World Citizen Leadership
Lynn Elling
Founder
Lynn graduated from Washburn High School
in Minneapolis, attended the University of Minnesota, and
went on to Columbia University for Navy Officer Training.
He married his high school sweetheart, Donna Moen and was
then sent off to the war in the South Pacific. Lynn and Donna
have five children, ten grandchildren, and three great grandchildren.
After the war, Lynn joined Lincoln Life and did very well
as an agent. With success in business they were able to travel
extensively including Hiroshima Japan. This was an experience
that changed Lynn’s life. He vowed he would devote as
much time and resources that he could to promote a peaceful
and healthy world for life. It is from this commitment that
World Citizen, Inc. became a reality. Through WCI Lynn introduced
the International Peace Sites, co-founded the Nobel Peace
Prize Festival at Augsburg College, and supported the new
Peace Education program added four years ago. Lynn is also
co-author of the Minnesota Declaration of World Citizenship
and co-founder of the Annual World Lay Day Dinners/Programs.
Lynn Elling knows that the three programs of World Citizen,
Inc. effectively reach thousands of students each year in
promoting a just and peaceful world.
Executive Committee
Martha Roberts
President
Martha is a retired educator of 36 years.
Fourteen of those years were as an elementary teacher in the
classroom and 22 years as an elementary school counselor.
During these years Martha also taught a variety of adult education
classes. Ten years ago her elementary school became an International
Peace Site. Yearly events to renew the school's commitment
to peace became the focus and standard for behavior (including
parents, staff, and students.) Martha has been a board member
of World Citizen, Inc. for 11 years. She is also a Peace Education
Facilitator for the WCI Peace Education Program. She provides
teachers with support to keep their focus on peace and justice
issues. Martha received the Outstanding World Citizenship
Award in 2000 for her commitment to promoting peace and justice.
Lowell Erdahl
Chair of the Board
Lowell is a graduate of a one room country
school in Blue Earth, MN. He then went on to graduate from
St. Olaf college, attended the Luther Seminary in St. Paul,
and the Union Theological Seminary in New York City. He served
as a parish pastor in Farmington, MN and at University Lutheran
Church of Hope in Minneapolis. Lowell served as a professor
at Luther Seminary and as a Bishop in SE MN & St. Paul.
He has authored five books still in print: The Lonely House:Strength
for Times of Loss, Joyful Living, 10 Habits for Effective
Ministry, Be Good to Each Other (An Open Letter on Marriage
(co-authored with Carol Erdahl), and Sexual Fulfillment for
Single & Married, Straight & Gay, Young & Old
(co-authored with Herbert Chilstrom). A new book titled Winsome
Wisdom is soon to be published. His wife Carol is co-owner
of the Red Balloon Bookshop. They have three children and
four grandchildren.
Ronald (Ron) Lattin
Vice President
Ron received a BA in Russian and Soviet
History from UCLA. He is presently the Assistant Director
of Caux Round Table and has assumed this position since 2000.
He was formerly the Public Affairs and Political Consultant.
Ron resides in Woodbury, MN.
Flora Tsukayama
Secretary
Flora is a loyal member of WCI and has served as our secretary
for a number of years. She is a dedicated volunteer parent
for the Bloomington School District. Flora has chaired and
organized the Annual Diversity Fair and Peace Site Dedications
for the Bloomington School District. She is well known in
this school district for her many years of dedication in supporting
a peaceful school environment for all children. Flora has
been the recipient of the Outstanding World Citizenship Award.
Verlane Lynn Endorf
Treasurer
Verlane received a BA degree from Hamline
in History and Economics. He received his J.D., member of
the Law Review from Cornell University. He is presently an
attlorney and partner with the Dorsey and Whitney Law Firm.
Verlane is a resident of Eden Prairie, MN and is involved
in a number of volunteer activities within the community.
Wheeler Smith
Legal Counsel
Wheeler Smith is an Attorney-At-Law,
former Assistant Secretary for FMC Corporation, Director of
non profit Neighborhood Involvement, Inc., member of Citizens
for Global Solutions, former Director of World Federalist
Association, member of the United Nations Association, and
sole law practitioner. His expertise has been invaluable to
us.
