Marcus DuBois King, Ph.D.
Marcus is member of the environment and energy research team at CNA Corporation. He has served as a policy advisor to the President of Georgetown University where his responsibilities included coordination of interreligious dialogue. King received a B.S. in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and a M.A.L.D. and Ph.D. in international relations from the Fletcher School at Tufts University. King is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Georgetown where he teaches courses related to these issues.
Shama Farooq, Treasurer
Shama Farooq has been involved with the Unity Walk since the first Walk as a representative of the All Dulles Area Muslim Society, one of the largest local Muslim congregations. She is also active in national Muslim organizations such as the Islamic Society of North America. A criminal defense attorney by profession, she completed a Fellowship in Philanthropy and Nonprofit Management & Governance through Indiana University’s Center on Philanthropy.
Kalsoom Lakhani
Kalsoom Lakhani is director for Social Vision, the venture philanthropy arm of ML Resources, LLC, based in Washington, D.C. She assesses and administers small but critical grants for innovative social entrepreneurs, enterprises, and organizations in their pilot phases, in order for the initiatives to show proof of concept. Kalsoom received an M.A. in International Affairs/Conflict Resolution from The George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs, and a B.A. in Foreign Affairs and Middle East Studies from the University of Virginia.
Patricia Langan, Secretary
Patricia builds path-approaches to strategy, programming and fundraising for non profits and foundations in the U.S., Africa, Middle East, former Soviet Union, Asia and Latin America. Currently she is Managing Director at Unity Productions Foundation. From 1997 to 2007, as Director of Programs at the International Youth Foundation (IYF), Patricia designed and managed IYF’s strategic expansion to and diversification of funding for Africa and the Middle East, built alliances with global corporations such as Microsoft, Cisco, Intel, and Nokia. She has also worked at the World Bank, National Westminster Bank and The Fuji Bank. She has volunteered for many grassroots inter-cultural initiatives in the past and currently serves on the board of Americans for Informed Democracy. Patricia holds an M.P.P. in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School and a bachelor’s degree from Brown University.
Kyle Poole, 9/11 Unity Walk Founder
Kyle is the Principal Founder of the 9/11 Unity Walk,
along with Erik Schwartz who polished and delivered the concept to Embassy Row worship houses, Dan Tutt and Meg Clifford (Poole) who were instrumental in bringing the Walk to reality and hundreds of volunteers from every faith. The real owners of the Walk are the courageous parishioners and leaders of every church, synagogue, mosque, and gurdwara on Embassy Row who agreed to open their doors to each other and host the Walk. Kyle (and Meg ) Poole are also Members of the Board of Governors of Opportunity International, one of the world’s largest microcredit organizations. Kyle is former Habitat for Humanity Board Member, and active participant with Aspen Institute and Renaissance Weekends.
Meg Clifford Poole, Board Chair
Meg has worked at Meridian International Center since 1999 hosting distinguished guests of the U.S. Department of State, National Institutes of Health, and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency. In her position with the International Visitor Leadership Program, her programs focus on arts management, interfaith dialogue and religious tolerance, human trafficking, NGO development, and many other themes. Previously, Meg has worked in development for a small social service agency in St. Louis, Missouri and as a volunteer with an indigenous non-governmental agricultural organization in Freetown, Sierra Leone, West Africa. Meg has been active with the Unity Walk since 2006 and currently serves as the Chair of the Working Board and the head of the Youth Service Initiative. Board term expires June 2012.
Erik Schwarz
Erik is Managing Partner of Interfaith Works and Co-Director of the Institute for Faith & Service. Erik is also Episcopal Chaplain at the Washington Home and Hospice. Previously he was on staff at the InterFaith Conference and at the Washington National Cathedral, and he has studied and taught world religions at Amherst College and American University. Erik is active with the Board of Hands On New Orleans, the Abhaya Academy, and the Ecumenical Commission of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington. Board term expires June 2012.
Daniel Tutt
Daniel is the Outreach Director for Unity Productions Foundation (UPF), a media non profit dedicated to creating films for worldwide broadcast and educational campaigns that increase understanding and dialogue among the world’s spiritual and cultural traditions. In this capacity, he is the project manager for 20,000 Dialogues, UPF’s national interfaith and cross cultural dialogue project that seeks to build greater understanding of Muslims and Islam. Prior to UPF, Daniel was the co-director of the 9/11 Unity Walk. Daniel earned his M.A. at the School of International Service at American University and is currently pursuing his PhD. Board term expires June 2012.
Rukmini Walker
Rukmini Walker speaks internationally on Bhakti Yoga, Bhagavad Gita, and the traditions of kirtan. She is on the planning committee for the women’s spiritual empowerment event, Sacred Circles, held for many years at the Washington National Cathedral. Her business, As Kindred Spirits, aims to connect the work of the finest craftspeople with charitable and fair trade ventures, seeing beauty and truth, “As Kindred Spirits”. Before opening As Kindred Spirits, Rukmini Walker lived and worked in yoga ashrams in the US and India for twenty-five years. Board term expires June 2014.