The Center For Empowering Democracy Founders

Wayne Lavender is a life-long teacher, writer, mentor, and executive director with expertise in

conflict resolution, peace with justice studies, the orphan pandemic, and the nexus of political

science, economics, history, religion and politics in nations around the world. Dr. Lavender also

has expertise within the Abrahamic faiths of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, and their impact

on democracy and dictatorships.

A graduate of George Mason’s School of Public Policy in 2010, he earned his BA. from Drew

University, an MA. and M.Div. from the Pacific School of Religion.

Dr. Lavender currently serves as a faculty member of Quinnipiac University and the University

of Connecticut (UConn, Storrs campus), and the executive director of the Foundation 4 Orphans.

He has written eight books including The Sweet Smell of Apples (2013) about the genocidal

killing of Kurds in Halabja under the regime of Saddam Hussein. Wayne is currently working on

a book about the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great. Dr. Lavender has taught at the following universities:

• George Mason University: Fairfax, Virginia
• Wesleyan University: Virginia Beach, Virginia
• University of Human Development: Sulaymaniyah, Iraq
• Quinnipiac University: Hamden, Connecticut
• University of Connecticut: Storrs, Connecticut

An avid and widely traveled person who has been in 30 nations, Wayne lives close to nature with

his wife Maureen in Hamden, Connecticut.

Hardi Kamali, originally from the Kurdish region of Iraq and now in Virginia, USA, is the co-founder of "The Center for Empowering Democracy." With over 15 years of experience with local and international NGOs, Kamali has significantly contributed to humanitarian aid, capacity building, democracy development, and livelihood projects.

Kamali holds international certifications from the United Nations and other NGOs in areas like human development, human rights, rule of law, public administration, policy, conflict resolution, social cohesion, reporting, and management. He provides neutral analysis of political, economic, and social developments in the U.S. and the Middle East.

Currently pursuing a postgraduate degree in Public Administration and Policy at James Madison University, Kamali focuses on public policy challenges in post-war communities, especially in the Middle East. His background as a UN staff member gives him a comprehensive understanding of humanitarian crises, driving his goals at "The Center for Empowering Democracy."

Kamali aims to establish a network with academic centers, INGOs, politicians, and other entities to address democracy's challenges and bridge gaps that hinder people's rights and freedoms. At the center, he emphasizes combating corruption and developing effective public administration policies to support post-war communities. He advocates for robust governance to empower democracy and create a healthier environment for citizens.

Kamali's experience as a TV reporter and journalist has given him insight into the risks facing media freedom in restrictive nations. As a certified situational reporter, he understands the impact of political, economic, and social changes on the rule of law and democracy.

Key Expertise: Kamali is skilled in humanitarian affairs, capacity building, democracy development, and livelihood projects. His expertise includes human development, human rights, public administration, public policy, conflict resolution, and social cohesion. He provides accurate, neutral, and independent analysis of political, economic, and social developments, dedicated to empowering communities and achieving democratic potential.