[Oe List ...] An announcement from the ICA-USA Board of Directors

[Norm and Judy Lindblad]

Dear Colleagues,
The Board of ICA-USA has asked me to send this announcement to you in
order to keep you abreast of the ongoing work of reorganization.

Sincerely, Judy Lindblad


Dear Colleagues:

The ICA-USA Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment
of Dr. Kirk Harris as the new Interim Executive Director of The
Institute of Cultural Affairs USA.  Dr. Harris begins his employment
on Monday, November 6, 2006 on a six-month contract.  He will be based
full-time in the Chicago office.  Kirk will provide the day-to-day
stability and leadership needed to build the foundation for the new
and renewed ICA-USA.

As you may already know, during the last few months ICA-USA has
undertaken an organizational assessment and subsequent reorganization.
 Suzann Eisenberg Murray of the Dendros Group has guided this
significant and painful transition in the life of the organization and
we are grateful for her leadership and devoted service.

Now is the time for ICA-USA to begin its move into a new chapter.  As
the interim leader, Kirk will work in partnership with the Board and
Staff to strengthen the organization, laying the foundation to assure
ICA-USA's service for years to come.  Some of the projects identified
by the Board include:

·      Formulate a business and marketing plan to strengthen and
support the further development of the ToP Network and participatory
partner networks.
.      Create a structure for a planning process with the Board
Futures Committee and other stakeholders, including attention to the
Living Legacy Project and global involvement.
·      Create a strategic fund development plan to reignite fund
raising within ICA- USA.
·      Redesign the budgeting, financial management and reporting
functions of ICA to ensure stewardship of resources.
·      Prepare the ground for the further development of the Learning
Basket and other innovative social programs.

Kirk Harris comes to ICA-USA with many years experience as a
collaborative leader working in developing national networks of
participatory practitioners. Dr. Harris began his career serving
families and children as a Legal Aid lawyer. He has had a national
consulting practice, as well as served as a consultant with Shore Bank
Corporation the country's premiere community development bank. Dr.
Harris is considered an expert on issues of community building, social
welfare policy, family support practice, community and parent
leadership, and father involvement and engagement.

During his tenure as Senior Vice President and General Counsel, with
Family Support America, a national non-profit intermediary that
promoted strength-based social service solutions for families and
children, Dr. Harris initiated and supported the development of the
"Shared Leadership" model for the family support field.

He has a deep commitment to community service and a desire to advance
economic equality and educational equity, which he believes are the
bedrock of individual and community self-sufficiency and
self-determination.

Kirk received his Bachelors of Arts from Rutgers University, his
Masters in Public Administration from the University of Kentucky,
Martin School of Public Administration, his JD from Thomas Jefferson
School of Law, and his Doctor of Philosophy degree from Cornell
University. Kirk and his wife are the parents of three daughters and
reside in the Chicago area.

We welcome Kirk to ICA-USA as we begin the next chapter in the life of
the organization and rebuild to meet the challenges of participation
and social transformation in our times.

Sincerely,
The ICA-USA Board of Directors