Beatitudes, Inc. - Showing the love of Christ by equipping the poor to support their familes through vocational training.

Board of Directors

board

Sandra E. Chai, M.D. - Founder/President
sandy_chai@swbell.net

Dr. Sandra (“Sandy”) Chai first became exposed to mission work in Haiti in 1998, when her church embarked on a long-term partnering relationship with the Episcopal Church on the island of La Gonâve. From 2000-2005, she served as the coordinator for the La Gonâve Haiti Partnership (www.lagonavepartners.org), a group of approximately 20 American Episcopal, Presbyterian, and Anglican churches who network together as they all partner with the various churches, schools and programs of the large Episcopal ministry on the island. It was through this experience that Sandy came to appreciate the broad scope of influence of the local church in Haiti. The Episcopal church impacts all aspects of the life of the community, serving the people not only spiritually but also through education, medical care, a children’s nutrition program, water projects, agricultural programs including goat husbandry, and vocational training such as computer instruction and a women’s vocational program. It was this last program, Pwoje Fanm (meaning “Women’s Projects,” in Haitian Creole), that captured the imagination of a mission team of creative women, including Sandy, in the spring of 2003. Having seen the fruit of the Haitians’ hard work and perseverance in many other programs, these women decided that the time seemed right to embark on what Sandy refers to as “economic ministry,” in an effort to address one of the poverty-stricken nation’s greatest challenges: its unemployment rate of 80%. Hence, they banded together in 2003 to found Beatitudes, Inc., for the purpose of partnering with Pwoje Fanm, but also with eyes open to other opportunities that God may provide to help people to break the cycle of poverty.

Dr. Chai received her B.S. in Zoology from the University of Oklahoma in 1984 and her M.D. from the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine in 1988. She attended the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences for her residency in Internal Medicine and fellowship in Pulmonary and Critical Care medicine from 1988-94. She practiced pulmonary medicine full time for several years, but since 1999, she has worked part time for Infectious Disease Resource Group in Little Rock, AR. This has afforded her the time and opportunity to focus on her passions: raising her family and serving God through mission work in Haiti. In her rare moments of spare time, she enjoys making jewelry, sewing, fusing glass, and gardening.

Paige Curtis-Secretary

Paige Curtis is passionate about education and brings a wealth of experience to Beatitudes from her experiences teaching, planning and mentoring adults and children around the globe. After graduating from Princeton University with a degree in Art History she developed educational programs for children and docents at the Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt Museum. Upon marrying Patrick, an officer in the USAF, she began teaching elementary school on the Texas/U.S. border. Military moves took their family to California, Honduras, Japan, Arkansas, New Jersey and Ecuador. Paige expanded her teaching to include work with preschoolers, middle school students and adults. She has also served in various leadership roles, mentoring and caring for military spouses and their families.

Paige received her Masters of Science in Education from St. Joseph’s college in Maine. She has three children. Since placing her faith in Jesus Christ, Paige has served in her home church in missions and outreach. She has taught Sunday school, led a successful Pioneer Clubs program, taught various bible studies for seekers and captained assimilation for newcomers. From 2001-2003 she served on the leadership team at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church in Little Rock as the head of foreign and domestic outreach. She is currently the co-leader of Wilson School Ministries, her church’s mission to the neighborhood school. Paige has traveled to Haiti and trained the women of Pwoje Famn in paper bead making, earning the name Madame Papier, in the process. During her free time, she enjoys reading, scrap booking, making jewelry and gardening.

Pam Shuffield-Treasurer

Pam Shuffield works with her husband. They own their own business, where she serves the financial side of the business. She is a graduate of Baylor University with a BBA /MBA in Business and Finance. Pam worked for 5 years in the bank consulting field before she and John started their family.

Pam and her husband, John, have three sons and she currently leads a small group in her home for Mothers Of Boys Only (MOBOs). Pam's hobbies include reading and running.

Carolyn Harstein

Carolyn Hartstein brings to Beatitudes a wealth of experience in serving and leading
non-profit and civic organizations. She has served in the following capacities; Past
President Episcopal Church Woman, Board of Church Woman United, Past Chairman of Community Concert Series, Past President of the Florence Crittenton Home for Unwed Mothers Board, Past President Ballet Arkansas Board, Past President Arkansas Quilters Guild, Past President Questers Antique Club, and Altar Guild Chairman where she has made many altar paraments and banners for both her church and churches in Haiti.

She currently serves as a Sunday School teacher and the Nursery and Preschool Coordinator for the Sunday School program at her church. Carolyn is a native of Little Rock, educated in the Little Rock Public Schools and Baptist School of Nursing. She has spent the last 50 years serving her family, church, and community. As a member of the Beatitudes Board of Directors she assists with product development and teaching handcrafts to the women's vocational program in Haiti. Carolyn has made four trips to Haiti and holds the people of that country close to her heart.

Jj Muehlhausen-Marketing and Website Coordinator
Jj@BeatitudesInc.org

Prior to relocating to the Little Rock, Arkansas she lived on the West Coast where she served as the Director of Education for both the San Diego County Apartment Association and the California Apartment Association in Sacramento, California. As the Director of Education in both organizations Jj was responsible for the over-site, development, and implementation of the multi-housing industry certified training programs (CCRM and CCMT Programs). She was also responsible for recruiting, training, and managing the numerous volunteers for both agencies. Jj has written and developed multiple training programs for both non-profit organizations and private companies. She has served as a public speaker and writer for published magazine articles. She has more than 20+ years experience in the multi-housing industry including management of large multi-housing properties in Texas, Arkansas, and Nevada.

Her strong faith in God along with her interest in cultural diversity and equality inspired her to come alongside the Beatitudes team where she use her extensive background in Management and Adult Education striving to help better the lives of those in Haiti. Jj is a Business Management graduate of San Diego Mira Mar College. Her current goal is to spread the good news of Jesus Christ to all nations. She is currently working on a series of children's books that are bilingual for the different countries she travels to as a missionary. Her first book will be in both English and Japanese.

Jj currently serves on the Mission Team Board at her church. To date, she has participated in missions in the United States, Haiti, and Japan.