Racial Unity Team announces new board members

EXETER — The Racial Unity Team recently announced the election of three new members to its board of directors.

Dr. Cora Quisumbing-King, Kathleen Blake, and Dr. Lowell (Chris) Matthews will each serve a three-year term.

The mission of the Racial Unity Team is to advance relationships among people of different racial identities, increase understanding, and reduce racial bias in our communities.

Quisumbing-King is a founding member of the Racial Unity Team’s AAPI Advisory Group and is active in the group’s effort to increase Asian American involvement and collaboration. Quisumbing-King serves on the Ad-Hoc Committee for Racial Equity and Inclusion for the cty of Dover, is co-chair of the NH AAPI Democrats, member of the Dover Democrats Executive Committee, and Convenor of their Social Justice Action Group. She is the author of two op-eds: “My Turn: The Disappearing American Dream” and “Being Who I Am.”

Blake, also from Dover, is of Native American tribal heritage in the Wendat, Algonquin, and Mi'kmaq First Nations. She is devoted to supporting our indigenous citizens with her volunteer service in several organizations. Blake served as member and chair of the New Hampshire Commission on Native American Affairs; is a member of the Committee for Racial Equity and Inclusion, formed in 2020 by the Dover City Council; and is a member of Indigenous New Hampshire Collaborative Collective. She is a retired environmental and biological sciences teacher and school administrator, and is currently Affiliate Faculty, Native American and Indigenous Studies (Minor) at the University of New Hampshire.

Matthews, of Manchester, is an associate professor of Global Business and Leadership at Southern New Hampshire University and director of the University Honors Program. Matthews volunteers with Big Brothers Big Sisters of New Hampshire, City Year, and the Granite YMCA. He has served as chair of the Board for DreamCatchers NH and director of fundraising events for the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, and he currently serves on the board of directors and investment committee for the Endowment for Health.

“The diversity and expertise our new board members bring to the Racial Unity Team will help us model the society New Hampshire desires and effectively bring about the changes necessary for equity, inclusion, and justice,” said Racial Unity Team board chair Ken Mendis of Stratham. “We look forward to utilizing their deep and wide experience to make a positive impact on our state.”

Leaving the board after fulfilling their terms are three founding members of the Racial Unity Team: Pat Yosha and David Weber of Exeter, and Joy Meiser Mendis of Stratham. Continuing board members are Tanisha Johnson and Jon Ring of Exeter, Sylvia Foster of Dover, Dr. David Ryan of Hooksett, and Mark Whitney of Newfields.

For more information about the Racial Unity Team, check them out on Facebook or at racialunityteam.com.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Exeter NH Racial Unity Team announces new board members