ANDREW BRIGGS – E-mail Andrew
President and Founder
Andrew heads day-to-day operations outside of Uganda, as well as serve as the key contact for fundraising, educational partnerships, and collaborations.
Andrew graduated from Taylor University (B.A., biblical studies/English) and studied, served, and/or traveled to over twenty-five countries during his undergraduate years. His worldview was greatly enhanced by short-term church service in remote areas of Bolivia and Kenya and from circumnavigating the globe with the Semester at Sea program. From such exposure, his notion of social responsibility grew to encompass the global village.
After wondering, With whom shall I walk and advocate long term?, Briggs learned about “Africa’s longest war” and the oppression endured by the children of Northern Uganda. He resigned from teaching alternative school in 2006, undertook research in Northern Uganda, and founded Freedom In Creation (FIC) in January 2007.
Briggs has served as a contributing artist, lecturer, panelist, and/or scholar-in-residence at embassies, universities, galleries, and with humanitarian organizations. He currently serves as President of FIC and, when not in Northern Uganda, lives in Vienna, Va.
JOE BOULIER
Vice President and Treasurer
Joe Boulier is responsible for all general business duties including financing, financial reporting, and marketing. Joe received a B.A. in economics from the University of Mary Washington in 2002 and will receive his MBA from Vanderbilt University in May of 2010. Prior to returning to business school, Joe spent two and a half years as an internal auditor with Catholic Relief Services (CRS). He has spent time on various engagements throughout Africa, Asia, and Central America, analyzing the accounting and management practices of CRS country programs and their partner organizations. Joe has audited a wide portfolio of development programs including health, PEPFAR (AIDSRelief), displaced persons camps, food distribution, disaster relief construction, and water and sanitation. Prior to joining CRS, Joe worked for Navigant Consulting, Inc. (NCI), as a senior consultant investigating the accounting procedures as related to the regulatory investigations of several Fortune 500 companies.
LEE GROSS
Advisor and Board Member
Lee received a B.S.E.S in Environmental Economics and Management from the University of Georgia and an M.S. in Natural Resources from the University of Vermont. Over the past decade Lee’s professional work as an international development practitioner has focused on integrated approaches to biodiversity conservation and farmer livelihoods in the tropics, with a focus on coffee agroforestry systems. Lee brings a variety of knowledge from his collective professional experiences working for the government and nonprofit sectors in conservation, policy and development. As a trained agroecologist and ecological economist he has worked on eco-tourism and sustainable agriculture projects in Ecuador, Panama and Mexico, shade coffee farms in the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua, and for stakeholders groups such as Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, the U.S. Forest Service and The Nature Conservancy. He now works as a project manager for EcoAgriculture Partners, a non for profit located in Washington D.C. where he manages an international project focused on market-based approaches to biodiversity conservation within major commodity groups such as palm oil and soy.
A volunteer with FIC of over four years, Lee most recently had the chance to spend three months in Uganda (March – May 2011), designing and implementing the beginnings of our FIC farm. He was affirmed by this trip in the mission, the community buy-in and the vision of FIC in Uganda, and beyond.
FIC UGANDA
Volunteer Leaders
REV. JOYCE AKENA
Chairperson
Rev. Joyce is a P4 school teacher and the Koro Alibi Parish Priest (Church of Uganda, Anglican). Rev. Joyce is the first female priest in the Church of Uganda. She is a member of the Acholi Religious Leaders Peace Initiative. She is a wife, mother, and educator intent on empowering the children of Northern Uganda.
SAMUEL OPIYO BAKER
Lead Art Instructor
Samuel is the FIC lead art instructor. He has a degree in art and design and has two years of teaching experience within the Ugandan school system. When Samuel is not empowering the youth of FIC, he serves as a mentor with local youth programs (Hope Alive and World Vision), tends to his agriculture, and nurtures his family.
JOHN OLOWCH
FIC Leader
John Olowch is a community elder, catechist (Church of Uganda, Anglican), member of the Acholi Religious Leaders Peace Initiative, and contractor helping reorder Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps as people transition back to their villages. John has received training from World Vision in areas of psychosocial care. When not participating in FIC activities, John enjoys time with family and friends within the Koro Abili community just a few hundred yards from the FIC Community Art Center.
ALICE OOLA
FIC Leader
Alice is an FIC Leader, teacher at the Koro Abili Vocational Training School, Sunday School teacher, and community leader. She lives within the Koro Abili community. When not teaching, Alice enjoys singing, dancing, and spending time with her four daughters.
PETER ODOCH
Country Director, Water Officer
Peter Odoch is the business manager for Life Giving Water, LLC, an adjunct professor in economics at Gulu University, a small business owner, and acommitted husband. During his spare time, Peter enjoys spending time with his wife Naomi and son Phillip and volunteering at church.
BEN KILAMA
FIC Leader
Ben is an elder and community leader in Koro Abili. He is married with children. He is an adult literacy instructor and certified mechanic. Ben is also a catechist with the Church of Uganda (Koro Parish).
