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Affecting Change International…Helping Communities around the world experience positive transformation.
History
ACI began in 2006 by President David Neely. ACI is built on the principles of empowerment and self-sustainability. We work with communities all over the world, helping them determine their greatest needs. We then train local leadership in the principles of Asset-Based Development and how to develop high quality partnerships including the local faith based community, businesses, nongovernmental organizations, and local government representatives, who will work together to address the physical and spiritual needs of the local community.
ACI began in 2006 by President David Neely. ACI is built on the principles of empowerment and self-sustainability. We work with communities all over the world, helping them determine their greatest needs. We then train local leadership in the principles of Asset-Based Development and how to develop high quality partnerships including the local faith based community, businesses, nongovernmental organizations, and local government representatives, who will work together to address the physical and spiritual needs of the local community.
Leadership
David L. Neely, President & CEO
Mr. Neely has traveled extensively throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, Central and Eastern Asia, and Canada. He dedicated the Billibo Community School in Kenya in early January 2012 as a part of the Maasai Community Development Project sponsored by Affecting Change International. Neely has been a guest speaker at the Infopoverty World Conference of the United Nations since 2006.
Having lived and worked in East Africa for eleven years, Neely held a number of leadership positions within the nonprofit community, including Executive Director of Brackenhurst International Conference Center in Kenya, Logistics Coordinator for the Northern Frontier Cluster of the International Mission Board in Southern Sudan where his team ran a local hospital and airstrip, Northern Uganda, and Northern Kenya, Director of Operations and Development for Rosslyn Academy in Nairobi, to name a few.
Early in his professional career, Neely held positions in municipal and federal government, the petroleum industry, and owned two privately held businesses. Most recently he served as Operations and Outreach Pastor of Blue Valley Baptist Church for nearly 14 years.
Neely received a Bachelor of Science degree in Education with a concentration in Adult Education, Training, and Development from the University of Oklahoma, and he also holds a Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies from Trinity Theological Seminary.
Having lived and worked in East Africa for eleven years, Neely held a number of leadership positions within the nonprofit community, including Executive Director of Brackenhurst International Conference Center in Kenya, Logistics Coordinator for the Northern Frontier Cluster of the International Mission Board in Southern Sudan where his team ran a local hospital and airstrip, Northern Uganda, and Northern Kenya, Director of Operations and Development for Rosslyn Academy in Nairobi, to name a few.
Early in his professional career, Neely held positions in municipal and federal government, the petroleum industry, and owned two privately held businesses. Most recently he served as Operations and Outreach Pastor of Blue Valley Baptist Church for nearly 14 years.
Neely received a Bachelor of Science degree in Education with a concentration in Adult Education, Training, and Development from the University of Oklahoma, and he also holds a Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies from Trinity Theological Seminary.
Kara Neely, Executive Director
Kara Neely has assumed the role of Executive Director of ACI effective May 22, 2024. Transitioning to the Executive Director role within ACI from leading ACI's Operations and Communications position, Kara was born in Kenya to missionary parents, Kara grew up in the highlands of Kenya. Having been exposed to a multitude of cultures in her formative years, Kara has traveled extensively and has studied international relations at Cottey College in Nevada, Missouri. She has served in the United States Navy, and completed her undergraduate degree in East Asian Cultures at the University of Kansas concentrating on Chinese and Korean languages. She is starting a graduate degree in linguistics at the University of London in the Fall of 2024. She was an ESL teacher in Seoul, South Korea for 13 months. She has experience as a Certified Nurse Assistant in both hospital and clinic settings. She has interned and presented as a project manager for ACI at the United Nations World Conference for InfoPoverty and is the youngest daughter of ACI's founder and president, David L. Neely.
board of directors
David L. Neely
President & CEO
Norman, OK
Phyllis Neely
Secretary / Treasurer
Norman, OK
Kara Neely
Executive Director
Norman, OK
Dr. David W. Manner, DMin
Executive Director, Church Forward
Topeka, KS
Dr. Dane Fowlkes, Ph.D., CFRE
Waco, TX
Dr. Ed Sasnett, DMin
Senior Pastor, NE Baptist Church
Norman, OK
Dr. John Steffens, PhD (consultative role)
Professor and Executive Director Emeritus
The University of Oklahoma
Edmond, OK
President & CEO
Norman, OK
Phyllis Neely
Secretary / Treasurer
Norman, OK
Kara Neely
Executive Director
Norman, OK
Dr. David W. Manner, DMin
Executive Director, Church Forward
Topeka, KS
Dr. Dane Fowlkes, Ph.D., CFRE
Waco, TX
Dr. Ed Sasnett, DMin
Senior Pastor, NE Baptist Church
Norman, OK
Dr. John Steffens, PhD (consultative role)
Professor and Executive Director Emeritus
The University of Oklahoma
Edmond, OK