Board of Directors
Sewing Seeds for Hope is a volunteer-run 501(c)(3) organization helping Afghan women achieve economic independence. The families we serve have all been legally resettled in New England by the US government.
PRESIDENT
Carolyn Coffin
Carolyn has been sewing since she was 10. Following a career as a clinical social worker, she started Flourish Fabrications, creating sewn products for home and travel. Carolyn has been volunteering with Afghan evacuees since early 2022.
TREASURER
Karen Driscoll Montague
Karen's long career in advertising included her tenure as a Managing Partner, Chief Operations Officer at Arnold Worldwide, a full service advertising agency headquartered in Boston. Karen has been volunteering with Afghan evacuees since their resettlement in Manchester in 2021.
SECRETARY
Hansi Dean, PhD
Hansi spent 35 years in global health developing vaccines, including 10 years at the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative in NYC. She served as Vice President and Head of Research for Takeda Vaccines in Cambridge. Hansi has been volunteering with Afghan evacuees in New England since 2021.
MEMBER AT LARGE
Kim Samara
Kim enjoyed a successful career in the technology industry, specializing in healthcare software systems. Born in Manchester, NH and raised in a Middle Eastern immigrant family, Kim has a special affinity for her new Afghan neighbors. She has been been volunteering with this community for five years.
MEMBER AT LARGE
Chris Stevens
Chris is a retired registered nurse, BSN, who has long been active as a volunteer in her communities. In Cleveland, OH, she was a board member of the non-profit Give A Chance (GAC), Vice Chair of Ursuline College Trustees, founding member of the North Union Farmers Market, President of the BOT of Alzheimer’s Assoc. of NE Ohio and Meals on Wheels. In Manchester she has been active in supporting the local homeless shelter and the Afghan community. She is the proud mother of NH State Representative Erin Kerwin, who serves the Manchester district.
MEMBER AT LARGE
Janice Merk
Janice is a seasoned marketing professional with 30+ years of experience developing and executing successful marketing strategies for technology startups, industry leaders, and nonprofit organizations. She has been working with the Afghan community since 2022.