At the heart of our organization is a unique, multigenerational approach to leadership and governance. Our 501(c)(3) brings together adult Board members and young people in Haiti and the United States to generate ideas, shape priorities, lead projects, and learn from one another. Young people are not simply the beneficiaries of our work; they are partners in imagining and building it. Through this model, we seek to amplify youth voice, cultivate meaningful leadership, and create lasting connections across generations and borders.

Education is at the heart of our mission, inspired by the transformative model developed by Haitian scholars and community leaders, including our Executive Director, Dr. Thony Voltaire. Our founder, Shields Sundberg, and Board Chair, Molly Middlehurst, are dedicated advocates of this approach, helping connect the vital work happening in Haiti with our partnerships and initiatives in the United States. Together, we strive to deepen understanding and connection between communities while ensuring that education remains a powerful force for agency, opportunity, and social change.

Executive Leadership

Dr. Thony Voltaire, Executive Director

Dr. Thony Michelet Voltaire is a physician, community health leader, and lifelong advocate for the people of Borgne, Haiti. Born and raised in Borgne, Dr. Voltaire studied family medicine at Cuba's Latin American School of Medicine before returning home in 2005 to serve his community. He went on to lead Alyans Sante Borgne, helping transform a severely under-resourced local health system into an innovative community-based model reaching tens of thousands of people across rural northern Haiti.

Molly Middlehurst
Board Chair

Molly Middlehurst is a feminist and queer leader who is passionate about helping mission-driven organizations grow their impact and serve their communities. She’s worked domestically and internationally with diverse women and gender expansive folks to build political leadership skills, enhance economic opportunity, expand access to education, and create safe spaces for solidarity and mutual support. She currently serves as the Philanthropy Manager for National Senior Communities, Inc. (NSC).

Shields Sundberg
Founder

Shields Sundberg has partnered with Haiti-led non-profits for 30 years and has been equally committed to her full-time responsibilities as an educator of girls, global education specialist, and proponent of global justice--all things global! Shields began her journey in Haiti in 1993 working at a school outside Port au Prince and later met Dr. RoseMarie Chierici who genuinely changed her life. Shields aims, following the 2021 loss of "RMC" to continue educating agents of change who "look from below."