Portia Durbin
After a career in insurance and financial publishing, I took on extensive volunteer leadership positions in schools and faith organizations in and around Boston. Through my passion for the arts, education and social justice, I co-founded an art-based faith formation program at St. Ignatius Church at Boston College. My partner and I created and implemented the pedagogy, curriculum, standards, and teacher training for students grades K-8, and I travelled several times to introduce and implement our program at our sister parish in Kingston, Jamaica. I have extensive experience in fundraising, including personally conceiving and chairing an art auction to raise money to build a community playground. Additional board-level experience includes serving on the long-range strategic planning committee for Brae Burn Country Club and as President of the Newton Country Day Parents Association. Most recently, I have been helping to resettle over a dozen refugees into the Boston area in coordination with Catholic Charities.
Six years ago, I was introduced to Akilah by board member Anne DiGiovanni. Anne invited me to an Akilah event and I joined the Scholar's Circle that evening. Having seen the impact of a single-sex education on my own children, and the lasting impact on the children I myself taught, I knew I wanted to get invloved. The Akilah model, linking education directly to job opportunities, combines my business and education experience. Shortly after, I joined the Development Committee and introduced Akilah to my network. I then attended the Miami Summit and Gala, which gave me a broader understanding of Akliah’s mission and the climate in which it operates. Even more impactful was the leadership trip to campus in 2019. Attending that summit introduced me to the many challenges and solutions for East Africa and Akliah specifically. I have spent the last 35 years thinking creatively about how organizations can be better run, how to involve more people, how to inspire and how to be economically prudent. I am passionate about the Akliah mission and thrilled about the inclusion of young men to further gender equality. I am especially excited about the work the leadership team has invested in a new method of governance for the organization. The innovative strategy speaks directly to my own core beliefs and values. Serving on the Davis/Akilah Foundation Board would allow me to marry my skill set to an organization for which I have immense passion.
Degree in American Studies and minor in ALPA (Arts and Letters Program for Administrators), University of Notre Dame
Individual Health Insurance Sales Manager, Aetna
Pensions Sales Manager, Aetna
Sales, Published Image Financial Publishing Firm
Co-founder and Educator, Arts Based Faith Formation, St. Ignatius Church, Chestnut Hill, MA
Committee Member for Strategic Plan, Brae Burn Country Club
Parish Council Member, St. Ignatius Church
President of the Parents Association, Newton Country Day School