Companions
Founder / Executive Director
Dianne Hanley |
Dianne Hanley holds a Master of Pastoral Studies from Loyola University New Orleans. She was trained by the Sisters of the Cenacle to facilitate groups in Ignatian Spirituality. Dianne has served as a leader of Together Baton Rouge and Together Louisiana since 2010. She is an Associate of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph. She has served on the Congregation of St. Joseph Anti-Racism Committee and worked with the Diocesan Racial Harmony Committee. She is the former Executive Director of the St. Joseph Spirituality Center, which provided spiritual development opportunities for adults in the Baton Rouge area. |
Board of Directors
Kari Amarasinghe Canizaro
A linguist, Kari has been sharing her love of languages with her students for over 15 years. She holds a Bachelor's Degree with a double major in Foreign Languages, French and Spanish, from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. Kari teaches at Catholic High School in Baton Rouge where she has been since 1999, while occasionally taking some time off to have and raise her 3 sons. Skilled in highlighting the cultural similarities and differences of the languages she teaches, Kari encourages her students to explore a connection between their own life experiences and those of the world around them.
A linguist, Kari has been sharing her love of languages with her students for over 15 years. She holds a Bachelor's Degree with a double major in Foreign Languages, French and Spanish, from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. Kari teaches at Catholic High School in Baton Rouge where she has been since 1999, while occasionally taking some time off to have and raise her 3 sons. Skilled in highlighting the cultural similarities and differences of the languages she teaches, Kari encourages her students to explore a connection between their own life experiences and those of the world around them.
Deacon Randy Clement
Randy is a deacon with the Baton Rouge Diocese. He was assigned to St. John the Evangelist Parish as a deacon in 2001 and has served on staff as the Parish Life Coordinator since 2017. He graduated from St. Joseph Cathedral Preparatory High School in Baton Rouge and attended St. Mary’s Seminary and St. Thomas University in Houston, Texas. Deacon Randy is a professed member of the Secular Franciscans and a member of St. Joseph Fraternity in Baton Rouge. He is a a graduate of Internship at the Center of Action and Contemplation in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Deacon Randy participated in the Roundtable Social Action Summer Institute. He is a Volunteer Chaplin at Louisiana Correction Institute for Women. Ignatian Spirituality has been a key element of his spiritual journey. He has gone through the 19th Annotation of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius.
Randy is a deacon with the Baton Rouge Diocese. He was assigned to St. John the Evangelist Parish as a deacon in 2001 and has served on staff as the Parish Life Coordinator since 2017. He graduated from St. Joseph Cathedral Preparatory High School in Baton Rouge and attended St. Mary’s Seminary and St. Thomas University in Houston, Texas. Deacon Randy is a professed member of the Secular Franciscans and a member of St. Joseph Fraternity in Baton Rouge. He is a a graduate of Internship at the Center of Action and Contemplation in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Deacon Randy participated in the Roundtable Social Action Summer Institute. He is a Volunteer Chaplin at Louisiana Correction Institute for Women. Ignatian Spirituality has been a key element of his spiritual journey. He has gone through the 19th Annotation of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius.
Maria Rosa Eads
Maria Rosa is the Former Executive Director of the Hispanic Apostolate Diocese of Baton Rouge. Born and raised in Mexico City, she came to the U.S. forty years ago, after she got married to an American citizen in Mexico. She worked for the English Language and Orientation Program and the Center for Wetland Resources at LSU where she could practice her bilingual skills. After her two daughters were born she stayed home to raise them, working from home in the administration of her husband's contracting business. In the early nineties she started doing volunteer work for the Hispanic Apostolate of the Diocese of Baton Rouge, and became part of the staff in 2000. Most of her work was in community services, advocating for people who did not have a voice. In 2011 she was named Executive director until 2016 when she retired.
Maria Rosa is the Former Executive Director of the Hispanic Apostolate Diocese of Baton Rouge. Born and raised in Mexico City, she came to the U.S. forty years ago, after she got married to an American citizen in Mexico. She worked for the English Language and Orientation Program and the Center for Wetland Resources at LSU where she could practice her bilingual skills. After her two daughters were born she stayed home to raise them, working from home in the administration of her husband's contracting business. In the early nineties she started doing volunteer work for the Hispanic Apostolate of the Diocese of Baton Rouge, and became part of the staff in 2000. Most of her work was in community services, advocating for people who did not have a voice. In 2011 she was named Executive director until 2016 when she retired.
Melba Venison
Melba is the Regional Director and Board Parliamentarian of the National Association of Multicultural Education.
Melba is the Regional Director and Board Parliamentarian of the National Association of Multicultural Education.
Spirit & Justice Companions and Benefactors
Congregation of St. Joseph Medaille
Nexus Community Partners
Nexus Community Partners
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