ariel Schwartz
Co-Founder and Co-Director, is pursuing her doctorate at the Lyndon Baines Johnson School for Public Policy at the University of Texas at Austin. Previously, she was Research Development Specialist at the Institute for Social and Economic Research and Policy (ISERP) at Columbia University and for whom she remains a consultant. Prior to working at ISERP, Ariel was a Program Manager at the Initiative for Policy Dialogue, also at Columbia University and where she and Eva worked together. Ariel has a BA in Government and an MPA concentrating in international relations, both from Cornell University.
ariel@mariaslibraries.org
Maria Wafula
Maria was a secretary for the East African Community in Arusha, Tanzania until the EAC collapsed, when she moved to Busia and became a farmer. Now she runs a successful organic banana farm with her husband and coordinates all activities for the Busia Community Library as well as being a leader in many other community initiatives. Officially launched in 2005, Maria has worked tirelessly at local and national levels to ensure the success of this project.
Solonje Burnett-Loucas
Director of Development and External Affairs has close to a decade of non-profit development experience. Her career has included fundraising, communications, management and event coordination for organizations focused on education, politics, social justice, and inner-city economic development. In 2002, she founded Eilos Events, a private event management company. She has a MA in Broadcast Journalism from Emerson College and a BA in Psychology and Africana Studies from Wellesley College.
solonje@mariaslibraries.org
Jimmy Cater Omondi
Jimmy Cater is a resident of Busia, Kenya. He runs a shop and internet cafe and was the first person to introduce wireless internet to Busia. Jimmy is overseeing all technical aspects of "hooking up" the library, as well as coordinating among local politicians and other stakeholders. He provides unending support to the library in ways that cannot be easily listed.
jimmycarter2002@gmail.com
Contributors
Eleanor Kebabian, Architecture Consultant and Community Outreach Coordinator
Lauren Messner, special projects
Jeffrey Mwaka, FASSCO cultural officer and school liaison
Matthew Newton, technical support
John Santos, website design & search engine optimization specialist
Peter West, logo design
Architects for Humanity NY
Baker & McKenzie, legal support
Family Support Services, coordinating local library efforts
Maria's Libraries is a registered 501(c)3 organization and all contributions are tax deductible.