In an email, Families Forward Learning Center announced the addition to its Board of Directors of three new members, Mary Freeman, Ruth Anne Hammond and Linda Lopez.
“Each brings their strength in community and business leadership and are poised to share their time and talents in support of Families Forward Learning Center’s mission of preparing families living in isolation and poverty to succeed in school and in life through two-generation learning programs,” the Center said.
The Center is dedicated to serving families in Northwest Pasadena. At Families Forward, children are nurtured and educated during their first five years so they enter kindergarten ready and able to learn, while parents are prepared for their role as their child’s first and most influential teacher and encouraged to become lifelong learners, according to their literature.
Mary Freeman is a retired attorney who served as Group Counsel for the Office Products Group of Avery Dennison Corporation, and as a private mediator and arbitrator. Mary has extensive non-profit experience, including volunteering with special needs students in the Harvest Garden at Descanso, at the Union Station Adult Center, as a Planned Parenthood community outreach ambassador, coaching and training student and adult mediators at the Western Justice Center, adult literacy tutor with the Pasadena Public Library, and as a Pasadena Schools Reading Partners’ tutor. Mary has a B.A. in Sociology and Psychology from the University of Minnesota, an M.A. in Educational Psychology from Michigan State University, and a J.D. from the University of San Diego. Mary resides in Pasadena with her husband. She has three children and two young grandchildren. Mary is an avid traveler.
Linda Lopez grew up in Guadalajara, Mexico and Southern California. She graduated from Cal Poly Pomona University with a degree in Marketing. Linda has established herself as a top real estate agent representing a 30 year plus referral base. Prior to starting her career in real estate, she worked at IBM in technical marketing and sales. She currently serves as a Trustee for the Saint Mark’s School Board of Trustees in Altadena, where her children currently attend school. Linda lives with her husband, twins, and her beloved labradoodle. Linda has completed eight marathons, three triathlons and is a tennis enthusiast.
Ruth Anne Hammond is a consultant for infant/toddler care and education. Ruth Anne has been an RIE Associate and Mentor, as well as Board President. She has served on the faculty of Pacific Oaks College & Children’s School as both a member of the Senior Adjunct Faculty as well as a Master Teacher in the Infant/Toddler-Parent Program. Ruth Anne has served on the boards of directors of RIE, Silverlake Children’s Theater Group, Pacific Oaks College and Children’s School, Hope Lutheran Church and Westminster Child Center. Ruth Anne has a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Dance from Southern Methodist University and a Master of Arts in Human Development (Dual Specializations: Infant/Toddler Studies & Leadership in Education) from Pacific Oaks College.
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