Summer Lewis Email & Phone Number

Remote

Continuing my involvement with Rotary, in 2017 I was recruited to serve as sole manager of a strategic partnership between Rotary International and the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP). In a highly autonomous role, I organize and disseminate educational programming to help make peace tangible for more than 1.2 million Rotarians and 200,000 Rotaractors worldwide.• Oversee and report on program design, implementation, and evaluation; liaise between Rotary Peacebuilding and Conflict… Show more Continuing my involvement with Rotary, in 2017 I was recruited to serve as sole manager of a strategic partnership between Rotary International and the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP). In a highly autonomous role, I organize and disseminate educational programming to help make peace tangible for more than 1.2 million Rotarians and 200,000 Rotaractors worldwide.• Oversee and report on program design, implementation, and evaluation; liaise between Rotary Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention Area of Focus Manager and IEP; coordinate meetings; manage work plan. • Promote and grow the partnership by serving as spokesperson, maintaining an aggressive schedule of presentations to Rotarians at official Rotary events and other humanitarian fora; coordinate partnership publicity and communications via Rotary media channels.• Act as information and technical assistance hub; administer online peace education platform and disseminate tools designed to guide Rotarians in funding and implementing impactful projects locally and regionally. • Build and manage relationships with Rotarian peace program donors: maintain contact and records, facilitate strategy meetings, and provide meaningful opportunities for engagement and advocacy. • Connect key Rotarians, Rotaractors, and civil society organizations in the development of humanitarian project proposals; advise on best practices and navigating the Rotary Foundation grant system.• Advise Rotarians on the planning, implementation, and evaluation of several hundred thousand dollars in grants for peacebuilding workshops in Mexico (2019) and Colombia (2019). • Coordinate Rotary Positive Peace Activator Program (trainings of humanitarian workers in peacebuilding) in United States and Latin America. Show less

Online

At my alma mater, I teach an online, 8-week course for the MS Degree in Community Development program. The course provides an overview of international development, cooperation, and aid as a field of study and work, with critical analysis of related trends, actors, and transnational politics. Students explore the systems, relationships, and perspectives involved in international community development and reflect on the influence of power, privilege, culture, and world view in the development… Show more At my alma mater, I teach an online, 8-week course for the MS Degree in Community Development program. The course provides an overview of international development, cooperation, and aid as a field of study and work, with critical analysis of related trends, actors, and transnational politics. Students explore the systems, relationships, and perspectives involved in international community development and reflect on the influence of power, privilege, culture, and world view in the development process.Taught summer semesters in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. Show less

Online

At my alma mater, I teach an online, 3-week course for the Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies Department and the KSU Global Campus Online Learning program entitled “Women and Globalization.” The course examines contemporary economic and political globalization, trade, development, and gender through a case study. We follow a cup of coffee from seed to mug, and the women and their families that make it possible. Students critically examine where they “fit” within the system—tracing how their… Show more At my alma mater, I teach an online, 3-week course for the Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies Department and the KSU Global Campus Online Learning program entitled “Women and Globalization.” The course examines contemporary economic and political globalization, trade, development, and gender through a case study. We follow a cup of coffee from seed to mug, and the women and their families that make it possible. Students critically examine where they “fit” within the system—tracing how their actions at a local level are intricately connected with the livelihoods of women worldwide. Semesters taught: Winter Intersession 2016-2017 Spring Intersession 2018 Show less

Oaxaca De Juárez Area, Mexico

Driven by a desire to help demonstrate the impact of small-scale community development initiatives, I co-founded True Roots International with a colleague, José Luis Zárate. True Roots provides program development and management services to US and Canadian donor organizations funding humanitarian projects in Latin America via grants or direct investment.Our unique methodology is the product of extensive combined experience working in business, nonprofit, rural, and academic contexts in… Show more Driven by a desire to help demonstrate the impact of small-scale community development initiatives, I co-founded True Roots International with a colleague, José Luis Zárate. True Roots provides program development and management services to US and Canadian donor organizations funding humanitarian projects in Latin America via grants or direct investment.Our unique methodology is the product of extensive combined experience working in business, nonprofit, rural, and academic contexts in Latin America and beyond. My role as director is to:• Build and manage 4-person consulting team providing services in program development; monitoring and evaluation; training, education, and experiential learning; public relations and communications.• Oversee business development, strategic planning, and administration.• Serve as spokesperson, presenting at workshops and panels and providing interviews. Representative clients and consultancies:► THE ROTARY FOUNDATION | Global Grant Monitoring and Evaluation. Data measurement tool creation, application, analysis, and reporting on impact of two large grants for peacebuilding trainings. ► CHAMELEON COFFEE (now Nestle) | Corporate Social Responsibility Program Management.Management of company’s social responsibility program supporting supplier organizations in Colombia, Guatemala, and Peru; evaluation of partner grant proposals. ► COFFEE QUALITY INSTITUTE AND SOLIDARIDAD INTERNATIONAL | Partnership for Gender Equity Gender Analysis.Mexican coffee sector policy research; on-site focus groups with smallholder coffee producer organizations; recommendations for context-sensitive training and activities.► ROTARY CLUB OF DUNCAN DAYBREAK, CANADA | Community Development Learning Tour.Custom-designed tour for Rotarians funding a women’s economic development project.Learn more at truerootsinternational.org. Show less

