Our Story

Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa-USA, based in New York City, mobilizes resources to support grassroots organizations that increase access to education and development for women and girls in West Africa, with a particular focus on making strategic investments in the work of Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa in Liberia. Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa-USA also promotes public engagement with the vision and work of our founder, Leymah Gbowee, and seeks to share the lessons of her leadership. 

We know ensuring girls have access to quality education and are seen as valuable participants in society is vital to address inequality and building sustainable peace.

Board of Directors

Leymah Gbowee, Co-Founder and Board Member

2011 Nobel Peace Laureate Leymah Gbowee is a Liberian peace activist, trained social worker and women’s rights advocate. After winning the Nobel Peace Prize, she established the Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa. Leymah also serves as the Executive Director of the Women, Peace and Security Program at the Earth Institute at Columbia University. Leymah is the proud mother of eight children.

George Pinto, Board Member & Chair

George is a CPA and Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Silicon Valley Accountancy Corporation. He also teaches philosophy part time at San Jose State University. George is passionate about amplifying the lessons and leadership of Nobel laureates Leymah Gbowee and Kailash Satyarthi.

Angie Wang, Board Member & Vice-Chair

Angie Wang (she/her), an experienced strategist with 25+ years in social change, collaborates with visionary groups to enhance their impact. As Chief of Staff to Abigail E. Disney she brings expertise in strategy and operations to organizations including the Daphne Foundation, Level Forward, and Fork Films. Angie's leadership spans roles at Peace is Loud, The New York Women's Foundation, the September 11th Fund, and Safe Horizon.

 

Ernest Obubah, Board Member & Treasurer

Ernest Obubah is an Audit Managing Director with over 15 years in the field. He is dedicated to providing audit services to his clients, specializing in sectors such as higher education, not-for-profits, healthcare, and public companies. Beyond his professional career, Ernest is married and takes pride in being a father. As a proud Ghanaian, Ernest is devoted to enhancing education in West Africa through his board service and personal efforts to support the education of young people in his community in Ghana.

Kouty Mawenh, Board Member & Secretary

Kouty is an active board member for both Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa in Liberia (since 2014) and Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa-USA in the United States (since 2016). Currently a District Leader of Eli Lilly and Company (Lilly) Southeast SeniorCare Division, Kouty has considerable experience in marketing, lobbying and operations management at Lilly and abroad. He is Partner for the Liberian-based ProSyte entity. Kouty is passionate about Liberians in the US giving back to Liberia.

Wayétu Moore, Board Member

Wayétu Moore is the author of the novel She Would Be King, and the memoir, The Dragons, The Giant, The Women. She is the recipient of the 2019 Lannan Literary Fellowship for Fiction and the 2022 William Saroyan Prize for Nonfiction. Moore is a graduate of Howard University, University of Southern California and Columbia University.

 

Brian Rusch, Board Member

Brian strategizes with nonprofits, governments, corporations, and celebrities to help optimize their platforms to be change makers for good. Currently, Brian serves as the Vice-Chair of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion for Rotary International, and is the CEO of Out For Equality, a US-based nonprofit that provides strategy and resources to grassroots LGBTQ+ organizations fighting for human rights around the world.

Lanaia Edwards Estrella, Board Member

Lanaia Edwards Estrella, M.B.A., brings over 20 years of brand marketing experience, having worked in the personal care industry with natural beauty and personal care brands ranging from Fortune 500 to entrepreneurial organizations. She served as a Chief Marketing Officer for two companies and currently runs her consulting business, Encompass Market Solutions Inc., specializing in branding, digital media, marketing strategy and communications. Lanaia resides in New Jersey with her husband and two sons.

 

Staff

Richelle Todd-Yamoah, Executive Director

Richelle Todd-Yamoah has a wide range of experience having worked on issues related to international peacebuilding, community development, human rights, child welfare systems, capacity building and social justice. She is highly experienced in program management, implementation, and evaluation, with over 20 years of experience in philanthropy, government, and the nonprofit sector. A proud former Peace Corps volunteer in both Malawi and Côte d’Ivoire. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Maryland and a master’s degree in Public Administration from Rutgers University.

Isabella Louis, Development & Communications Associate

Isabella Louis is an artist with an extensive background in community organizing. She’s worked with high net worth Americans to lobby for policy changes in the US tax code, as well as led domestic workers in fighting for labor rights and protections. In her current role, Isabella manages fundraising, social media, and communications. Isabella holds a Bachelors of Arts degree in Women Studies and Africana Studies from Goucher College.