Audrey E. Kitagawa, J.D.
President and Founder
Background
Dr. Ikambana is currently serving as Chief Evaluation and Compliance Officer at Friendship Place, the premier provider of housing services for people experiencing homelessness in the Washington DC region area.
Dr. Ikambana is a dedicated professional with extensive experience in nonprofit program design and management, human rights education, community organizing, education, democracy, youth civic engagement, and social justice advocacy. At the core of his social justice engagement are his Ignatian vision to be “a person at the service of others” and his unwavering commitment to human dignity.
Prior to his Friendship appointment, Mr. Ikambana has served in several capacities the cause of the advancement of human dignity in different international, national and local organizations in Africa, Europe, South America, and North America as teacher, social worker, program manager, program director, board member, and advocate.
Mr. Ikambana holds a BA in Philosophy and Human Sciences from l’Institut Saint Pierre Cainisius, Kimwenza-Kinshasa (DRC), MA in Political Science from La Javeriana University, Bogota ( Colombia), MS in Criminal Justice from Saint Joseph University, Philadelphia (USA), Master’s Degree in International Services at American University (USA), and a Ph.D. in African American Studies from Temple University, Philadelphia (USA).
He is the recipient of the 2010 Community Human Rights Award presented by the United Nations Association of the National Capital Area; 2014 President’s Volunteer Service Award and the 2016 Edward O’Brien Award of Human Rights Educators USA, and 2017 Community Human Rights Award from the US Human Rights Network.
Mr. Ikambana is the author of “Mobutu’s Totalitarian Political System. An Afrocentric Analysis”, published by Routledge, and a contributor in “ Africa In the 21st Century”, published by Routledge.
Background
Audrey E. Kitagawa, JD, is the President/Founder of the International Academy for Multicultural Cooperation, the President of the Light of Awareness International Spiritual Family, the former Advisor to the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict at the United Nations.
She is a United Nations Representative for the United Religions Initiative, and Chair Emerita of the NGO Committee on Spirituality, Values and Global Concerns, A Committee of the Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations. She has been enstooled into the royal family as the Nekoso Hemaa, (i.e. Queen Mother of Development), of Ajiyamanti in Ghana, West Africa, and has a school which she helped to build named after her in her African name, the Nana Ode Anyankobea Junior Secondary School.
She wrote the chapter, Crossing World Views, The Power of Perspective in the Hawaii Japanese American Experience, which was published in a book about multiculturalism, communication and Asian women entitled, Learning In The Light. Her chapter, Globalization As The Fuel For Religious And Ethnic Conflict has been published in the book, Globalization And Identity, Cultural Diversity, Religion and Citizenship. Her article, The Role Of Identity In The Rise And Decline of Buddhism In Hawaii, The 50th State Of The United States Of America, has been published in Sambodhi, a Buddhist Journal. She published articles in World Affairs The Journal Of International Issues, entitled, The Power of Om: Transformation of Consciousness, and Practical Spirituality. She wrote the chapter, The US In Foreign Affairs: Source of Global Security, Or Source of Global Fear? in the book, America & The World The Double Bind. She is currently writing a chapter on Space Ethics for a legal, academic book on Space Law.
She has been listed in Who's Who Of American Law, Who's Who Of American Women, Who's Who In America, Who's Who In The World, and Prominent People of Hawaii. She is the recipient of the Medal “Pride of Eurasia” and a Diploma from the Republic of Kazakhstan Ministry of Education and Science L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University for her outstanding contribution to the development of spiritual culture and education in Eurasia. She is the recipient of the Spirit of the UN Award which is given to outstanding individuals who have demonstrated the vision and spirit of the United Nations as expressed through the UN Charter, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. She was conferred an Honorary Interfaith Minister degree by the New Seminary.
Biography
Dr. Ikambana is currently serving as Chief Evaluation and Compliance Officer at Friendship Place, the premier provider of housing services for people experiencing homelessness in the Washington DC region area.
Dr. Ikambana is a dedicated professional with extensive experience in nonprofit program design and management, human rights education, community organizing, education, democracy, youth civic engagement, and social justice advocacy. At the core of his social justice engagement are his Ignatian vision to be “a person at the service of others” and his unwavering commitment to human dignity.
Prior to his Friendship appointment, Mr. Ikambana has served in several capacities the cause of the advancement of human dignity in different international, national and local organizations in Africa, Europe, South America, and North America as teacher, social worker, program manager, program director, board member, and advocate.
Mr. Ikambana holds a BA in Philosophy and Human Sciences from l’Institut Saint Pierre Cainisius, Kimwenza-Kinshasa (DRC), MA in Political Science from La Javeriana University, Bogota ( Colombia), MS in Criminal Justice from Saint Joseph University, Philadelphia (USA), Master’s Degree in International Services at American University (USA), and a Ph.D. in African American Studies from Temple University, Philadelphia (USA).
He is the recipient of the 2010 Community Human Rights Award presented by the United Nations Association of the National Capital Area; 2014 President’s Volunteer Service Award and the 2016 Edward O’Brien Award of Human Rights Educators USA, and 2017 Community Human Rights Award from the US Human Rights Network.
Mr. Ikambana is the author of “Mobutu’s Totalitarian Political System. An Afrocentric Analysis”, published by Routledge, and a contributor in “ Africa In the 21st Century”, published by Routledge.
