Saintanne Tipton
President/Executive Director
My life as I knew it changed forever in 1974. Prior to that time, I remember a childhood of sadness, loneliness, and an absence of toys to play with. Most of all, I had no real knowledge of family and never seemed to have enough to eat.
My name is Saintanne Hilaire Tipton and what I have just described was my life in an orphanage in Haiti, where I was born. I don’t remember much about my life there. When I was five years old, I was brought some one hundred-thirty kilometers away to an orphanage in Petionville, Haiti where I lived until I was adopted.
As far as my recollection of Petionville, I remember the few caring people who looked out for me and the other orphans. A few of the habits of mind I gained have remained with me throughout my life, were to love God, to be grateful for everything, and to always share with others what you have. In the early 1970s, it was truly God’s providence that a man named Thomas Tipton came to Haiti and visited the orphanage where I lived. When he saw me, somehow, he knew I was going to be his daughter, and at the same time, I wanted to be his daughter. I remember writing him a letter saying, “I hope one day you will come to take me to live with you in your home,” and he did. Because of his generosity my whole life changed, and I was given a chance for a brighter future.
I am so grateful to God for rescuing me and giving me a chance for a better life, while so many desperate children in Haiti were left waiting and hoping. The bible says, “For everyone who has been given much, much will be required.” (Luke 48:12) Since so much has been given unto me I am compelled to give back.
The driving theme for The Lighthouse is about opening our hearts and minds to the extreme suffering our children, families and communities endure every day. The lighthouse symbolizes the way forward to help in navigating the way through the rough waters of life, whether those waters be personal, financial, or spiritual in nature. It leads those that are in danger to a place of security and safety. I call it God’s work!
Community Partners
Konbit Solèy Leve and Konbit Bibliyotèk Site Solèy – Two community-based movements to build peace, inter-neighborhood relationships, and building Haiti’s largest public library. Director Louino Robillard
Fondasyon Ginen/Pak nan Ginen – A community initiative in rural northern Haiti that is aiming to build a different kind of model for community environmental stewardship and conservation. Director Louino Robillard
METANOIA – An initiative based in Ti Ayiti, Cite Soleil, that has been using sports and other forms of youth engagement to keep young people safe and off the streets. Director Wilnis Joseph
RAJEPRE – A community-based organization in Bwa Nef, Cite Soleil, that has been running a progressive community school and working with streets children. Director Luc Winter
POSIBILITE – A community organization based in Carrefour that supports young. people and their families through challenging times. Director Wilner Paul
OEDH – An organization Embracing the Disinherited of Haiti. Operates an Elementary school "Toussaint Louverture" and operates an orphanage in Ganthier with about 50 children "House of children by the Faith". Director Celianie P. Valmond.
Governing Board
Angela Scott
BOARD CHAIR & TREASURER
Angela has over 25 years of management, facilitation, and administration experience. She offers a tremendous wealth of knowledge and has a unique ability to develop strong leaders through innovative training and engagement activities. She has facilitated numerous workshops, bible studies and corporate events.
Angela is a graduate from Augsburg College and holds a degree in Business Communications.
She is currently an Assistant Pastor at Faith Tabernacle Gospel Fellowship. Under the tutelage of Pastors Floyd and E. Mae Beecham for over 17 years she has served as a teacher, administrator and treasurer.
Angela believes that we are all valuable. God has given everyone a special assignment and purpose. She has volunteered over the years as foster parent for teenage boys, mentoring young adults in life and career skills and providing spiritual guidance to women in transitional housing. She has dedicated her life to strengthen and empower others to live life to its fullest potential both spiritually and physically.
Cori Thompson
BOARD VICE CHAIR
Cori Thompson has worked in education for the past 25 years. She has held a wide range of educational positions, from being a classroom teacher to working as an elementary principal. She has also worked at the district level, leading systemic equity change for each student. Currently, Cori works as an educational equity coach for administrators.
She has an undergraduate degree in Sociology from Hamline University and a Master of Arts in Teaching degree from Hamline University's Graduate School of Education. Cori earned her educational administrative license from Saint Mary’s University.
Cori believes that it takes a village to raise children. She also believes in the wisdom that Nelson Mandela shared, "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
Bonita Hughes
BOARD SECRETARY
Bonita (Bonnie) Hughes was raised in St. Paul, Minnesota where she graduated from Highland Park High School. She earned a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Metropolitan State University and a MBA in Business Administration from the University of St. Thomas.
She worked for 20 years at 3M and Imation, a spin-off company of 3M, in various accounting and financial positions. Currently, she is the Business Manager for Studio 4 Enterprises, a management company to High School for Recording Arts, since 2002.
She actively volunteers in the community. She was the Treasurer of Lutheran Church of the Redeemer from 2007 – 2016. And is the current Treasurer of Butterflies 4 Life, a breast cancer awareness organization.
Rich Berkley
Board Member
Rich Berkley is a financial professional with Equitable Advisors. Originally from Liberia, he was adopted at the age of 10. He has a bachelor's degree in Business and Marketing from the University of Jamestown. He plans on bringing financial literacy to underserved communities.
