Free the Slaves is excited to welcome three new members to our senior management team. Lori Fitzmaurice, Fatou Toure and Sujata Bijou each bring fresh, insightful perspectives to the organization. We asked each of them to tell us a bit about their background, and the reason they’ve decided to join the fight against trafficking and slavery.
Lori Fitzmaurice | Director of Development
“My first encounter with human rights was as a child working with my family in the California movement for farmworker rights in the 70s. Since that time, I have been driven to stand beside those who are not heard. I am honored to be part of Free the Slaves, an organization I long admired and wished to be part of. I believe deeply that our model can end slavery worldwide. Every day, I will do my small part to make that happen by bringing sustainable resources for our programs to flourish.”
Lori began her work in the private sector, working for 11 years as a branch manager and senior director at Charles Schwab & Co., in California and Massachusetts. She then turned to the nonprofit world, working in children’s grief support in New England, and in education and conservation at the San Francisco Zoo. Most recently, Lori was the COO for Girls For A Change, a national nonprofit that provides training and empowerment in social change for middle and high school girls living in low-income neighborhoods. She is a dedicated activist for human rights, especially those of women and girls, and believes slavery can end with community-based solutions.
When asked about a quote that shapes her personal philosophy, Lori said: “Dame Anita Roddick said, ‘If you think you are too small to make an impact, try going to bed with a mosquito.’ I find that quote a wonderful reminder of how social change really happens – one person at a time.”
Fatou Toure | Director of Finance and Administration
“I made up my mind to no longer work for private companies, where there isn’t a balance between work and life. Coming from a developing country, I’ve seen that nonprofit organizations help meet the needs of disadvantaged people, especially in places where local and national governments are corrupted or aren’t paying enough attention. So, Free the Slaves has a noble and rare mission. I am glad to be able to contribute in as many ways as possible.”
Fatou was raised in Senegal, and moved to the U.S. 20 years ago when her mother accepted a job with Sisters Cities International in Memphis, TN. At the time, the sister city for Memphis was Kaolack, which is where Fatou was born. Fatou attended college in Memphis and moved to Washington for graduate studies. She holds a bachelor’s in business administration and an MBA with a concentration in corporate finance. After college, Fatou worked for nonprofit organizations and private companies, where she successfully led and trained finance teams.
When asked about a quote that shapes her personal philosophy, Fatou looked to Confucius: “The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential are the keys to unlock the door to personal excellence.”
Sujata Bijou | Director of Monitoring and Evaluation
“I decided to join FTS because of my passion and dedication for social justice, having had personal contact in the past with slaves. The positive culture of Free the Slaves shined through all of its communications with me, and attracted me to the challenge of monitoring and evaluating the success of anti-slavery programs.”
Sujata’s previous positions include research, monitoring and evaluation roles at the International Training and Education Center for Health at the University of Washington; the Institute for Reproductive Health at Georgetown University; the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics at the University of Michigan; and the Haitian Health Foundation. Sujata was a Peace Corps volunteer in Madagascar. She has a bachelor’s in chemical engineering from the University of Michigan and a master’s in public health from Tulane University. Sujata speaks English, French, Gujarati, Haitian Creole, and Malagasy.
When asked about a quote that shapes her personal philosophy, Sujata said: “Ralph Waldo Emerson said, ‘To laugh often and much; To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.’”
Lori, Fatou and Sujata are all based in our Washington headquarters.