Oaxaca De Juárez Area, Mexico

In my second coffee-related job, this time with a nonprofit that empowers young coffee farmers to meet pressing community needs and establish a sustainable livelihood for themselves and their families, I managed partnerships with 10 other nonprofit groups in coffee-farming communities in Latin America as they implemented development projects impacting some 14,000 farmers and family members. Projects addressed gender equity, sexual and reproductive health rights, education, and food security. A… Show more In my second coffee-related job, this time with a nonprofit that empowers young coffee farmers to meet pressing community needs and establish a sustainable livelihood for themselves and their families, I managed partnerships with 10 other nonprofit groups in coffee-farming communities in Latin America as they implemented development projects impacting some 14,000 farmers and family members. Projects addressed gender equity, sexual and reproductive health rights, education, and food security. A few highlights of how I contributed:• Substantially improved impact assessment by establishing the organization’s first standardized set of indicators and guided partners in implementing them.• Arranged and coordinated site visits to monitor progress and collect marketing materials. • Wrote proposals, project summaries, and biannual reports for donors, synthesizing partners’ input.• Delivered narrative and visual storytelling content supporting Coffee Kids’ marketing and educational efforts on social media and via catalogs and the annual report. • Promoted Coffee Kids’ philosophy and partner achievements at international events. Show less

Brisbane, Australia

While a Rotary Peace Fellow and graduate student at the University of Queensland, I facilitated institutional relations as spokeswoman for the program as well as liaison to university administration, Rotary International, and local Rotarians. This entailed, among other duties, organizing event and trip logistics and promoting the Rotary Peace Fellowships and Rotary International at various presentations and forums.

Chittagong, Bangladesh

Inspired by the brand new Asian University for Women’s mission to develop young women leaders in South and Southeast Asia, I jumped at the chance to join the administrative staff. I was energized by the challenge of stepping into a “start-up” situation without an established road map. I knew I’d have to roll up my sleeves to coordinate logistics for faculty, staff, and guests in a large port city in Bangladesh that was entirely new to me. My first priority was to create systems to… Show more Inspired by the brand new Asian University for Women’s mission to develop young women leaders in South and Southeast Asia, I jumped at the chance to join the administrative staff. I was energized by the challenge of stepping into a “start-up” situation without an established road map. I knew I’d have to roll up my sleeves to coordinate logistics for faculty, staff, and guests in a large port city in Bangladesh that was entirely new to me. My first priority was to create systems to facilitate seamless logistics management while also navigating language and cultural barriers. I provided concierge services and was frequently called upon to solve problems on the fly, like getting dozens of apartments ready in a few weeks’ time, which required supervising local work crews. I also recruited and hired students to take guests on tours of the city. (I’ve stayed in touch with several of those students, one of whom is in the running for a Rotary Peace Fellowship.)Not surprisingly, the university’s laudable mission attracted VIP attention. This meant I got the opportunity to assist with high-profile fundraising events and visits from dignitaries including Mrs. Cherie Blair, former First Lady of the UK.I left my position when I was awarded a Rotary Peace Fellowship to pursue a graduate degree at the University of Queensland in Australia. Show less

West Bridgewater, Massachusetts

Acting as a brand ambassador and subject matter expert, I represented a pioneering fair trade company and its private sector development model—building equitable supply chains with 30 smallholder coffee, tea, and cacao farmer cooperatives in 20 countries—by communicating Fair Trade’s corporate ethos at conventions, on learning tours, and via direct sales to consumers. In this role, I developed deep knowledge of corporate social responsibility (CSR) approaches as well as coffee, tea, and… Show more Acting as a brand ambassador and subject matter expert, I represented a pioneering fair trade company and its private sector development model—building equitable supply chains with 30 smallholder coffee, tea, and cacao farmer cooperatives in 20 countries—by communicating Fair Trade’s corporate ethos at conventions, on learning tours, and via direct sales to consumers. In this role, I developed deep knowledge of corporate social responsibility (CSR) approaches as well as coffee, tea, and chocolate value chains. Show less

Guatemala

With funding from a Rotary Foundation grant, I coordinated logistics, communication, and fundraising for a group of volunteers carrying out agriculture and community development projects with 3 grassroots organizations in Guatemala. Additionally, I assisted with project planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

Master'S Degree, International Studies, Peace & Conflict Resolution

Recipient of the Rotary Peace Fellowship, providing full funding for graduate level studies, awarded yearly to 60 emerging leaders.

Bachelor’S Degree, Spanish, Sociology, Women'S Studies

Graduated summa cum laude (4.0 grade point average on 4.0 scale).