Our District Governor Elect, André Marria of Thomasville, is one of six Rotary members from around the world to be honored as a Rotary People of Action: Champion of Inclusion for her work to build a culture of inclusion as an advocate and mentor for women and people of color in southern Georgia, U.S.

Rotary members throughout the world are taking action to strengthen and empower historically marginalized and underrepresented communities by improving access to health services, education, economic opportunities, and civic participation.

Since 2005, Marria has worked to bridge cultural divides in her community by bringing those from different backgrounds together to learn about and work together as well as to improve the lives of those in need, including by supporting aspiring entrepreneurs from underserved communities. Through Marria’s leadership, the Rotary Club of Thomasville has worked with a local business incubator to equip these entrepreneurs—particularly women and minorities--with the educational materials, mentors and expertise they need to succeed.

• Teaching visually impaired and homeless children from refugee settlements to express themselves through music in Turkey
• Educating and nurturing children with intellectual disabilities in Uganda
• Empowering transgender communities in India through providing access to healthcare, employment, and advocacy
• Facilitating open discussions on the social barriers people can face in the LGBTQ, disabled and other underrepresented communities in Brazil
• Supporting and cultivating relationships with Indigenous communities in Canada

“The actions taken by these Rotary members exemplify our approach to bringing people together to cultivate a more just, open and inclusive world,” said Rotary International President Jennifer Jones. “We are an organization that finds common ground in our humanity and in our desire to create lasting change in our communities, the world and in ourselves. Every day, we leverage our members’ diverse perspectives to fight inequalities, foster peace, and address humanitarian challenges across the globe.”