About: Celena

Celena Green is the Program Officer for Africa at Vital Voices Global Partnership. An alumna of the Vital Voices Democracy Initiative (1997-98), Celena manages civic participation, economic development, and human rights programs serving emerging women leaders in Sub-Saharan Africa. She has a BA in Africana Studies from Brooklyn College-CUNY, and over twelve years of experience with international youth and community development organizations. Prior to joining Vital Voices, she was Director of International Training and Internship Programs at the International YMCA of Greater New York, where she managed professional exchange programs for foreign students and young professionals coming to the U.S. Celena lived and worked in Zimbabwe from 2001-2003, serving as a capacity-building volunteer with the Zimbabwe National Council of YMCAs, and facilitating resource development trainings for YMCAs throughout Southern Africa. In the summers of 2006 and 2007 she returned to the region to volunteer with orphanages in South Africa and Mozambique. She began her career as a youth programs associate, and later, Director of Development for Global Kids, Inc., a New York-based organization that prepares urban youth for academic success, community service, and global leadership. A strong proponent of global-local connections, she has led mentoring programs for girls in her hometown of Southeast Queens, NY, and represented girls and young women internationally as a U.S. Delegate to the 42nd United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. Celena remains active in local community organizations, and continues to support projects in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique.

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