Advisor to the Board
Jean Claude Muhire (Claude) is the Rwanda Country Lead for BRAC Ultra-Poor Graduation Initiative. In this capacity, he supports the Rwandan Government to implement the National Strategy for Sustainable Graduation, a Poverty Alleviation Program that is meant to lift people out of extreme poverty in the next five years. Claude provides strategic advice to the Canadian Government, the Global Health Corps, the New Africa Fund, and the serves in the board of directors of Action Aid Rwanda.
Claude has an MA in International Community Development from Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel and an undergraduate degree from National University of Rwanda. Claude is pleased to serve as an Advisor to the Hands of Mothers as he had witnessed firsthand the power of mothers to transform their families and communities.
Board of Directors
Karl Erdman, Treasurer
Karl Erdman was born in Pennsylvania and grew up in New Jersey, Texas and Pennsylvania. Most of his career has focused on finance, working in accounting, internal audit, international finance, trade financial relations, and controller roles. He currently works for Pfizer Shared Service Center in Memphis, TN as assistant manager in Accounts Payable. Karl has participated in global initiatives for planning and implementing new Accounts Payable software and an Accounts Payable portal solution. Karl earned a B.A. from Rutgers University in NJ and MBA from American Graduate School of International Management in Arizona.
Arielle Moinester
Arielle is the Program Director for Women’s Earth Alliance (WEA). She is committed to collaboratively building just food systems that work for people and the planet by centering the solutions of women around the world. Before moving to the Bay Area, Arielle lived in Africa and Asia designing and managing large-scale agricultural development projects and saw how women’s work in food systems was routinely sidelined to the detriment of communities, ecosystems, and the climate. Now with WEA, Arielle works with women environmental leaders and with mission-driven companies to accelerate, resource, and connect the women-led solutions we need to survive on this planet. Arielle earned her M.S. in Agricultural and Resource Economics and an M.S. in International Agricultural Development from the University of California, Davis.
Lane Moten
Lane Moten is a native Tennessean and retired attorney. She practiced at the Federal Communications Commission in Washington, Glankler Brown and International Paper in Memphis, TN. Lane also designed and manufactured a line of lingerie and accessories, “memfuss,” which was sold nationally. Lane is active in local and national civic causes as well as in improving the lives and protecting the rights of children in Memphis. Lane graduated from Millsaps University in Jackson, MS and her law degree is from Catholic University in Washington, DC.
Carolyn Head
Carolyn is a retired Library Director (Southwest Tennessee Community College) with 44 years of professional experience in the library and social service fields. Carolyn has served on several boards, including Memphis Center for Independent Living, Memphis Literacy Council, Diversity Memphis NCCJ (founding member), Crime Stoppers (founding member), Foster Care Review Board, Mid-South Peace and Justice Center, Institute for Healing Racism; Co-Founder and Facilitator of the board of Friends of the Library.
While Carolyn is deeply immersed in helping to make Memphis, TN a more just and equitable society, Rwanda is particularly close to her heart. Her son-in-law is from Rwanda and her daughter lived and worked there for several years.
Mary K Allen
Mary K retired several years ago after enjoying a forty-year career in Human Resources Management, working for companies, large and small, including Southwestern Bell Telephone, The Memphis Group, Fogelman Properties, and most recently Orgill, Inc. Mary K. is now enjoying more time with her family (daughter and five grandchildren), her pets, and the 1950’s style home she purchased following retirement. She also supports the needs of local charities as well as her long-time favorite global charity, Hands of Mothers. Mary K. graduated from the University of Memphis with a BA in Organizational Leadership.
Melinda Lejman
Melinda Lejman is a non-profit professional, communications strategist, and life and leadership coach with almost a decade of combined experience in communications, fundraising and development, project management, marketing, content creation, and personal and professional coaching. She received her BA in Technical and Professional Writing In 2009 and her MA in Teaching English as a Second Language in 2013, both from the University of Memphis. For the last ten years, Melinda has worked with local non-profits providing education and social services, as well as working as a freelance writer and contributor to local publications such as The Daily Memphian, Jewish Scene, and Focus Magazine. Melinda is a Life Design, Calming the Chaos, and Transformational Leadership coach. She is a native Memphian, mother of three, and is currently pursuing a doctorate in organizational leadership.
