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Barbara Anne Ferris
www.ferrisforcongress.com Barbara Anne Ferris For Congress Democrat 10th District
Below, please find her biography and other information and links. If
elected, she would be the
first congresswoman
of Lebanese origin.
If you wish to support her campaign please contact her at the website or contact
Rabih Mogharbel at
rmogharbel@yahoo.com
Barbara Anne Ferris
Founder/President
International Women’s Democracy Center
Biography
Barbara Anne Ferris is the founder and president of the International Women’s
Democracy Center (IWDC), which was established to ensure that women worldwide
have the necessary tools and skills to participate in politics, policy and
decision making within their own democracies. IWDC works in partnership with
local NGOs to provide training, education, technical assistance and
research/analysis in campaign management, leadership, advocacy and technology to
women leaders around the world with a focus on increasing their participation in
the politics, policy and decision making within their own governments. IWDC has
offices in Ohio, Botswana, Northern Ireland, and Tajikistan.
In 2006, Barbara Anne Ferris was a Democratic Candidate for Congress in Ohio’s
10th Congressional District, where the Cleveland Plain Dealer withdrew their
long time endorsement of the incumbent and endorsed Ms. Ferris “as the candidate
more in tune with the community, its and its future who has put forth an
attainable plan of using the district’s remaining resources to help it return to
economic health.”
Prior to establishing IWDC, Ms. Ferris served as the Women in Development
Director for Peace Corps for five years where she designed, managed, monitored
and evaluated 400 economic development, agricultural, micro credit, health and
environmental programs in over 90 countries.
Ms. Ferris served as the advisor to the U.S. Delegation to the United Nations
Commission on the Status of Women for three years. She has consulted in public
policy, management, education, community development, program design and
evaluation throughout Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East where she
also designed financial management models for the public sector.
In 1980, Ms. Ferris served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Morocco working in
education and primary health care. Prior to her Volunteer service, she worked as
a legislative assistant to a member of congress where, at the request of the
Speaker of the House, she was a member of a fact-finding mission to Syria,
Lebanon and Israel. Before her service on Capitol Hill, she worked for the World
Bank and for the Ohio Youth Commission as an activity therapist.
Ms. Ferris has addressed universities, colleges, civic organizations and
appeared on numerous radio and television programs worldwide providing
information, resources and expertise on how governments, organizations and
communities can ensure that women are equal partners in the economic, social and
political development of their own countries. She is a member of the
International Women’s Forum.
Ms. Ferris serves on the board of directors to numerous international non-profit
organizations that focus on finance, economic development, and improving the
quality of life for women and their families. Her career has taken her to over
100 countries around the world. She has crossed the Sahara Desert, trekked in
the Atlas, Andes and Himalayas and completed a polar expedition in Antarctica
last November. She is co-founder of The Peace Corps Fund, founder of Friends of
NASA, founding President of Gilda’s Club Greater Washington, served as Chair of
the 40th Anniversary Celebration of the Peace Corps, comes from the oldest
family owned restaurant in Cleveland, Ferris Steak House and was the Cleveland
Plain Dealer’s endorsed Democratic Candidate for Congress – Ohio’s 10th District
in May 2006.
Ms. Ferris holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Ohio State University and
a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the American University.
Ferrisforcongressbrochure.pdf