Philadelphia, PA (April 5, 2023) – The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) has hired Sonia Tuma to serve as Associate General Secretary for Global Cohesion. Sonia’s work with AFSC goes back thirty years when she began working as an intern and fellow with the Middle East Peace Education program in California. Over the years, Sonia has held many positions at AFSC and has been a regional director in the US since 2005, most recently in the western region of the country.
Sonia has played an integral role in guiding AFSC through numerous organizational change processes and has been a vocal advocate for standardized and accountable planning and collaboration across AFSC’s global programming. While serving as regional director, Sonia developed several new AFSC programs, and supported the transition of several then-AFSC programs to become thriving, independent, community-based organizations. Sonia has been an effective trainer and facilitator and has mentored numerous staff.
“I am excited about the opportunity that the Global Cohesion division brings to stretch our imagination, and to see beyond where AFSC has been,” said Sonia Tuma. “This is the time to leverage the skills and knowledge of AFSC’s staff, and the relationships and partnerships of its programs around the world, and to work together, from the very earliest planning stages, toward accomplishing the global goals AFSC set for itself in its strategic plan.”
In her new role Sonia will lead AFSC’s Global Cohesion Division which includes the Youth Director, the Strategy, Learning, and Impact team, and the Washington, D.C. Office of Public Policy and Advocacy. She will represent the organization externally with its donor community and partners.
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The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) promotes a world free of violence, inequality, and oppression. Guided by the Quaker belief in the divine light within each person, we nurture the seeds of change and the respect for human life to fundamentally transform our societies and institutions. We work with people and partners worldwide, of all faiths and backgrounds, to meet urgent community needs, challenge injustice, and build peace.