Building One Community Announces Leadership Transition in 2020.
Catalina Horak, Executive Director and Co-Founder will step down and Anka Badurina, Ph.D. has been selected to lead B1C in its next growth phase. Together they will work to ensure a smooth transition.
Stamford, Connecticut - Building One Community announced today that Catalina Horak, Executive Director will transition out from the organization, effective July 31, 2020. As a co-founder and leader of Building One Community, she has been instrumental in driving the growth of the organization, which has successfully served more than 10,000 immigrants from over 100 countries. She will be succeeded by Anka Badurina, Ph.D., who has been part of the B1C executive leadership since 2015 in the role of Senior Director of Programs.
"We would like to express our deep appreciation to Catalina for all she has done for our organization and the immigrant community throughout her career," said Board Chair Anne Downey. "Catalina's positive impact in the community and to B1C has been immense. On behalf of the Board, it has been an honor and privilege to work with Catalina."
Over the past decade, Horak has been the driver behind Building One Community and the passionate voice behind an expanding and thriving center for immigrant opportunity. She has played a pivotal role in guiding Building One Community from a start up to an established and impactful organization in Connecticut.
"I am grateful and deeply honored to have had the opportunity to lead Building One Community. I am very proud of what my colleagues, our Board of Directors, our volunteers, and partners have accomplished during a decade of successes and challenges," said Horak. “I believe 2020 is the right time for me to transition for several reasons. First, B1C has grown impressively over the past five years, exceeding our expectations. Second, we have laid out a vision that will guide B1C for many years to come, and this gives me high confidence about B1C's future successes. And third, Anka Badurina, Ph.D. has been an integral part of our leadership team for several years, and 2020 is the right time for her to assume her place as the leader of Building One Community."
Catalina’s last day at Building One Community will be July 31st. In the next five months, Catalina and Anka will work together alongside the talented, dedicated team to ensure a smooth transition.
About Anka Badurina
Anka joined B1C in 2015, leading its research into employment trends, creating its workforce development programming, and engaging key funders and partners to support its expansion. She has played an integral role in shaping the programmatic agenda and priorities for the organization, including providing research, data analysis, and counsel on critical issues impacting the civic and economic integration of immigrants in a city where nearly two in five residents are foreign-born. Her work carries a special focus on ensuring programs include an equity lens and invariably incorporate the voices of the low-income immigrant-origin population in Stamford, CT. Dr. Badurina has a Ph.D. in cultural anthropology, a Master's Degree in Commerce, and an undergraduate degree in modern languages with a major in business. She taught integrated marketing communications, brand promotion, and advertising as an adjunct professor at the Tecnológico de Monterrey Business School. She served as Chief Communications Officer for the Ministry of Security and Safety, Queretaro State Government in Mexico. Dr. Badurina is multilingual and understands diverse cultures, having lived in Venezuela, Mexico, the U. S., Canada, Japan, Spain, and the U.K.
About Building One Community
Building One Community (also known as B1C) is a nonprofit organization, established in 2011 that provides a comprehensive resource center for immigrants in the greater Stamford area. The mission of Building One Community is to advance the successful integration of immigrants and their families. Since its inception, the organization has served over 10,400 immigrants from 102 different countries. B1C provides free services that educate, employ, empower, and engage immigrants and the broader community. Programs offered include ELL (English Language Learner) programs, family and individual support services, immigration legal services, and workforce development programs. Community volunteers, donors, and partnerships are an essential component of the growth of Building One Community. More information may be found at building1community.org.