Staff

Mike Brand – Executive Director/Founder

Mike Brand is a Human Rights organizer, activist and educator with over six years of advocacy and organizing experience.  Mike has spent several years working in the nonprofit sector on issues such as advocacy, education and youth programming.  Mike spent over a year in Rwanda working with orphans of the genocide, to help them rebuild their lives, as well as with youth from around the country, to help them learn how to combat genocide ideology through Human Rights education.  While studying at the University of Connecticut, Mike founded Idealists United as a student organization on campus to overcome the apathy and indifference amongst students and breathe new life into the Human Rights movement on campus.  Now Mike is taking his idea for Idealists United and bringing it to the global scale.

Board

Katie Kilroy

Katie Kilroy has long been an advocate and a leader in the fight for human rights across the globe. This includes most recently her work as Development Coordinator at the China Care Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping medically fragile orphans in China. Before the China Care Foundation, Katie spent two years as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Senegal, where she worked with impoverished communities by extending enhanced agricultural techniques, promoting improved nutritional intake, addressing women’s rights issues and tackling health concerns. Ms. Kilroy earned a B.A. from The University of Connecticut in Political Science, International Studies and Human Rights.  As a core member of Idealists United, at UCONN, she was at the forefront, in coordination with fellow IU members, in planning the very first Human Rights Awareness Festival.  Katie has years of experience in fundraising, volunteer work and assisting underprivileged communities. A passionate believer in helping those that cannot help themselves, she is thrilled to be with Idealists United.

Caroline Kushnitz

Caroline Kushnitz is an informal educator, living and working in Long Island, NY.  She has over eight years of experience working with youth in various capacities. Caroline graduated from Binghamton University with BA’s in Philosophy Politics and Law, and Cinema.  Caroline currently works full time at the Mid-Island Y JCC as the Teen Services Supervisor where she coordinates and runs programs for children and teens grades 5-12.  She has experience running leadership programs, community service projects, travel camps, recreational programs, intergenerational programs, and academic review classes. In addition to her work at the JCC, Caroline is involved with Shabbat Alive!, an interactive activity based program for children grades 2-6 at the Merrick Jewish Centre, a conservative synagogue. Besides her work commitments, Caroline is getting her Masters in Social Work at Adelphi University. After receiving her degree, Caroline hopes to work with families in order to help foster positive and healthy relationships between youth and their parents. Caroline is excited to be a part of Idealists United and looks forward to using her youth programming experience to help guide and support IU’s programs.

Michael Farber

Michael graduated from the University of Buffalo with a degree in Media Studies. His education centered on analytical interpretation and documentary, a genre often focused on exposing corruption and social inequalities.  He has since been working in the internet advertising field, reaching people in over 70 countries worldwide. Michael brings to Idealists United a wide range of virtual communications knowledge and experience reaching out to targeted populations across the world.  His passion lies in nature, music, philosophy, world travel, and experiencing other cultures.

 

Katie Kilroy has long been an advocate and a leader in the fight for human rights across the globe. This includes most recently her work as Development Coordinator at the China Care Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping medically fragile orphans in China. Before the China Care Foundation, Katie spent two years as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Senegal, where she worked with impoverished communities by extending enhanced agricultural techniques, promoting improved nutritional intake, addressing women’s rights issues and tackling health concerns. Ms. Kilroy earned a B.A. from The University of Connecticut in Political Science, International Studies and Human Rights. As a core member of Idealists United, at UCONN, she was at the forefront, in coordination with fellow IU members, in planning the very first Human Rights Awareness Festival. Katie has years of experience in fundraising, volunteer work and assisting underprivileged communities. A passionate believer in helping those that cannot help themselves, she is thrilled to be with Idealists United.