Dedicated Volunteers
Heather Summe
Heather is a medical student at the University of Massachusetts. She received a BS in Health Studies from Georgetown University in 2006 and an MS in Nutrition Science from Columbia University in 2008. Heather is a co-chair for Akilah’s annual Metropolitan Safari benefit in New York City. She is originally from Boston, Ma and became involved with Akilah through their Executive Director, Elizabeth Davis. At UMass, Heather is a student coordinator for the Hudson Clinic, a free clinic for the uninsured. She is also part of the UMass Pathway on Serving Multicultural and Underserved Populations and is dedicated to continuing this line of work after graduation.
Crystal Cook
Originally from Kansas, Crystal has been living in Washington, DC since January 2006 after graduating with honors from Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas, with degrees in Political Science and History. She came to Washington to work at the White House in the office of Mrs. Lynne Cheney, where she assisted in planning all official and personal events for the Vice President and his family among other tasks. She now works in the Government Relations department of Bracewell & Giuliani LLP.
Crystal is serving as the Chair for the Planning Committee of the Akilah Benefit in Spring 2010 in Washington D.C.
Meredith Wiedeman
Meredith graduated from The George Washington University in May 2006 with a BA in Political Science. Meredith currently lives in New York, NY. She is a co-chair for Akilah’s annual Metropolitan Safari benefit in New York City. In addition to her work with Akilah Meredith also volunteers as a tutor for the Dome Project and sits on the Advisory Board of the George Washington University’s Luther Rice Society.
Sara Rooney
Sara was raised in Nigeria where her parents worked with the Lutheran Church. After graduating from high school there, she moved to Minnesota where she received degrees in Studio Art and American Racial & Multicultural Studies from St. Olaf College. She currently lives in the Tampa Bay area, and works as Senior Graphic Designer for BIC Graphic USA in Clearwater.