Board of Directors
Burt Berlowe
Burt ia a Minneapolis author, journalist,
peace educator and social change activist. He is co-author
os The Compassionate Rebel, Energized by Anger, Motivated
by Love, as well as three books on peaceful parenting. He
is also co-host of Spirit Road Radio, broadcast is on the
fourth Saturday of each month at 3 p.m. on Air American Minnesota
950 AM.
Dick Bernard
For perhaps 20 years Dick Bernard has
introduced himself as a grandfather concerned about the world
we are leaving behind for our grandchildren. It is the future
of their generation and those beyond that motivates him. Most
recently he has just completed three years (2005-2007) as
President of the Minnesota Alliance of Peacemenakers, and
alliance of 73 peace, justice, environment and global relationships
organizations. In his second post retirement volunteer career,
he is part of the core committee for the upcoming Peace Island
Conference, September 2nd and 3rd at Concordia University
in St. Paul. He has also initiated a website www.amillioncopies.info.
His backbground is public education. He taught junior high
school social studies for nine years, and for the last 27
years of his career has been a field staff representative
for Minnesota Education Association/Education Minnesota. He
retired from that position in 2006.
Lisa Boland-Blake
Lisa is a past member of the WCI Board
of Directors. She is presently one of the key facilitators
for the WCI Peace Education Program. Lisa has been an educator
for 19 years. She has 11 years of elementary classroom experience.
In the fall of 1996 she joined a team of four other educators
to become a lead teacher and open a new public K-6 elementary
school serving 850 students in the Woodbury area. The school
is based on best practices and worked on educational innovation.
In 2001, Lisa went to St. Mary's University to co-facilitate
a learning community of 52 adults over two years as they earned
their masters degree. Most recently, Lisa consults for a non-profit,
Origins, and conducts Responsive Classroom workshops. Lisa
was also a recipient of Outstanding World Citizenship Award.
Mary Endorf
Mary Endorf earned her BA from Hamline
University and MS from the State University of New York ,
and received her Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota from
the College of Education and Human Development. She has been
a classroom teacher in Texas, New York, and Minnesota, a college
professor at Augsburg College and Hamline University, and
an Elementary School Principal at Orono, MN.
Mike Klein
Mike Klein is an educator and leader committed to social change for a more just and peaceful world. He has undergraduate degrees in studio arts and theology, and a masters degree in educational leadership. Mike is currently completing a doctoral degree in education as a Leadership Fellow with the Archibald Bush Foundation. Previously, he spent 15 years working at the University of the St. Thomas, most recently teaching in the Justice and Peace Studies Program in a position funded by the Lilly Endowment. In addition to teaching, Mike hosted the annual PeaceJam Conference, developed service-learning and internship programs, and advised student activist groups. He speaks on issues of justice, peace and social change with religious groups, schools, community organizations and police officers. Mike has also been active member of several peace organizations including the Minnesota Alliance of Peacemakers, youthrive, and World Citizen. Over the last five years, he has facilitated World Citizen's Peace Educator Workshops for secondary school teachers and serves on their board of directors. Mike is a contributor to publications on service-learning and leadership, an occasional editorial writer, and painter of multi-cultural murals in collaboration with community-based organizations.
Melvin Giles
Melvin in the founder of Peaceful Love
Warriors, which plants "peace poles" in Minneapolis,
St. Paul, and other Minnesota towns and communities. Melvin
organizes peace celebrations to unite neighborhoods, and donates
time each month to work at the Animal Ark Shelter. Melvin
and his friends from the Animal Ark Shelter in Minnesota traveled
to New Orleans to rescue
animals that had been abandoned in the flood following the
hurricane. Melvin just recently was a recipient of the Virginia
McKnight Binger Award in Human Service. He was one of 11 outstanding
Minnesotans to receive this award. It honors Minnesota residents
who give their time to improve the lives of people in their
communities.
