Introducing PBI-USA’s newly hired Executive Director, Katherine Hughes-Fraitekh

Katherine Hughes-Fraitekh, Peace Brigades International-USA's new Executive Director, is honored and excited to be selected to work with PBI-USA and the Peace Brigades International Team and looks forward to supporting the very important human rights defenders work in the countries that PBI currently has accompaniment and peace education programs—Colombia, Mexico, Guatemala, Nepal and Indonesia. Katherine has worked on human rights, peace and justice issues, and international affairs for the last 20+ years. She has broad and varied experience in a number of related fields including conflict resolution,  field work overseas, non-profit management, fundraising and development, media relations, US Congressional staff and Committees, political advocacy, US/Mexico border issues and Middle Eastern affairs. She earned a BA degree with honors in Government at the University of Texas at Austin in 1985 and a MA degree in International Development with a focus on Peace Studies (at American University) and Middle Eastern Studies (at Georgetown University) in 1989. She worked for a number of years in Washington, DC, including with the National League of Cities, National Council, Palestinian–Israeli Peace Talks, Brookings Institute and Congressional Interior and Insular Affairs Committee. She has been on a number of delegations related to humanitarian assistance, human rights, and micro-enterprise programs in Middle Eastern countries. After moving to New Mexico,  she created and directed a holistic program for women dealing with domestic violence and poverty at the New Mexico Commission on the Status of Women; served as a national consultant for the US Department of Labor and other national and international organizations; and directed the NM State Workforce Board, NM One-Stop program, and the NM Human Needs Coordinating Council. In addition, Katherine has worked with several peace & justice groups organizing national and international tours/campaigns and served as a manager for Rahim Alhaj, a renowned oud master and composer from Baghdad, Iraq, who received a Grammy nominee for best world music album in 2008, and is also a political refugee. Katherine is busy getting input from a number of past staff members, volunteers, International Staff and Project Staff. She is looking forward to working hard at supporting the new PBI-USA strategic plan which focuses on raising funding and other resources, visibility, and volunteers for the projects.  She plans to work closely with the National Coordinating Council and other supporters and sister organizations to create effective US regional support groups composed of volunteer alumni, donors, academia, students, and human rights advocates to support national speaking tours, house parties, cultural events and peace education throughout the US. She alsoPlans to begin visiting the in-country projects to learn more about PBI’s work on the ground and will attend the International General Assembly in Hamburg, Germany, in November.