Kerri L. Lewis
BOARD MEMBER
Kerri has been active in Christian and Humanitarian ministry for over 19 years. She is Joint Associate Pastor along with her husband Anthony Lewis and a member of the ministerial staff at Faith Tabernacle Gospel Fellowship Int’l (FTGFI).
She works as a spiritual life coach. Her vision is to promote the advancement of the world and the Kingdom of God. An effective communicator of God’s Word, Pastor Kerri is known for her energetic and practical style which helps people apply the timeless truths of Scripture to their everyday lives.
She purposes to elevate all, through the visualization of God’s purpose for their life. Help them see, His value of their worth. She has a strong compassion to help others. Inspiration from the Lord to do our humanitarian work, whether it will affect one life or millions of people. For one act of kindness can be enough to create a wave of change.
She & her husband, coach couples together; helping to build, cultivate & restore marriages.
She has been a board member of Urban Hope Ministries since 2008.
Kerri worked in the airline industry for over 20 years as a Flight Attendant.
Joe Palen
BOARD MEMBER
Joe’s started his career at a young age and has been in the construction and real-estate industry for over 35 years. Joe believes that the key to any successful business is driven by faith, honesty, integrity and building long-lasting relationships. During his career, he has owned and partnered with several companies, such as the Palen Contracting LLC, Bralen Companies, JT Real estate and Palen Property Management. In addition to The Lighthouse, he currently sits on the board of the Metro Bowhunters Resource Base.
Throughout his career, Joe has created and constructed many non-profit organizations. His passion for understanding people, cultures and community led him towards philanthropy and activism.
Advisory Board
Cassandra Walker Pye, CEO
3.14 Communications, LLC
For more than 30 years, Cassandra Walker Pye has enjoyed a successful career in communications, government, politics and advocacy for corporate interests in global, national, state and local arenas. In January 2015, she founded 3.14 Communications, LLC, a strategic partner to businesses, trade associations, non-profits and individuals seeking to influence stakeholders – linking modern communications tools with the well-written word.
Pye is an effective strategic facilitator, crisis counselor and executive trainer. Prior to launching 3.14 Communications, she was senior vice president for APCO Worldwide, a global strategic communication consultancy, where she led the retail segment for APCO’s global Food and Consumer Products practice group. In 2003, Pye was appointed deputy chief of staff to California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and served on his historic post-recall election transition team. She is former vice president of corporate affairs and political director for the California Chamber of Commerce, director of public affairs for the California Retailers Association, director of governmental relations for the California Grocers Association and state relations manager for the Food Marketing Institute, headquartered in Washington, DC. An award-winning writer, Pye is a regular contributor to CA Grocer magazine.
She’s been a longtime advocate for women’s leadership in the public and private sectors and now serves as State Board President for California Women Lead, the only statewide, non-partisan organization committed to providing women the training and support they need to be successful in the political arena. She is member of the Board of Directors for Street Soccer USA (Sacramento), a director of the Sacramento Region Community Foundation, a trustee for the California Blue Ribbon Commission on Autism Foundation and a senior fellow of the American Leadership Forum (ALF).
Erika L. Binger
Erika has traveled to Haiti on several occasions and is very interested in working with the citizens of Haiti to create programming and opportunities for sustainability. She believes in listening to people who are close to the issues and elevating their voices. She has contributed to the formation of several organizations, including Circle Capital Global, Nexus Sports for Good, R8D, Youthprise, NAZ, V3 Sports, We IMPACT!, etc. One commonality in her work is to provide access and opportunities to often overlooked aspects of society and leveraging connections between existing infrastructures and entities.
Tony Simmons
While working with national recording artists as an entertainment lawyer, Tony met David "TC" Ellis and assisted him in the formation of Studio 4 / High School for Recording Arts. He cofounded Another Level Records, the first national student-operated record label. Tony is the Executive Director of the High School for Recording Arts, Co-Founder / Co-Director of the New School Creation Fellowship at the High Tech High Graduate School of Education, and Co-Founder of the Center for Love and Justice at the High Tech High Graduate School of Education.
Tony has served as board member to such leading national school reform organizations as Education Evolving, Reaching At Promise Students Association (RAPSA), Coalition of Independent Charter Schools and Edvisions, Inc.
His association with RAPSA lead to his contribution to the report, "Seizing The Moment: Realizing the Promise of Student-Centered Learning" and to the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools report “Over-Age, Under-Credited Students and Public Charter Schools.” He was also a part of the working group that lead to the National Association of Charter School Authorizer report on alternative accountability and has been a member of the Black Alliance for Educational Options.
Tony has been a member of the Saint Paul School District Quality Review Team and a peer reviewer for the Minnesota Department of Education for Federal Charter School Program grants. Tony has keynoted or made major presentations to educators across the United States and internationally in Bangkok, Xian, Vancouver, Montreal, Oxford, and Copenhagen. He attended Howard University and Pace University and also earned a Juris Doctorate from Rutgers University School of Law.