Courtney Keene

Courtney Keene, Development Associate
212.400.3952
Courtney@echoinggreen.org

Though originally from Washington DC, Courtney has lived most of her life in West Africa and South East Asia due to her mother’s Foreign Service career. Her international upbringing has nurtured interests in gender development and environmental sustainability, among many other issues. Before joining Echoing Green, Courtney worked as a Gender Research Assistant for the United Nations Millennium Project and was and remains involved in the programs and development of the African Women’s Millennium Initiative on Poverty and Human Rights (AWOMI), a non-profit, based in Dakar, Senegal. Courtney has a B.A. in Political Science from Barnard College, Columbia University.

Why do you do what you do?

wdydwyd sign: We create the world we live in.

I do what I do because I'm an optimist. I believe people are inherently good and capable of doing amazing things, if only given the opportunity, a healthy environment in which to grow and the confidence to do so.

My social change passion

It's hard to choose - they are all so intereconnected. If I had to choose one area it would be Community Improvement and Economic Development (mixed with Women's Empowerment, Environment, Youth Leadership, and Arts, Culture, Media).

What's your favorite quote?

"There is a voice inside that talks to you when you are alone and silent. That voice I have come to call "the God in me," and it tells me when I'm right, when I'm pretending, when I'm dishonest, when I'm fair. If you follow it and are committed to it, you will get somewhere..." - Wangari Maathai

What's your sign?

Cancer. Get this, this year my birthday was 7/7/7. That has to mean something cool, right?

What's your hometown?

Technically, DC is my hometown. But I've barely spent any time there. If I could choose a hometown out of anywhere I've lived, I would adopt New York City. It's colorful, lively, and international. I can spend whole days people-watching and no matter how long I've lived here there are always new things to discover.

I just mastered...

My first venture into Indian cuisine! I made Aloo Gobi (a spicy cauliflower and potatoe dish) that came out surprisingly well.

Any pets?

Yes! He's a Brussels Griffin (funny looking dog) named Che. When groomed he looks like an old man and he can sleep for hours with all fours in the air, snoring loudly.

Where was your last vacation?

Barbados! My Dad's family is Bajan and it was my family's first time there. Beautiful beaches and delicious food - what more could anyone ask for?