The Foreign Service Journal, July-August 2009

52 F OR E I GN S E R V I C E J OU R N A L / J U L Y - A UGU S T 2 0 0 9 A F S A N E W S M. Juanita Guess Award FOR A COMMUNITY LIAISON OFFICER Juliana (Lily) G. Hightower L ily Hightower provides the social and emotional glue that holds the Embassy Addis Ababa community together, and is largely responsible for its remarkable improvement in morale in recent years. An inspection four years ago criticized the mission for poor morale and lack of communication, turning up frequent com- plaints of isolation among community members. Meanwhile, the number of dependents at post expanded from three dozen to over 400, including 100 children, in less than a decade. Hightower reached out to those family members who felt iso- lated, arranging welcome teas, luncheons at the residence, and social activities with other diplo- matic missions and with Ethiopian families. She organized cultural tours and weekend hiking trips, and encouraged participation in volunteer work at orphanages and HIV/AIDS centers. She was also instrumental in helping spouses secure job opportunities with United Nations agencies and pri- vate foreign firms. And she coordinated assistance to Foreign Service National families who were under duress. In a departure from the usual policy at many missions, Hightower arranged for FSNs to serve as briefing hosts for American newcomers. With fears rampant as a result of 10 terrorist bombings in and around Addis Ababa in the past year, Hightower helped instill mutual support between FSNs and Americans. Hightower liaised with schools and State Department offices to help families with school-related problems. She offered sup- port for families under stress due to domestic friction, culture shock and other issues. Amb. Donald Yamamoto calls her “the most responsive individual I have met in the Service, constantly listening to pleas for help or requests for support, always follow- ing up, finding solutions and making personal sacrifices to meet the needs of others.” Lily Hightower was born in the Philippines and raised on the island of Guam. She met her hus- bandWill, a Seabee engi- neer, when he was sta- tioned on Guam in 1996. They have two sons, Robert, 18, and Khalil, 13. “Helping people is in my nature,” says High- tower. “It makes me happy that my job is ensuring that morale is positive.” Hightower cites past and present co-CLOs Lesya Cely and Mary Trego for “great teamwork.” In May 2008, she received a Meritorious Honor Award along with Cely, and was also the first runner-up for the 2008 M. Juanita Guess Award. 2009 AFSA OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE AWARD WINNERS (By Francesca Kelly) Avis Bohlen Award FOR A FOREIGN SERVICE FAMILY MEMBER Erica Krug E rica Krug put her consider- able skills to work just when Zimbabwe’s citizens needed her most. After a disputed election in March 2008, President Robert Mugabe’s ruling party initiated a reign of terror to punish and intimidate voters, hoping to assure victory in the June runoff. Hundreds were killed and tens of thousands made homeless. At the same time, the govern- ment banned the field operations of charitable organizations, hamstringing the efforts of the international community to assist the displaced. Krug, an expert in humanitarian aid who had already been work- ing at an international agency, began organizing meetings among other volunteers. By mid-June 2008, thou- sands of people were flood- ing into Harare. Krug used her own time, money, vehi- cle and even pantry supplies to help provide internally displaced persons with housing, food, clothing and medical care, assisted by what she describes as a small group of “housewives, Movement for Democratic Change activists and students.” She established a nongovernmental organization called Project Vimbai and began collecting donations, ultimately raising $20,000 that went directly to thousands of IDPs. Krug is currently working on projects that can be sustained after her departure from post this summer, such as connecting needy children’s schools to sister schools in the U.S., and provid- ing support to those orphaned and widowed by political vio- lence. Deputy Chief of Mission Katherine Dhanani comments that Krug’s volunteerism “speaks volumes about the American values of generosity, accountability and commitment to human rights.” Krug says she has to constantly balance discouragement and inspiration. “I remind myself that it’s not a numbers game, but a change game; and if we can change one life we have succeeded.” Krug grew up inWashington, D.C. She received a B.A. in anthropology from the University of Maryland and an M.A. in international development from the School for International Training in Brattleboro, Vt. She has designed and managed pro- grams in the areas of economic development, post-conflict tran- sition and emergency food distributions, while working for the Peace Corps, the International Federation of the Red Cross and USAID. Her career has taken her to Jordan, Somalia, Sudan, Botswana, Kenya and Zimbabwe. She is married to FSO Mark Weinberg. Hightower (in red shirt), Amb. Donald Yamamoto (in jacket and tie) and em- bassy community members visiting a local neighborhood devastated by a fire, in Sidist Kilo, July 2008. Lily Hightower with “Baby Lily,” an infant who is named for her, at Kebebe Tsehaye Orphanage, April 18. Erica Krug shows U.S. Ambassa- dor James McGee around the site of an urban food relief pro- gram in Mutare, Zimbabwe, in February. SIZANI WEZA Krug and other Help Line Trust field workers view progress on a low-input gardening project in Epworth, Zimbab- we in May. TONDERAI ZEMBA EMBASSY ADDIS ABABA PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE MARY TREGO