Gene Link
Gene Link is the Assistant General Counsel
for the Target Corporation. He is currently a member of the
Edina Community Council (volunteer position), and a past president
of the First Universalist Church in Minneapolis, MN.
Kevin McGee
Recently completed the doctoral program
at the University of St. Thomas (E.D.d. Critical Pedagogy
Program). He also completed the Reading Specialists program
at Hamline University. Kevin currently is the Educational
Coordinator at Cedar Ridge Elementary School in the Eden Prairie
School District, Eden Prairie, MN. He is the Peace Committee
Facilitator as well as Facilitator and Coordinator for the
school district's S.E.E.D. Program (Seeking Educational Equity
and Diversity.) Kevin has also been a teacher in Ecuador,
Morocco, and a Peace Corps Volunteer in West Africa.
Jan Tift
Jan is an elementary teacher in Minneapolis
at Bryn Mawr School. She received her B.A. from Augsburg College
and a Masters of Curriculum and Instruction from St. Cloud
State University. She has written successful grants for peace
education through the Peacemaker Foundation and the Star Tribune
Imagination Fund. She co-facilitated the establishment of
the Anwatin Bryn Mawr Parkview Peace Site in 2007. In 2007-08
she was on sabbatical leave to work on issues in Peace Education
and was an apprentice facilitator for World Citizen Peace
Educator Groups. Jan has participated in international teacher
exchanges in Denmark, Sweden, and Japan.
Roger Wangen
Roger graduated from Minnesota State
University at Mankato, and completed a MA in Educational Administration
at the University of St. Thomas. Roger has taught English,
Social Studies, and History. He joined the Minnesota Department
of Education in a newly created position of Social Studies
Specialist. International Education was added later to his
assignment. Roger has served as President of the Minnesota
Council for Social Studies, The Social Science Consortium
Board of Directors at the University of Colorado, and the
Council for State Social Specialist - Washington, D.C. He
has also served on the board of directors in a number of organizations
such as; Alliance for Education in Global and International
Studies, Minnesota council on Economic Education, Women in
World Area Studies, Upper Midwest Women's History Center,
as well as a number of other organizations. Roger has authored
or co-authored a number of books and educational materials.
A few to mention are; The Student Lawyer, Model Learner Outcomes
for International Education, and K-12 Social Studies Education;
Educating Minnesota's Students in a World of Rapid Change.
Roger has also been involved in a number of other activities
such as summer institutes for educators from around the United
States and various projects funded by foundtions and working
with international teacher exchanges.
Brenda Wright
Brenda has been an educator in the field
of Elementary Education for sixteen years. She began her teaching
career in 1984 at a private academy teaching elementary students
for three consecutive years. In 1988 she resigned from her
teaching position, but remained active as a wife, mother,
and volunteer in our community. She became part of a group
of educators that opened Rutherford Elementary School in Stillwater,
Minnesota in 1998. Through collaboration with World Citizen,
she became an active proponent for peace education and began
co-advising a Nobel Peace Prize student group. She also became
a charter member of the Peace Educator's group in 2007. She
obtained an assistant professor position at the University
of Wisconsin River Falls and is currently enrolled in the
Ed.D program at Hamline University. This position in higher
education affords her the opportunity to teach social studies
methods including peace education to pre-service teachers.
Staff
Kathy Millington
Executive Director
Kathy retired from 36 years in Education
as of June 2002. She assumed the position of Executive Director
in 2003. Twenty-five years in education were as a classroom
teacher and the last eleven years as an Elementary Principal
in the Centennial School District in Circle Pines, MN.Kathy
received her BA degree from Luther College in Decorah, IA,
her MS degree from the University of Minnesota in Mankato,
MN., and her Ed. Specialist degree in Administration from
the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN. Kathy was also
trained as a trainer for PeaceWorks Curriculum (Miami, Florida
based) and received the Outstanding World Citizenship Award
in 2004 for her leadership in Peace Education. Kathy's passion
for working with children and promoting peaceful problem solving
matched the vision and mission of World Citizen, Inc., which
led her to her present position.
Laura Seidel
Newsletter Editor / Office Support
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