Keynote Speaker Claudette Ndayininahaze is the Executive Director of In Her Presence. She has developed an effective network of resources that provides needed support for the immigrant, asylee, and refugee communities on a grassroots level. She is a leader in the Portland immigrant community, encourages individuals and communities to help themselves, but has never lost sight of the importance of compassion, gratitude, and modesty, which allows others to feel comfortable coming to her for assistance.  A native of Burundi, Claudette has a bachelor’s degree in administration/management from the University of Burundi and was a National Sales Manager for a brewery whose majority stockholder was Heineken.  Claudette has served on the boards of different community organizations: Hope Acts, First Parish Unitarian Universalist (FPUU), Youth Family Outreach (YFO), Vice president of Burundi Community Association of Maine (B CAM), Furniture Friends (FF), Welcoming Immigrants Network (WIN) and Financial Stability Expert Panel with United Way. She is also an alumna of the Leadership Maine Allagash Class.