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Brad Baldwin, President |
| Mr. Baldwin, a native of Culpeper Virginia, has a Bachelor of Arts in Cinema/Television (1997) from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Much of Baldwin’s early life was spent traveling the United States (47 States) and nearby countries. However, it was Brad’s first trip to India in 1992 that proved to be a pivotal turning point. Seeking a better sense of the world and more life experience, Brad moved to Northern India in 1998 and has been living off and on in India throughout the period. From assisting in earthquake rehabilitation efforts in 2001 to launching Vishvet (2003), a company dedicated to promoting cultural exchange between India and the United States, Brad has gained valuable insight into human nature and world events. A highlight of Mr. Baldwin’s work includes EKTA (2002), a 90 minute theatrical and dance production performed by teenagers from India’s underprivileged communities. EKTA toured throughout the USA, and was featured on CNN, as well as Atlanta PBS. Mr. Baldwin’s background in humanitarian service, creative and visual arts and business provide a solid foundation for Taj Global Understanding. |
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Kavita Baldwin, Vice President |
Mrs. Kavita Baldwin, a native of Mumbai (Bombay), India has a Bachelor of Commerce from Mumbai University & a Diploma in Fashion Designing. Kavita is fluent in Hindi, Marathi, and English. Mrs. Baldwin is involved in a variety of community service efforts, including designing traditional ethnic clothes and providing employment to both rural and poor women, teaching English to children, and working to distribute food and aid to families in the remote Kutchh region of Gujarat State. In 2006, Kavita oversaw the 5 month renovation of a bungalow in southern Maharashtra State which has served as a base for inbound volunteers. Kavita is actively involved in the promotion of student exchange programs, leading student short term groups, conducting workshops with parents, and meeting with schools and community organizations throughout India. |
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Jan Evans, Secretary – Treasurer |
| Mrs. Jan Evans brings a great deal of experience to Taj Global Understanding. A native of Virginia, Mrs. Evans served as Manager for Culpeper Family Practice, handling the day to day operations for the local health care provider. Jan has always been an active member of the local Culpeper community. Mrs. Evans volunteers her time for the Humane Society and is an advocate for animal welfare. Jan has been instrumental in raising funds from the local community to support humanitarian projects in India and traveled to India in 2004 and 2007. Mrs. Evans works behind the scenes to perform various administrative duties for Taj Global Understanding. |
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Ron Evans, Director |
| Mr. Evans brings insight and professional experience to Taj Global Understanding. Born in Florida, Mr. Evans has spent most of his life in the Virginia area, graduating from Strayer College in 1972 with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. Prior to becoming a Certified Public Accountant, Ron served in the United States Marine Corps from 1963-1967 and honorably served the United States in Vietnam. Mr. Evans has served a number of positions, including President, Treasurer, & Director Optimist Club (Purcellville, VA), Rotary Club Member and Volunteer (Purcellville, VA), Lions Club Member and Volunteer (Culpeper, VA), as well as volunteering for the Culpeper Humane Society. Mr. Evans is also a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants & the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants. Mr. Evans has traveled to India in both 2004 & 2007. |
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Mr. Brian van de Graaff, Director |
| Mr. Brian van de Graaff forecasts the weather for Good Morning Washington and ABC7 News at Noon, both leading news programs in the Washington DC area. He also provides morning weather forecasts for WTOP Radio. Brian has earned the American Meteorological Society’s prestigious Seal of Approval for television weather-casting. Brian’s on-air debut in Washington came on News Channel 8, the sister station of ABC7/WJLA-TV. In the spring of 2003, Brian became a fill-in forecaster at WABC-TV in New York City. Brian was born in Arlington, but grew up in the rural Virginia communities of Culpeper and Madison. He is a graduate of George Mason University in Fairfax, VA. An Eagle Scout, Brian has hiked and backpacked throughout the U.S. from the Appalachian Trail in the East to the Grand Canyon in the West and points in between, including the Isle Royal National Park, a remote island in the heart of Lake Superior. Brian makes his home with his wife, Kristen, in Fairfax, Virginia. |
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Mr. Jaideep Verma, Director |
| Mr. Jaideep Verma is currently the Managing Director of Crosstream Consulting Pvt. Ltd., an Indian based firm with offices in Mumbai and Bangalore. Through his business, Mr. Verma frequently travels to Asia, Europe, and North America. Jaideep is in the process of setting up a vineyard in southern Maharashtra to develop high quality grape cultivation for export to markets in the United States & Europe. Mr. Verma is an avid traveler and photographer and resides in Bangalore, India along with his wife Priya and son Arjun. |
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Mrs. Julie Desai |
Location: Ahmedabad, India
Profession: Lawyer, Social Activist
Education: M.Sc. (Masters of Science), L.L.B. (Bachelors of Law) |
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| “Open young minds to the culture & diversity in the world around them. Learn to respect life and to prepare the youth to live with compassion and harmony - because you can only be young once.” |
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Mrs. Bea Ramer |
Location: Culpeper, Virginia USA
Profession: Retired RN, Culpeper Family Practice
Education: BS Nursing – Registered Nurse |
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| “We are here for such a short time. It is my feeling that anything we can do for our fellow man is the measure of our true worth.” |
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Mr. Shankar Howal |
Location: Mumbai, India
Profession: Assistant Commissioner of Police, Retired
Education: BA Commerce, Police Academy |
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| “Ancient Indian culture teaches us that our first responsibility is to the community, second our family, and third to our self. A society starts to degenerate when the order is reversed. The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched, but must be felt in the heart. TGU was born with the objective to making a difference.” |
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Dr. Madhav Deo Saraswat |
Location: Jaipur, Rajasthan India
Profession: Principal, Parasrampuria GEMS International School (PGIS)
Education: M.A English, Hindi, Sanskrit; Ph.D.; Taught 17 Years at the Doon School, Member of Round Square since 1989 |
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| “If there is any way to bring about change in the society, it can be done only through volunteers. Battle of freedom, be it freedom from hunger, ignorance, hatred or any other kind, cannot be fought with the help of hired soldiers. Service rendered by Volunteers is true devotion and unadulterated love for humanity.” |
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Mr. Tom Earles |
Location: Culpeper, Virginia USA
Profession: Retired Chemistry Teacher (35 Years), Culpeper County High School
Education: BS Chemistry, Masters in Education |
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| “Lives of great men all remind us we can make our lives sublime, And departing leave behind us footprints on the sands of time, “ Longfellow (A Psalm of Life) |
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Mr. Feroz Shaikh |
Location: Mumbai, India
Profession: Manager – Membership, Bombay Management Association
Education: BS Bombay University, Master’s Marketing Management from Welingkar’s Institute of Management, Mumbai |
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| “Volunteering is one of the most basic responses of human beings for helping another of God’s creations in distress and who better to epitomize it than all the great souls who inhabited Mother Earth.” |
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Mr. Jesus Montes |
Location: Los Angeles, California USA
Profession: Loan Officer, Global Mortgage Services
Education: BA Cinema/Television Production |
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| “It is the duty of individuals to put forth an effort to solve or alleviate a problem for betterment of society. Ultimately, such an effort benefits the human race." |
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Mr. & Mrs. Jo & Wayne English |
Location: Culpeper, Virginia USA
Profession: Directors, Clore-English Funeral Home
Education: BA Science |
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| “The sole reason to volunteer is to give back to the human race.” |
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