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Board

B.J. Anderson

Monica Vickman Ballard

Karen Brown (Co-Chair)

Paul Ernst

Thomas Goodman

Rita Johnson (Co-Chair)

Jeffrey Sommers

Peter Wagner (Treasurer)

Wayne Wilson

Sam Zordich

Paul Ernst developed a passion for meeting people from other cultures during his first international trip in 1987, when he spent three weeks doing volunteer work in rural Tanzania. More than a million frequent flyer miles later, Paul has traveled extensively throughout the world.

Paul’s first trip with GCN was on the exploratory team to Nepal in 1999. Since then he has led teams to Kenya and Guatemala. He initiated GCN's relationship with communities in Tanzania, led an exploratory team there in 2004, and has since taken two more teams there. He has also done exploratory, service and exchange trips with other organizations to Tanzania, India and Nicaragua.

Paul has a B.S. in Computer Science, a B.A. in Mathematics, a M.A. in Comparative and International Development Education, and a Mini-MBA in Nonprofit Management. He has been in the computer profession for over 20 years, most of which was spent with Cray Research, Inc.  Paul joined the GCN Board of Directors in 2000.

Rita Johnson is a former faculty member in the Management and Economics Department at Hamline University, where she also directs the undergraduate experiential education program. She is also a community faculty member at Metropolitan State University, where she evaluates students' prior learning and teaches in the Management and Human Resource areas.

Rita was a member of the first GCN team to Charuru, Kenya. During the summer of 1999, she led the exploratory team to the Hopi village of Shungopavi, in Second Mesa, Arizona and in June of 2000, the exploratory team to Rombo, Kenya, where the team worked with Maasai and Kikuyu peoples to begin construction of a health clinic.

Prior to teaching, Rita spent 13 years at the Ford Motor Company's Twin Cities Assembly Plant. She has taught classes for Inver Hills Community College at a variety of Twin Cities companies including Super Valu, Cenex Land-O-Lakes, Cray Research, Northland Insurance Company, St. Paul Companies, and Ecolab.

Rita has a B.S. in Biology from the College of St. Catherine, and an M.M.A. in Management and Administration from Metropolitan State University.

Peter Wagner joined GCN in November 2008. He earned a B.A. in Accounting from Gustavus Adolphus College and is a licensed Certified Public Accountant. He currently works in Regulatory Reporting and Financial Analysis for UnitedHealth Group and is pursuing an M.B.A. at the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management. His prior work experience includes public accounting at McGladrey and Pullen. Peter also enjoys competing in triathlons.

Peter spent a semester living in New Zealand as an undergraduate student learning about their culture and trekking through the bush. This experience helped him to gain a world view and developed his interest in becoming a global citizen. He is encouraged by and hopeful of the opportunities and challenges that face GCN.

Wayne Wilson is a retired Sales Manager from Honeywell International. He has taught and continues to teach (16 years) marketing and sales classes at Metropolitan State University. Wayne sits on the board of Parenting With Purpose (PWP), a Christian Ministry that works to help restore families that have been impacted by incarceration. In addition to his duties at GCN and PWP, he is also a board member for Compassionate Solutions for Africa's Development (COSAD) where they are working to increase economic development in Tanzania.

Wayne has led five cross cultural expeditions for GCN and fully recognizes that retirement has afforded him the opportunities to contribute to organizations that truly make a difference.

"It never ceases to amaze me, as I meet more and more people of varied and different cultures, I continue to discover the difference that we have in common."

 

 

 

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If you want to expose your children to other cultures in a way that is more real, in-depth, personable and memorable – by working in community with them rather than just traveling – this is the way to really learn about another culture.

We were exposed to something few of us get to experience. Most often we simply drive through communities. This time we got to meet and really get to know people, and they were so generous. We got far more out of the experience than we gave.
Kathy P., Rock Point, AZ (family of 4)

This was our best family vacation and a phenomenal experience. I feel extremely fortunate that I was able to do this with my children. My children realized that although the people in the community we visited didn't have a lot of material possessions, they had some things we didn't. The community members were funny, loving and generous.

