Different Latitudes: My Life in the Peace Corps and Beyond

Mark Walker’s deep understanding of poverty issues comes from fifteen years of laboring side-by-side with needy people in the developing world, managing programs in Guatemala, Colombia and Sierra Leone with Plan International in Director Positions. Mark’s passion for Guatemala goes back to his time as a Peace Corps volunteer. His wife and three children were all born in Guatemala. Mark’s first job out of the Peace Corps was as a consultant with CARE International. Mark co-founded FUNDACEDI, a Christian Guatemalan development agency. Mark was the Senior Representative for MAP International (Medical Assistance Programs, the 37th largest charity in the U.S.), where, for over 10 years he was responsible for cultivating donor relationships in the western region of the country. Mark has held senior development positions with World Neighbors, Food for the Hungry, MAP International, Global Brigades and the Make A Wish Foundation International. Mark served as the CEO of Hagar USA which dedicated to the recovery of survivors of human trafficking. He is presently the founder of Million Mile Walker, LLC. and a VP and Senior Counsel for Carlton & Company. ＂Different Latitudes＂ was recognized by the Arizona Authors Association competition. Various articles were featured in the ＂Revue Magazine＂, ＂WorldView＂, ＂Ragazine＂ and in the fall the ＂Crossing Class Anthology＂ by Wising Up Press. He holds a master’s degree from the Institute of Latin American Studies at the University of Texas at Austin and a bachelor’s degree from Western State Colorado University in Gunnison, Colorado. Mark has been a presenter and task force member at the Hemispheric Congress for Fundraising that has hosted a conference in Mexico City over four years as well as a presenter on ＂Cross Border Philanthropy＂ for the Day of Philanthropy event of the Western Chapter of AFP in Guadalajara, Mexico. He’s a Past President of the Greater Arizona chapter of AFP (Association of Fundraising Professionals) and the Planned Giving Roundtable of Arizona. Mark joined Rotary in 1981 in Bogota, Colombia and is the recipient of the ＂Service Above Self＂ award, which is Rotary International’s most prestigious recognition. He was profiled in the Western State Colorado University Alumni Magazine for ＂Alumni Making an Impact＂. Mark and his wife Ligia live in Scottsdale, Arizona close to their children and six grandchildren.