Recently, Okley Gibbs introduced new Rotarian Heidi McGinness. The Reverend Heidi McGinness is a third generation member of Rotary. joining son, Richard E. Secor Jr. and grandson Spencer Secor. Heidi is an ordained Presbyterian minister , modern day abolitionist and an international human rights activist. While serving in Nebraska Pastorates her besties were Rabbi Sidney Brooks and Father Tom Ward.In late 1999 she and her husband ,Richard E. Secor Sr. accepted a call to a then multiracial, multi ethnic inner city Church in Denver Colorado. After being widowed in 2002 , she answered the call in 2004 to join a Swiss Human Rights Organization to deliver humanitarian aid to the South of Sudan while the war was still on , documenting the results of jihadi violence against civilians and assisted the South Sudanese Underground Railroad in bringing its citizens out of slavery in the North and returning the people to their family ,their community, their church and villages. She did this for 14 years.
Heidi‘s life was saved by two American soldiers in her native Germany who gave her blood in a direct blood transfusion when she was four years old. She marveled that American soldiers would save the life of an enemy‘s child. It made a profound impression on her.
Heidi is big on America, big on standing with the persecuted , oppressed and safeguarding the rights of ALL in the human family . Making the bridge from being a modern day abolitionist to Rotary International's interest in anti-slavery and anti-human trafficking seems a perfect fit for her.
In June she will return to Kenya to visit her Sundanese son, Arok Garang , Founder of Seeds of South Sudan , a Foundation that rescues South Sudanese orphans from Kakuma Refugee Camp and educates them in Nakuru , Kenya. She will help to take in needed supplies , offer theological training, assist with Leadership Conferences for the youth have fun , and attend the Nakuru Rotary Club meeting. Heidi is the recipient of both the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award and the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Business and Social Responsibility Award
Her biggest prizes however, are grandson, Spencer and little granddaughter, Gloria who lives in London.
Her biggest prizes however, are grandson, Spencer and little granddaughter, Gloria who lives in London.
