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Photo: Thatcher Cook for Mercy Corps
NEW YORK CITY — Mercy Corps, the global humanitarian agency based in Portland, Oregon, today announced the appointment of George Devendorf to vice president of its newly formed Global Engagement initiative. In this position, Devendorf will lead the agency's efforts to dramatically alter the way young Americans think about the world and their role within it.
Devendorf steps into this New York-based role with years of experience of relief and development work overseas. He previously served as Mercy Corps' director of public affairs and head of its global emergency response team. In the latter position, he spearheaded the agency's disaster preparedness and response efforts, including emergency operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, Zimbabwe, Kosovo, and the North Caucasus.
Prior to joining Mercy Corps in 1999, Devendorf worked with a variety of relief and refugee assistance organizations, including the U.S. Agency for International Development, InterAction, the International Council of Voluntary Agencies, the International Rescue Committee, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and the International Organization for Migration.
The formation of this new initiative represents a significant strategic realignment within the agency, one designed to sharpen and deepen Mercy Corps' engagement with domestic audiences, particularly youth.
"Educating and engaging the public about global issues is paramount to turning the tide against poverty," Devendorf explained. "It is critical that Americans and others living in wealthy countries understand the reality of what it means to live on $1 a day - how that affects access to education, healthcare, credit, and other opportunities - and what the rest of the world can do about it."
Mercy Corps' Global Engagement initiative will consist of a range of innovative, youth-focused education and outreach programs. The initiative's centerpiece will be first-of-their-kind interactive learning centers in New York City (expected opening summer 2008) and Portland, Oregon (expected opening summer 2009). These museum-quality spaces will use compelling multimedia content to educate visitors about pressing global issues such as hunger, HIV/AIDS, poverty and environmental degradation, as well as offer visitors a menu of actions they can take to help address these global challenges.
Mercy Corps also recently appointed Jessica Cox as the director of development to lead efforts to gain support for the interactive learning center from the local government, foundations, individuals and corporate neighbors of the center. Prior to joining Mercy Corps, Cox was senior major gifts officer at the American Civil Liberties Union and development manager at Environmental Defense. Cox also brings institutional marketing and brand development experience from her previous work at Universal Studios Networks, Turner Broadcasting and the BBC.
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