Who We Are and What We Do

Jim DeHarpporte began his career in international service in the late 1960's as a teacher in a Catholic mission school in Sabah, East Malaysia. Beginning in 1973, he served with CRS in several countries in Asia and Africa, including the Philippines, Kolkata, India—where he worked closely with Mother Teresa—Sierra Leone in West Africa, and Ethiopia during the famine in the mid-1980's. From 1982 to 1986 he was based in our world headquarters as Deputy Director of Africa with specific oversight for West Africa. After his tour in Ethiopia he went to New Delhi, as head of the India program, and in 1990 to Bangkok, Thailand, where his responsibilities included Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Burma. From 1994 to 1998, he was the President of the Asia and Pacific Platform for CIDSE, a consortium of Catholic development agencies in Europe and North America. From 1994 until August 2001, he served as Regional Director for Southeast Asia and the Pacific. From 1995 until August 2001, he lived in Jakarta, Indonesia where he also served as Country Representative.

Since January 2002, Jim has been based in San Diego, California, as Regional Director for the Western Region. Jim can be contacted by email at jdeharpp@crs.org or by telephone at 619-297-8273.

Joe Symkowick is a third generation San Franciscan. He has worked for CRS since 2004. Joe has been a Deacon for over 20 twenty years and is assigned to the Newman Center at California State University, Sacramento. Prior to joining CRS, Joe was a practicing attorney for 32 years. His specialty was education and, in addition to serving in many other positions, he was the General Counsel of the California Department of Education for 13 years. Joe has been the recipient of many awards and has been counsel of record and argued many state and federal cases resulting in published opinions. He has been a registered lobbyist and is a member of the Texas and California Bars and admitted to practice before numerous federal courts including the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. Joe has a B.A. in Philosophy from St. Patrick's College Seminary, Menlo Park, California, and a Juris Doctorate from University of California, Hastings College of Law, San Francisco, California.

Joe is based in Sacramento and can be contacted by email at jsymkowi@crs.org or by telephone at 916-481-03157.

Before coming to CRS, Joe Hastings worked with the homeless, in parish social ministry and in religious education. After a year in the Jesuit Volunteer Corp serving migrant farm workers, Joe worked for seven years with people living in the streets of Seattle, WA, and Cambridge, MA. For several years Joe taught classes and presented workshops in scripture, theology, social justice, and nonviolence in programs for adult education, catechist certification, deacon formation and young adult leadership in Seattle. He has visited the work of CRS and the local Catholic Church in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East and the Philippines. He holds degrees in Theology and Political Science from Boston College and divinity from Weston School of Theology.

Joe is based in Seattle, Washington and can be contacted by email at jhastings@crs.org or by telephone at 206-568-7237.

Maria Arroyo has over 10 years of experience in leadership positions in teaching and lay ministry. For 6 years she served with the Institute of Pastoral Ministry in the Diocese of Orange, helping to develop curriculum and teach certification classes. She also has served in parishes and presented workshops throughout the Diocese. More recently she has served as a Project Coordinator for the Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice in San Diego where she has worked with clergy and laity of all faith traditions on immigration reform, and with the Office of Campus Ministry at the University of San Diego where she has organized major events, guided students in prayer, facilitated theological reflection and Spanish Bible study with Hispanic staff. Maria is a Latina and the daughter of immigrants. She has facilitated immersion experiences to El Salvador, traveled to Argentina, Mexico, and done service work in a Buddhist monastery in India.

Maria holds a M.A. in Pastoral Care and Counseling with electives in Peace and Justice from the University of San Diego, and an M.A. in Theological Studies from Loyola Marymount University. Her B.A. is in Business Administration from USC.

Maria is based at the CRS office in San Diego and may be contacted by e-mail address at marroyo@crs.org or by phone at 619-297-8273.

Jeanine Boucher-Colbert, Relationship Officer for Youth, served as a Maryknoll Lay Missionary with her family in Brazil, Program Director of the Providence Portland Medical Center and the Area Director for the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. She has two adopted children from India. She was an exchange student in Japan and has traveled in Latin America, India, Thailand, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile and Bolivia. A native of Los Angeles, she holds an M.A. in Public Health from UCLA.

Jeanine works out of her home in Portland, OR. She can be contacted by email jcolbert@crs.org or by phone at 503-281-4701.

Evangely Aliangan grew up and attended San Diego schools. She has worked for the Diocese of San Diego since 1998 as administrative assistant for the Diocesan Institute, program coordinator for the Office for Social Ministry and as youth minister and director of faith formation at local parishes. She has been active in parish and diocesan ministries since the late 1980s, especially with Hispanics. She graduated from San Diego State University with a degree in Spanish, emphasis in bilingual education, and minors in French and Latin American Studies. Evangely has attended World Youth Days in Denver, Paris, Toronto and Cologne and has also traveled to Mexico, Argentina, Egypt and Israel.

Evangely works out of the office in San Diego and can be contacted by email at ealianga@crs.org or by telephone at 619-618-23633.

Deirdre Evans, Major Gift Officer, serves both Southern California and Nevada. Deirdre can be contacted by email at devans@crs.org or by telephone at 760-772-4465.

Allison Judd, Major Gift Officer, serves Washington, Oregon and Northern California. Allison can be contacted by email at ajudd@crs.org or by telephone at 206-938-9989.

Vince Walker, Major Gift Officer, serves Alaska, Montana and Idaho. Vince can be contacted by email at vwalker@crs.org or by telephone at 651-695-1152.

Marc D'Silva serves Corporations and Foundations Department nationally based in San Francisco. Marc can can be contacted by email at mdsilva@crs.org or by telephone at 415-350-1919.

Jessica Silverthorn serves Corporations and Foundations Department based in Seattle. Jessica can be contacted by email at jsilverthorne@crs.org.