The group experience was what made it so great. The team leaders were remarkable. They never passed judgment and treated my children like full members of the group, so they acted that way. The experience made them more confident and more excited about taking other travel adventures.
Marcy G., Xiloxochico, Mexico (family of 6)

Volunteering in Tanzania was a life-changing experience that opened my eyes not only to the needs of our fellow global citizens, but also to the lovable and exhilarating culture of Bukoba.
Megan age 19, Bukoba, Tanzania

GCN wasn't just a volunteer trip but instead a life altering two weeks that helped me discover myself.
Shannon age 15, Bukoba, Tanzania

Our GCN sponsored program in Tanzania wasn't a vacation but rather a deeply moving experience our family will cherish for a lifetime.
Sean, Dad, Bukoba, Tanzania

Working side by side with my husband and children, helping, reaching out, and learning from people in a culture vastly different from our own together as a family was one of the most valuable experiences of my life. We are already planning our next volunteer vacation.
Karen, Mom, Bukoba, Tanzania

This experience changed all of us. Nothing can compare with it. It's made my kids into global citizens. Before we left for Kenya, I was concerned that my kids were getting spoiled, but the trip showed them how happy people were, even though they had so little by comparison. They also discovered how much more important it is to have experiences instead of things.

My kids are so mature now as a result of the trip. They have a new and broader world view.
Nancy F., Maili Tatu, Africa (3 time repeat participant with 2 kids)

I took each of my two granddaughters on a trip when they turned 13, as a rite of passage. It was tremendously bonding for us. It deepened our love and our relationship, but it also sensitized the girls to different cultures and helped them gain an understanding and empathy for others.

One of my granddaughters was extremely wary. She said, "I don't know how to do this and I don't want to be there." But by the end, she was begging to stay. She had formed some amazing friendships. It was quite a transition.

My advice to families considering this kind of trip is this: Even if you have some hesitation, trust that the experience will be transforming for your child and for your relationship with your child. My two granddaughters are totally different personalities, but the same positive transformation happened for both.

We had so many one-on-one reflective conversations about what we were experiencing and learning. It's a different and more intimate way of being with children.

The team members were incredibly kind to my teenagers. The leaders were such good role models -- caring and inclusive.
Meg V., Rock Point, AZ 2003; La Push, WA 2007

The truly amazing thing about this community is the pride, character, and sense of respect you feel being with them. They carry themselves with esteem. Being with them, you know they will not only survive, they will succeed, collectively using the resources available to them for the good of the whole.
Joyce, Pennsylvania; Kenya Participant

With the beauty, the simplicity, the strength and comedy of this place, each day becomes an adventure to be anticipated.
Gladys, Ontario; Kenya Participants

I learned much more that GCN is about the process of building long term relationships with communities, not necessarily about the process of "building!" It was truly priceless to be allowed to be on the 'construction site' with a bunch of indigenous people in Mexico. Tourists DO NOT get that opportunity-nor should they. We all believed WE TRULY MADE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF OTHERS.
Diana, Colorado; Two-time Mexico Participant

I have just this last hour arrived back home after what can only be described as an experience of a lifetime, the people at Jampaling were wonderful and I return with a feeling of accomplishment, and everlasting respect for a group of people who work so hard with such limited resources to achieve their goals.
David, Ontario; Nepal Participant

As a GCN volunteer you expect to fill the role of giver, giving of your time, efforts, money and heart. During a recent trip to Nepal, I felt more like a wide receiver for a pro football team, with countless blessings being passed my way! It started before I even left with support from a bunch of people, some of whom I don't even know, my sponsors through fundraising.
Cherril, New York; Nepal Participant

A positive growing experience that will unfold as time moves on. I do appreciate the warm hospitality of the local Navajo people and thank them for all they did to open our eyes and heart to their life, culture and values.
Jerry, Minnesota; New Mexico volunteer

It has become the most meaningful thing I've experienced in my life. It was more than a casual cultural exchange. I never felt like a tourist - I felt like I was coming home.
Ted, New York; New Mexico volunteer

The trip to Rock Point was a wonderful experience for me. Our team really "connected" and are talking among ourselves of doing other trips together! We all agreed we haven't laughed and sung songs like we did there for a long time. The Navajo people are wonderful, and we were able to share songs, dinner with them and they with us. We were able to complete the projects they had for us and still have lots of time for culture exchange.
Lynne, California; Arizona volunteer

My goal was to get lifted out of my personal and professional rut, to have my head and heart spun around and to land more solid and grounded. For the most part this happened.
Nancy, Vermont; Guatemala volunteer

Because of a scholarship provided by Global Citizens Network, I was able to spend two weeks volunteering in Guatemala, in a rural village called Llanos de Morales. This was my second trip volunteering in a developing nation (I went to Nicaragua two years ago), but my first time working with GCN. My experience was unforgettable and I would recommend it to anyone!