Ora Gibson Richards
About the Teacher
Why study with them?
Ora is an inspirational and motivational speaker, a professional, wellness, and self-development coach, and a cross-cultural communication and community advocate. Born in Liberia, West Africa, Ora was educated in Liberia, England, and France. Following the start of the Liberian civil war in 1990, Ora and her husband spent 5 years volunteering to establish the Buduburum Refugee Camp in Ghana, which they watched quickly grow from 11 refugees to over 100,000 men, women, and children. Later, when a house they rented in Accra became a transit point for many Liberians fleeing the war, Ora purchased a manual sewing machine, hired a local tailor, and started a small clothing business to feed the 25-30 refugees who were settled at their home at any given time.
Forced out of Liberia again due to war in 1996, Ora and her family were airlifted to Philadelphia this time, where she became a founding member of and served as Chairman of the Board for the Pennsylvania Immigration and Citizenship Coalition (PICC), a nonprofit consisting of immigration lawyers, social organizations and community activists. In 2001, she received the Immigrant Leadership Award at the historic Union League, from HIAS & Council Migration Services of the Jewish Federation of Philadelphia.
In April 2008, the Chinese Government invited Ora to Beijing to participate in a six-week "Cultural Immersion Seminar on Community Development for Community Leaders" sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce in China. 27 Leaders from 16 African countries participated in the seminar and unanimously elected Ora as their spokesperson on the official group visits to 12 major cities in China.
Ora enjoys motivating and empowering others to live a life of purpose, meaning, and service through sharing her personal experiences of trials, loss, and devastation. Using her ability to overcome and strive forward as motivation, she helps others find hope in seemingly hopeless situations as they explore solutions to help themselves transform their lives and realize their fullest potential.
Forced out of Liberia again due to war in 1996, Ora and her family were airlifted to Philadelphia this time, where she became a founding member of and served as Chairman of the Board for the Pennsylvania Immigration and Citizenship Coalition (PICC), a nonprofit consisting of immigration lawyers, social organizations and community activists. In 2001, she received the Immigrant Leadership Award at the historic Union League, from HIAS & Council Migration Services of the Jewish Federation of Philadelphia.
In April 2008, the Chinese Government invited Ora to Beijing to participate in a six-week "Cultural Immersion Seminar on Community Development for Community Leaders" sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce in China. 27 Leaders from 16 African countries participated in the seminar and unanimously elected Ora as their spokesperson on the official group visits to 12 major cities in China.
Ora enjoys motivating and empowering others to live a life of purpose, meaning, and service through sharing her personal experiences of trials, loss, and devastation. Using her ability to overcome and strive forward as motivation, she helps others find hope in seemingly hopeless situations as they explore solutions to help themselves transform their lives and realize their fullest potential.
