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Cassandra Bixler

Cassandra Bixler graduated from St. Cloud State University (SCSU) in Minnesota with a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Studies with an emphasis in Political Science and Women's Studies. She began her career in the non-profit sector focused on family values at the local, state and federal level. As a community organizer, Cassandra worked with various faith communities as well as the business/for-profit sector to leverage the concerns of the constituents in her district to local, state and federal officials. Cassandra also organized several political campaigns in her community that involved recruiting supporters, public presentations, and database management.

In 2007, she moved to Washington DC to work for Sojourners Magazine in the marketing department. After two years, she moved into the Director of Advertising Sales position and led Sojourners' fundraising efforts through advertising sales and event sponsorship. In this role, Cassandra strengthened new and existing partnerships with various non-profits committed to social justice.

While Cassandra attended SCSU, she became interested in East African culture and politics. She spent a summer in Kenya and Tanzania volunteering and interviewing women and children's organizations in rural and urban areas. After her return to the United States, she continued developing her connections in East Africa as she anticipated working or developing a project in this area of the world. Four years later, in 2010, she had the opportunity to go back to East Africa and felt a call to be continuously present in East Africa. This call lead her to ultimately join the SAI staff in November 2010 to work on the ground in Nairobi Kenya on the Kenya Youth Empowerment and Employment Initiative.