Charity exposes land issues

IU alumna Katherine Beck is on a mission to raise funds for her charity, the Rich Coast Project, and educate the public about the plight of landowners in Costa Rica.

In her last year of graduate school, Beck lived among the members of an Afro-Caribbean community in Costa Rica who were facing the loss of their homes because of what Beck calls “the volatile land rights situation.”

Beck worked directly with residents such as George Hansell of Punta Uva, Costa Rica, learning their stories in depth so she could provide adequate help.

“This is a big conflict,” Hansell said in a press release. “For at the moment you don’t own something that you had owned. We used to be owners, until now we comes to be squatters.

“In everything you supposed to be going up, not down. But in this, we are going down.”
In an effort to learn more, Beck began interviewing people about their history and the current challenges facing their communities.

“I quickly realized there was a story to be told — one that asks how environmental conservation measures can and should be balanced against the needs and rights of local communities,” Beck said.

She founded the Rich Coast Project in the 2011-2012 academic year. The charity uses new media and community organizing to connect local experiences to national and international law.

Beck has decided to take the next step toward cultural revival by organizing fundraisers to get the Rich Coast Project’s feet off the ground.

“We recently launched an Indiegogo campaign to support our community storytelling efforts this winter and are offering several exciting and creative rewards for our backers,” Beck said.

Indiegogo, according to its website, is a “crowdfunding” organization that helps charitable entities, such as Rich Coast Project, reach out to various donors willing to help them expand their charity’s reach.

Indiegogo goes beyond traditional donor-solicitation methods and works to make the process of donation easier for both sides of the equation.

Beck hopes that through exposure and donations, her charity can gain momentum and expand its scope to help all people whose land falls under legislative fire.

According to their Indiegogo profile, they hope to raise more than $36,000 before the end of November.

Beck’s journey began at the Kelley School of Business, where she met role model Carolyn Goerner, clinical professor of management at Kelley.

Goerner recalled many traits about Beck that made her stand out as a student and a person.

“Katie uses both sides of her brain more efficiently and effectively than anyone I’ve ever known,” Goerner said. “She can simultaneously solve a complex problem and also see the implications of her solution in terms of how it will make affected parties feel.”

Beck fostered her work ethic at IU, working for four years at the IU Auditorium, first as a volunteer usher then house manager.

“My time (at the IU Auditorium) taught me how to effectively work with and lead a team, developed my diligence and time management skills, and the importance of building meaningful relationships with co-workers and colleagues,” Beck said.

Beck graduated from IU in 2009 with a major in business administration. Her concentrations included management, international business and legal studies.
Goerner believes Beck has the makings of a great leader.

“I’d like to see (Beck) start to think even more strategically about her partnerships — who she wants to work with or who she will couple her resources with, for example,” Goerner said. “She has the instincts of a true collaborator, and I think she can bring disparate people together in remarkable ways.”