CONSTANCE COLLINS
PRESIDENT & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SUNDARI FOUNDATION (DBA LOTUS HOUSE WOMEN’S SHELTER), MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
Lotus House is the largest women’s shelter in Florida, serving high special needs women and children, many with histories of domestic violence, health issues and other traumas. Since opening in 2006, Lotus House has sheltered more than 6,000 women and children, “with at least 80% exiting successfully outside the shelter system.” Sixteen years ago, Collins “retired” from a career in commercial real estate, finance, law and business to help found the shelter. She has been its full-time volunteer executive director since.
| EDUCATION | Trinity College (BA), University of Colorado (JD) |
| FLORIDA LOVE | The racial and ethnic diversity of the people in Florida |
| WOULD CHANGE about Florida | I pray for greater racial, ethnic, gender and social equity. |
| READING | Forces for Good: Six Practices of High Impact Nonprofits, by Leslie Crutchfield (rereading) |