Kindred Credit Union invites you to join us for a virtual fireside talk on “Giving and Engagement in the Digital Age.” To complement the spirit and enthusiasm for Giving Tuesday, we’re hosting a dynamic conversation that will offer a glimpse into how giving and engagement have transformed during the pandemic, when distance has pushed us to connect online.
A storied and dedicated panel will share ideas and experiences, while inviting participants to consider ways they can offer their time or financial resources to issues that reflect their passions.
Join us November 30, 2020 at 1 p.m. EST.
Registration is now closed. Listen to the Giving and Engagement in a Digital Age recording.
This online conversation will be moderated by Amy Zavitz, Kindred’s Community Engagement Specialist. Panelists include:
Biographies from our participants are featured below:
Dr. Dorothy Nyambi, President and CEO
Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA)
Dorothy is an advocate for blended finance initiatives in the international development sector and a champion of women’s rights around the world. Her experiences in the field have affirmed that entrepreneurship is a powerful way to alleviate poverty and empower sustainable communities.
Dorothy began her career as a medical doctor before moving into international development. Passionate about gender equality and inclusion, Dorothy has worked with the U.S. Peace Corps, World Health Organization, and served as Executive Vice President of the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences. She was a founding member of Gender Summit Africa; member of the Association for Women’s Rights in Development; member of the Board Room Africa, which is focused on mentoring young African women in governance roles; and board director with the Kigali Collaborative Research Centre under the Carnegie Mellon University Africa.
Ian Thomas, CEO
Kindred Credit Union
Ian has a breadth and depth of experience gained over 25 years in the financial services and professional services sectors. He leads Kindred Credit Union, which has more than $1.5 billion in assets under management and serves more than 23,000 members. Ian was drawn to Kindred’s strong history, dedication to developing socially responsible products, and values-centred and faith-inspired approach to banking.
Kindred is a Certified B Corporation™, a member of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values, and a Living Wage Employer with a proud history of delivering values-oriented products, such as Member Assistance Services, a loan program that puts mutual aid into faithful practice. Kindred is a leader in the SRI space and is the first financial institution in Canada to have all its GICs validated as socially responsible investments.
Kim Lester, Associate Executive Director
MCC Ontario
Encouraging, resourcing, and empowering others to achieve great outcomes has always been a huge passion for Kim. Over the years she has held a number of leadership positions—primarily in the not-for-profit sector.
Kim first joined Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) in Ontario as the Director of Revenue Development, and more recently as the Associate Executive Director. She offers pioneering leadership to MCC’s first ever comprehensive fundraising strategy and has taken the program from a two staff operation to a multi-staff team, raising over $10 million annually. She also provides leadership on a national level, supporting the implementation of these strategies across the country.
Barbara Chambers, Director of Communications
Abundance Canada
Barbara is passionate about helping people live their best lives. She is a strategic thinker and creative innovator whose role at Abundance Canada allows her to inspire and encourage others to support causes that are making a difference within their sphere of influence. Barbara’s diverse career includes working with not-for-profit and for-profit organizations in Europe, Africa, and North America, as well as running a marketing consultancy in the UK.
Currently pursuing a master’s degree in leadership, Barbara serves on the board with reStart, an urban youth outreach organization, and volunteers with her local Children’s Aid Services. She is a member of both the Association of Fundraising Professionals and the Canadian Association of Gift Planners.
Ken Ogasawara, Communications Specialist
MCC Ontario
Ken Ogasawara is Communications Specialist at Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) in Ontario. He harnesses his passion and creativity to write, capture photographs, and create video that effectively shares the stories of MCC’s local programs. Ken also hosts and produces Undercurrents, MCC Ontario’s first podcast.
Amy Zavitz, Community Engagement Specialist
Kindred Credit Union – Moderator
Amy builds community partnerships, coordinates programs and philanthropy, and pilots new ideas/approaches to move the needle on Kindred’s priority themes of financial empowerment, community food security, climate action, and affordable housing.
Amy is passionate about innovative and collaborative approaches to building a more just and inclusive world. She has worked in international development and civil society protection in southern Africa and supported peacebuilders in the Middle East.