Anne Wells, Founder & Executive Director
A global social entrepreneur, ANNE WELLS is Founder and Executive Director of UNITE The World With Africa. This social organization connects Americans and Tanzanians in meaningful ways to advance grassroots women’s health, education and microfinance initiatives throughout Tanzania. Wells leads annual global service tours and facilitates multidisciplinary life skills, healthcare and business development programs in collaboration with her NGO partners throughout East Africa.
Under UNITE, Wells co-leads with Simone Quinn the Global Girls & Guys Unite youth group, which empowers middle- and high-school age children in America to experience their power as global change agents.
In conjunction with award-winning ad agency MILK, Anne launched in 2010 an online retail store featuring the Ashe’ Collection (“thank you” in Maasai), a 100% philanthropic initiative featuring jewelry, sandals, belts, bags and photography from East African artists to support income-generating programs and to raise awareness and funds.
Anne is a seasoned marketing and communications professional with nearly 20 years of experience working with corporations and not-for-profits — including Safe Water Network in Westport, CT; The Center of Contemporary Arts in St. Louis; and Haystack Toys in St. Louis. Anne is also the author and publisher of the two non-fiction books: Raising Babies in St. Louis and Raising Kids in St. Louis, which sold and distributed nearly 30,000 copies. She has worked as a writer and editor for a number of national publications, including BabyTalk and Parenting Magazines.
Currently Anne is a columnist for the international online news outlet Africa.com as well as a writer for Darien.patch.com as well as the extended Fairfield County Patch network. She also serves as an Advisor the Board for Nurturing Minds in Africa and the Sega Girls School in Morogoro, Tanzania, as well as an advisor to Evolve The Conversation – a movement to celebrate the art of communication.
Anne received her BA in Anthropology from Kenyon College in 1993 (and was awarded the Margaret Mead Award). She attended the University of California at Berkeley’s Graduate School of Journalism in 1995/1996.
Anne is married to David Wells, and together they have three daughters — ages 7, 9 and 11. Email Anne directly at atmwells@gmail.com.
The drums of Africa still beat in my heart. They will not let me rest while there is a single boy or girl without a chance to prove his worth.
–Mary McLeod Bethune
