MICHELLE MALLORY (above) & CHIPO SOWARDS
Vancouver-based nonprofit EOCF (Educational Opportunities for Children and Families) recently announced the addition of Chipo Sowards and Michelle Mallory to their board of directors.
As board members, Sowards and Mallory will provide governing leadership to EOCF’s 260-member staff in delivering programs for children of low incomes or with disabilities, ages birth-to-five, to assist them with early learning and school readiness, as well as provide family education and support on their path to self-sufficiency.
Mallory joins the board as an early learning expert. She is currently a professor of early childhood education and family life at Clark College. She is endorsed to work with severely handicapped learners and has been a board member for the Organization of Parenting Education Programs for Washington State Community Colleges.
Sowards has had years of involvement with EOCF and a vast history of humanitarian projects serving children, youth and adults in our community, nation and abroad. As a parent of a child with special needs who was enrolled in the organization’s early learning program, she was very involved in organizing and conducting meetings and events, and classroom assistance. Chipo was elected to the Parent Policy Council, which is another governing body for EOCF, and also represented them at board meetings.
“We are excited to welcome Michelle and Chipo to our board,” said Carol Foster, EOCF executive director. “Michelle teaches early childhood education at Clark College and Chipo is a former EOCF Parent Policy Council member. Thus they are strong advocates for children and families and are ‘movers and shakers’ in the field of early learning, bringing a wealth of knowledge to EOCF.”
