June 2025
Dear Friends —
On behalf of the Board of Directors of Beyond Borders, I want to share how deeply grateful I am—and how hopeful I feel—about this new chapter in our shared journey.
As many of you know, our co-founder and longtime director, David Diggs, will soon be stepping aside from day-to-day leadership. Since 1993, David has guided Beyond Borders with extraordinary vision, compassion, and faithfulness to our mission. His impact on Haiti, on our organization, and on each of us who’ve had the privilege to work alongside him is immeasurable. We are forever grateful.
I also want to express my joy that Coleen Hedglin has agreed to return to Beyond Borders to serve as Co-Executive Director alongside Smith Maximé. I’ve known Coleen for many years and have seen firsthand the depth of her integrity and her unwavering commitment to justice and dignity in Haiti.
Coleen brings more than a decade and a half of experience living and working in Haiti. Her work has strengthened the protection of children, advanced community-led care systems, and secured vital funding from foundations and international donors. A fluent Creole speaker and seasoned program strategist, Coleen is a trusted and respected leader with deep relationships in the communities we serve.
Equally, I want to say how thrilled I was when, last October, we named Smith Maximé Co-Executive Director. Smith brings an extraordinary combination of lived experience, moral clarity, and strategic vision to this role.
A lawyer and human rights champion, Smith’s journey began during the 1991 coup in Haiti when he and fellow high school students launched a clandestine radio station to speak truth during repression. That courage continues to define him today. His leadership is principled, inspiring, and profoundly rooted in a belief in the dignity of all people.
As a former foundation program officer, I traveled to Haiti many times to visit communities where Beyond Borders works. Those visits left a lasting impression: the dedication of grassroots leaders, the commitment to empowering local voices, and the resolve to build sustainable, community-led programs. Coleen and Smith embody these same values, and I am confident they will guide Beyond Borders with integrity and boldness in the years ahead.
This transition has been a thoughtful and healthy one, led closely by the board with input from staff and key supporters. And it is only possible because of your steadfast generosity and solidarity.
Truly, Beyond Borders would not exist without the commitment of people like you. Your support lifts families out of extreme poverty, equips communities to prevent violence against women and girls, keeps girls and boys enrolled in school and taught by well-trained teachers, organizes communities to protect children from violence and abuse, and so much more. Thank you for standing with us.
If you have any questions about this leadership transition, I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to write to me at board.president@beyondborders.net.
In gratitude,
Jonathan Scoonover
President, Board of Directors
Beyond Borders
PS – If you missed it, you can read David’s message about the change in leadership here: https://beyondborders.net/a-new-chapter-in-our-leadership/
