Skip to main content

Getting To Know CKI: Kari

By
Role with CKI: Director of Administration
Loving the kids at Child Restoration Outreach in Mbale, Uganda.
Born and raised in rural North Dakota, Kari moved to Minneapolis, MN, after graduating high school to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Intercultural Studies with an emphasis in Children and Youth in Crisis at North Central University. After falling in love with the city and all of its potential, she added an Urban Studies Supporting Program to her list of studies.


During those years, she spent two summers in Uganda, Africa, working with various organizations, one of which was Child Restoration Outreach in Mbale. Kari interned as a Teacher’s Aide for CRO while studying the various strategies and techniques used to minister to street children in a holistic way. She later took this information and developed a case study which she presented as her senior project. This project helped to shape her heart and desire to work with street children in Africa.
Play time at CRO. Snuggled up to Alima.

After graduation, she spent a year with AmeriCorps as a job counselor, volunteered on the planning committee to later became a Co-Chair of Twin Cities World Refugee Day, and began working in a hospital while volunteering at various churches. She was recently hired as the Administrative Assistant at Firehouse Chapel where all of the CKI members attend. 

Kari’s heart for Africa is more than words can describe. She desires to serve and provide a voice to the lost, the orphan, and the marginalized. Her other passions include writing, volunteering, teaching, and drinking coffee.

Comments

  1. UnknownFebruary 22, 2017 at 11:17 AM

    Your other hobbies also include making sure I survive, that I am eating and reminding me to watch my calendar on a regular basis. It is true......

    ReplyDelete
  2. Culture Kids InternationalMarch 24, 2017 at 8:00 PM

    Haha. Elissa. I just now show your comment. So true!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Karen Interview: Family and Faith (Part 3)

By
Last fall, Elissa had the opportunity to interview some Karen youth in St. Paul, MN. They met at a Karen grocery store, shared a meal together, and talked about various aspects of the Karen culture. We have divided this interview into a four part series: Culture, Immigration, Family and Faith, and Food and Holidays. For authenticity, we have transcribed the interview material as accurate as possible. The Karen People We encourage our readers to visit the Karen Organization of Minnesota  website  in order to learn more about the history and culture of the Karen people. Part 3: Family and Faith Elissa: Are the roles of men and women in Karen culture clearly defined? Such as women do this, and men do this? Re: Yes, oh my gosh, yes. Kyeh: It was more common back in the day, because I know some older people where they believed that the girls weren't supposed to go to school because they were just girls. They would think that men were smarter and all of that. In my family when
Post a Comment
Read more

Karen Interview: Immigration (Part 2)

By
Last fall, Elissa had the opportunity to interview some Karen youth in St. Paul, MN. They met at a Karen grocery store, shared a meal together, and talked about various aspects of the Karen culture. We have divided this interview into a four part series: Culture, Immigration, Family and Faith, and Food and Holidays. For authenticity, we have transcribed the interview material as accurate as possible. The Karen People We encourage our readers to visit the Karen Organization of Minnesota website in order to learn more about the history and culture of the Karen people. Part 2: Immigration Elissa: What is the best thing about living in the USA? Re: Getting a good education, like even seeking to go forward for college or postsecondary there are people willing to help and help us to try to achieve our dreams. Back in Thailand, I felt like a lot of us or most of us didn't have a lot of dreams. So even after you have been graduating from a school, [for] everyone as long as the
Post a Comment
Read more