Sarah Wilke came to the community center after spending 14 months in the U.S. Peace Corps, helping Costa Rican women develop small cooperative businesses.



Sarah Wilke came to the community center after spending 14 months in the U.S. Peace Corps, helping Costa Rican women develop small cooperative businesses.

Sarah Wilke came to the community center after spending 14 months in the U.S. Peace Corps, helping Costa Rican women develop small cooperative businesses.

Biography of Workshop Leader:

Sarah Wilke

Sarah Wilke has worked as the executive director of Wesley-Rankin Community Center since 1986.

As Executive Director of Wesley-Rankin, Sarah has worked to strengthen the ties between the United Methodist church and the community in an effort to help individuals realize their potential for giving and growth.

The ministry at Wesley-Rankin combined with her love of the church has lead Sarah to devote much of her energy to the study and application of faith-based community development.

Sarah came to the community center after spending 14 months in the U.S. Peace Corps, helping Costa Rican women develop small cooperative businesses. During her time in the Central American country, she became fluent in Spanish - - a skill that led her to want to continue working in the Hispanic community on her return to the United States.

ACTIVITIES

Wesley-Rankin Community Center, Executive Director, 1986-present

Co-Creator "Project Transformation", a collaborative leadership development/urban mission effort of the North Texas Conference UMC.

Speaking engagements include United Methodist Women's Assembly '98, Cedar Valley Community College Convocation '98, United Methodist Institutional Leadership in Texas Symposium '95, and '97. Throughout the year, Sarah speaks to churches, United Methodist Women, Colleges, and civic groups.

Academics 2000 State Panel Member, Governor's Appointee 1995-Present Mexican-American Studies Program, Perkins School of Theology, Advisory Committee, 1997-Present.

Mountain View Community College, President's Advisory Committee 1995-Present Southwestern College, Winfield, Kansas, Educational Advisory Committee, 1994-95, 1997-Present.

Dallas Healthy Community Initiative, Neighborhood Strategies, Chair, 1996-Present. Vecinos Unidos Neighborhood Association, (community development organization), founding member.

U.S. Peace Corps, Costa Rica, volunteer, 1984-86

University of Kansas, 1980-84. Major in Political Science, emphasis in Personnel Administration.

By lwright@valley.net on Wednesday, August 13, 2003 - 8:21 pm: Edit Post

Hi, this is a terrific site. I am browsing around to see what I can find that would be of interest to my daughter who is entering her senior year in environmental studies in college. She is interested in doing work to preserve the rainforests and would be interested in combining this with working with Costa Rican women to help them economically. Any ideas how she and some of the other women at Wellesley might be able to help during their senior year? Thanks, Laurie Wright

By hollyrice (pavas-a234.racsa.co.cr - 196.40.32.235) on Thursday, February 16, 2006 - 3:37 pm: Edit Post

Hi, I live in a beach community in Costa Rica. Tourism and real estate are booming. I feel that with this new multi-cultural face of our town resources are abundant for local people. I want to open a community center in my town that will bridge the gap and make sure that the investors are giving back if not joining the community! Can you tell me more about special organizations in Costa Rica that I should contact to help me get this idea off the ground? We are ready to make it happen- but I want to involve as many of the wonderful programs such as those that Sarah supported with this idea!
Thank you,
Holly Rice