About Us
History
We have an 18 year working relationship directly with the South Sudanese Nuer people. In 2003 we (Sudan Hope – Stephen and Les) released the Boat of Hope that launched our first initiative into the Gambella Region. It provided the people of South Sudan Upper Nile access to secure food, shelter, medicine, clothing, and clean weather. We believe that it supplied over 250,000 people with life-saving supplies and encouragement.
As an agency of community development we believe it is our mission to instill hope and build new business and service opportunities providing jobs, economics, and products in Gambella and other parts of Ethiopia and throughout East Africa.
The People behind East African Community Development
Stephen Chambang
Founder and President
Specialized Training – Charter Member: Citizenship Ambassador for the office of the Secretary of the State of Minnesota
Management Leadership Work Experience:
East Africa Community Development – non-profit – co-founder/treasurer 3 years – solar development
Nuer Community Development – Us – Advisor
St. Anthony Housing Development – St. Paul, MN – VP
Presiden and CoFuounder of Sudan Hope
President and Founder of South Sudan Community of Minnesota
Coordinator of Southern Sudan Maker Community Foundation in Midwest Network in USA
Experienced in Extra Government Expediting and Intervention for Maker Community South Sudan: 2006-2008 He managed to acquire over 3 Tons of food and simple tools for the people of Maker village through his knowledge and relationship building with the UN, World Food Bank and USAID in Malakal, South Sudan.
Skills:
South Sudan Insider – Personal Relationship with former VP of South Sudan Dr. Riek Machar
Leadership and Vision – Networks with Sudanese leaders, NGOs and other support organizations here int he US and in South Sudan and Ethiopia
Electrical Tech and Warehouse – Xtra Lite Displays, Burnsville MN 5 years 2001 – 2006
Language translation and communications throughout the Sudanese and other people groups as needed – fluent in Nuer, Arabic, Somali, Ethiopian, and English
Customs – Reviews design concepts and checks for adaptations for local cultural adaptability. Seeks to integrate cultural expectation with technological advancements.
In 2009 his mother and 3 sisters moved to Matar and began taking care of twenty-four SS refugee children. In recent years they have had up to 300 children and have 89 under their wing to feed and care for with only minor financial assistance mainly by Stephen’s generous gifts.
Dr. Kris Kohl
Vice President
Dr. Kris Kohl is a Field Agricultural Engineer with Iowa State University. His areas of expertise – ag building ventilation, composting, irrigation, manure handling, manure management plans, open feedlot design, P-index, water quality, ag odor/air quality, ag safety, ag buildings and structures, bio-economy, bio-fuels, bio-fuels processing, biomass harvesting, CRP, dairy facilities, energy conservation, forage harvest, forage storage, grain handling, home energy, home maintenance, livestock housing systems, machinery, native grasses, biosolids management, private water supply, RULES2, soil compaction, tile drainage, tillage, local foods
Education
Awards
Dr. Kori Floyd
Advisor
Dr. Kori Floyd brings a wealth of experience to the organization. His career has been primarily focused in the field of education where he has served as a Spanish Teacher, English as a Second Language Coordinator, Spanish Language Interpreter, and Community Liaison for Spanish-speaking families at the Nashville Global Academy Charter School in Nashville, TN. At the higher education level, he has been a Graduate Student Instructor of Spanish at Middle Tennessee State University, a Guest Lecturer of Education in the Educational Leadership Program at Tennessee State University, as well as a Professor of Spanish Language and Culture and Special Assistant to the Vice President of Academic Affairs at American Baptist College. Dr. Floyd has earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mass Communications and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Spanish from Jackson State University in Jackson, MS. He has earned a Master of Arts in Teaching Degree with a concentration in Spanish from Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, TN. He has earned a Doctor of Education Degree with a concentration in Educational Leadership from Tennessee State University in Nashville, TN. Most recently, he has earned a Master of Science Degree with a concentration in Agricultural Education from Iowa State University in Ames, IA. His focus of study was on the Intersection of Spanish Language and Culture and Agricultural Education for children in Elementary/Early Childhood Education. He is the CEO and founding member of the Floyd Family Farm LLC, which is a small, family-owned hemp farm in the Nashville, TN area. Currently, Dr. Floyd is a student in the Ph.D. Program in Public Policy and Administration at Tennessee State University in Nashville, TN.