From the ICA USA website (http://www.ica-usa.org/resrc/initpgs/initvo20/ehoude.html):

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Meet Elizabeth Houde

ICA appoints new Chief Executive Officer

July 4, 2005

For Immediate Release

The Board of Directors of The Institute of Cultural Affairs (ICA USA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Elizabeth Houde to the position of Chief Executive Officer. Ms. Houde assumes her new role on August 1, 2005. She will travel extensively with ICA board and staff members to meet clients, funders, donors and partners this fall. ICA’s coordinating centers are located in Chicago and Phoenix.

Ms. Houde’s professional experience complements the ICA’s expertise as a leading developer of innovative solutions for organization and community development and leadership training.

Richard Wilkinson, President of the ICA USA Board of Directors said, "Elizabeth Houde's arrival as Chief Executive is an exciting milestone in ICA's continuing story. She brings a wealth of experience and talent to ICA. Her 30+ years in managing, leading and consulting with NGOs promise to strengthen both ICA's day-to-day operations and finances."

Events will be held in major US cities this fall to introduce Ms. Houde and to report on the important role the ICA plays as a volunteer movement and capacity building partner with communities and organizations creating change strategies and managing citizen involvement.

Ms. Houde has spent nearly three decades in international consulting and program management focused on economic and social development with an interest in child and family wellbeing, women’s development, and training of trainers in multicultural settings. Her most recent position was Director of Operations for Kidsave International with work in Europe, Russia, and Central Asia.

Her extensive experience with USAID and the World Bank has often involved work on women’s development, micro-credit and micro economics, and social marketing in transitional and post-conflict countries in the former Soviet Union, South America, Africa, the Far East, and Europe, including Bosnia.

The Institute of Cultural Affairs is an international leader in capacity building for participatory democracy and human development. ICA is the creator of Technology of Participation® and Imaginal Education methods, simple yet sophisticated tools for working together, building community, and learning for life used by businesses, organizations and communities worldwide.

The ICA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with training centers in Chicago and Phoenix, an extensive network of project volunteers, and 150 trainer partners in 24 sites throughout the United States. The ICA is a member of ICA International and provides technical assistance and training to sister ICAs and partner organizations in 37 nations around the world.

For more information, visit the ICA online at www.ica-usa.org or call:

Richard Wilkinson, President of the ICA USA Board of Directors at 206-788-2396 (rwilkinson@path.org)

-or-

Bonnie Lucas, Director of Human Resources for ICA USA at 800-742-4032 (blucas@ica-usa.org).