Wiki picked for director of foundation

Geneva Wiki has been selected as the executive director of the Wild Rivers Community Foundation.

Established in 2004, the foundation seeks to improve the quality of life for the residents of Del Norte and Curry counties.

Earlier this year, it received a grant to facilitate community planning efforts for the California Endowment’s “Building Healthy Communities” initiative. Del Norte County is one of 14 California sites. Over the next 10 years, the endowment will provide grants to all 14 sites that could total up to $1 billion for various health-related initiatives.

“It was critical to find someone who could bring diverse stakeholders together, who understood the role the foundation could play, and who would bring immediate credibility to the position,” said former chairperson and founding director Kevin Caldwell. “We believe Geneva is that person.”

A member of the Yurok Tribe and a descendent of the Tolowa/Smith River Tribe, Wiki was the founding director of the Klamath River Early College of the Redwoods.

“Communities who can successfully adapt to change and emerge from that change with a clear sense of purpose and dedication are, without fail, those who can self-convene around their most critical challenges,” said Wiki. “Community foundations play such a crucial role in fostering that dialogue, and I am excited and humbled to be a part of that in our community.”

Board Chairman Dan Brattain said “Geneva has demonstrated a commitment to bring local citizens from all areas together to help solve our community’s needs.”

Founding Board Member Kevin Hartwick added, “We feel so fortunate to have Geneva as our new executive director as she has the knowledge, education and local experience to inspire all community members as we work to improve the Wild River’s region for generations to come.”

Wiki earned a master of public administration degree from the University of Washington in Seattle, where she was awarded the Daniel J. Evans Leadership Award for Innovative Leadership and Public Service by the Evans School of Public Affairs. She received her bachelor’s degree in planning, public policy and management from the University of Oregon, where she was recognized by the Planning, Public Policy and Management Department as 2008 Young Alumnus of the Year.