Habitat for Humanity International elects two new board directors

ATLANTA — Habitat for Humanity International has elected Dr. Alberto Harth, president of Civitas, and Vivian R. Pickard, president of the General Motors Foundation and director of Corporate Relations for General Motors Company, to its international board of directors.  

“Through the years, our board of directors has been a great source of strength and wisdom in guiding the organization into the future,” said Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International. “Anchored by a shared conviction that housing provides a critical foundation for breaking the cycle of poverty, our newest board members bring important skills and fresh perspectives that will be valuable as we implement our new strategic plan.”

Dr. Alberto Harth is president of Civitas, a firm based in El Salvador specializing in land development and architecture. In 2013, he chaired the national Housing Profile Study for UN-Habitat. He has served on the board of the Lincoln Institute for Land Policy since 2007. Harth holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture from the University of Southern California and both a Master’s Degree and Doctorate in Urban Studies from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Vivian R. Pickard was named president of the GM Foundation and director of Corporate Relations for GM in December 2010. She is responsible for leading the company’s efforts to strengthen communities across the U.S. through partnerships and investments in the areas of education, health and human services, the environment and community development. Pickard earned a Bachelor of Science in Human Services Administration from Ferris State University and a Master’s in Business Administration from Central Michigan University. In addition, she is a lifetime member of the NAACP, the National Council of Negro Women and the National Black MBA Association, and a graduate of Leadership Detroit Class XVII.

Habitat’s 22-member board is responsible for establishing policy and guiding the organization’s efforts to construct, rehabilitate, repair and improve housing in partnership with low-income families in more than 70 countries around the world. Habitat board members volunteer for two-year terms that can be renewed up to four times.

About Habitat for Humanity International
Habitat for Humanity International’s vision is a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Anchored by the conviction that housing provides a critical foundation for breaking the cycle of poverty, Habitat has helped more than 4 million people construct, rehabilitate or preserve homes since 1976. Habitat also advocates to improve access to decent and affordable shelter and supports a variety of funding models that enable families with limited resources to make needed improvements on their homes as their time and resources allow. As a nonprofit Christian housing organization, Habitat works in more than 70 countries and welcomes people of all races, religions and nationalities to partner in its mission. To learn more, donate or volunteer visit habitat.org.