Advisor to the Board
Jean Claude Muhire (Claude) is the Rwanda Engagement Manager for GiveDirectly, Inc. In this capacity, he serves as the liaison between GiveDirectly and the Rwandan and local governments. Claude is also responsible for initiating fieldwork with community recipients of GiveDirectly grants. Previously, Claude worked as a Field Coordinator with Health Poverty Action in Rwanda and as a Fellow with Global Health Corps.
Claude has an MA in International Community Development from Hebrew University of Jerusalem and an undergraduate degree from National University of Rwanda. Claude is pleased to serve as an Advisor to the Hands of Mother's International Board of Directors 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. Additionally Karl spent his junior year abroad at University of Konstanz, Germany, and completed a six-month internship with BASF, Ludwigshafen, Germany.
Karl resides in midtown Memphis with his basset hound, Bella.
Chris Hale
Chris' involvement with Manos de Madres began with the Trash Bags Honduras initiative in 2000. Chris viewed the project then, as he does our current work in Rwanda, as a unique opportunity to engage directly in grassroots income generation that is both locally driven and sustainable.
Currently, Chris is the Associate Director of the Global Access to Information Program at former President Jimmy Carter’s NGO, The Carter Center. Prior to this, he directed the Medellin regional field office for the Organization of American States' Mission to Support the Peace Process in Colombia between 2009-2013, focusing on transitional justice and peace building initiatives with victims of violence as well as demobilized former combatants in Colombia's civil armed conflict. Chris has worked for the World Bank's Latin American and the Caribbean Civil Society Team, and the World Bank Institute's Access to Information, Transparency, and Governance Group. He holds a BA in Latin American Literature from Colby College in Waterville, Maine, and a Master's Degree from Georgetown's School of Foreign Service. Atlanta is his current home, although he's constantly scheming up ways to end up back in New England.
Abby Miller
Abby is a public service professional with more than ten years of experience in program design and management, monitoring and evaluation, communications, and resource mobilization. She currently serves as the Program Director for the Medical District Collaborative. Prior, she most recently worked as a Program Manager with Innovate Memphis on neighborhood economic vitality and blight remediation. Before moving to Memphis, she worked in Port-au-Prince with Habitat for Humanity as part of the earthquake response and recovery program providing services to over 25,000 disaster-affected families in Haiti. Previous to that, she worked with Americans for UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, HealthRight International, and the Inter-American Development Bank on research, public education, fundraising, and advocacy projects. Abby is currently on the Board of GrowMemphis and Hands of Mothers (Manos de Madres). She holds a MPA from New York University’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service and a B.S. in Media and Sociology from Boston University.
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. “Most importantly, I have been a committed volunteer for most of my life.”
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. A longtime supporter of Hands of Mothers, Carolyn looks forward to serving on the Board to have an even greater impact on improving the lives of women and children.
Mary K Allen
Mary K. retired two 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.
