Lynne spent the first part of her career in the United States promoting educational programs for low income families and children. She worked as a teacher and administrator in the New York City and Port Washington Long Island public school systems. In 1990, she moved with her family to Bolivia where she joined forces with Carmen Velasco to develop training programs for women receiving donated food. Lynne and Carmen developed an inclusive, comprehensive program based on what the women insisted were their primary needs. The training programs in business development, child development, health and family planning eventually led to the founding of Pro Mujer.

Pro Mujer is a 20 year-old women’s development and microfinance organization that provides poor women in Latin America with an integrated package of financial services, healthcare, and training to lift themselves and their families out of poverty. Pro Mujer delivers these services through communal banks, or peer groups, of 20-30 women who support each other and guarantee each other’s loans. With small loans, healthcare, and training, along with group support, women are empowered to become agents of change in their families and communities.

Established in 1990, Pro Mujer has a presence in Argentina, Bolivia, Mexico, Nicaragua and Peru. In the last 20 years, Pro Mujer has disbursed more than US$742 million in small loans, and provided healthcare and training to more than 1 million women and their 5 million children and family members. Pro Mujer is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.  More information is available on the website, www.promujer.org

Lynne has degrees in Government (B.A., Principia College); Education (M.A., Teachers College, Columbia University); American History (M.A., New York University) and Educational Administration (Ed.D., New York University).