Board and Staff
The majority of us are multilingual & multicultural. Together, we speak 15 languages. We also have experience living in many different places around the world. Together, we have lived in 11 countries, on 4 continents and in many locales across the USA.
Our Board
Apollo Karara, M.S., Board Chair
Apollo Karara grew up in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. When he moved to Maine in 2006 he struggled with the cultural and linguistic difference, and feelings of being less competitive in the labor market.
Through his studies and own experience, Apollo found that English proficiency was key for immigrants to achieve economic self-reliance and to integrate into the larger community in Maine. In 2012, after attaining his Master’s Degree in Community Economic Development from Southern New Hampshire University, Apollo founded Maine Association for New Americans (MANA) to aid New Mainers to achieve economic self-reliance. Thus, MANA has been an immigrant-led organization from the start.
He is excited to be a part of MANA’s Board and continuing to work with New Mainers.
Apollo is married to a loving wife with whom he has five children and one grandchild.
Find Apollo Karara on LinkedIn.
Francine Ngabu, Board Vice Chair
Francine Ngabu arrived in Maine from the Democratic Republic of Congo, where she was a judge. Always passionate about human rights and volunteer work, Francine has continued to support and give back to the community while managing moving to the U.S., finding a job that best suits her extensive and impressive professional portfolio as a human rights advocate.
She is currently the Legal Program Associate at Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project, the elected General Secretary of the Congolese Community of Maine, and co-chair of Peer to Peer Exchange for Legal Professionals with Ali Tozier, a former MANA board member.
Find Francine Ngabu on LinkedIn.
Nolasque Isirabahenda, Treasurer/Secretary
Nolasque has over 20 years leading non-profits internationally, including both US Aid, where he was lead Accountant and the Burundian Community Association of Maine, of which he is a founding board member.
Dieudonné Nzeyimana, MBA
With over 20 years work experience in public service, project management, and IT leadership, Dieudonné brings ample leadership experience to MANA. A recent arrival to the U.S., he currently works at ProsperityME.
Find Dieudonné Nzeyimana on LinkedIn.
Munyaneza Thatien, Board Member
Thatien has a B.S. in accounting from the National University of Rwanda, and an M.S in financial accounting from the University of Quebec in Montreal. He has spent 13 years working for U.S.-based non-profits, most recently as finance manager at World Relief in Baltimore and then as Africa area finance director at World Concern Development Organization in Seattle.
