Marie Monsen

Before Marie Monsen joined the Annandale Christian Community for Action she pursued a career in the Department of Indian Affairs and the Peace Corps. But her life’s trajectory was established much earlier. The seeds to make a difference were planted by her mother who told Marie as a child, “Leave this world a better place.” Early on as a board member, she decided more could be done for housing in the Annandale, Lincolnia, Bailey’s Crossroads and Culmore areas of Fairfax County. She took initiative to involve the organization in the Rebuilding Together program helping low-income homeowners. But the reach of Marie’s service extended far beyond that. After the shock of 9/11, Marie met with a small core group seeking healing strategies which led to her cofounding the Interfaith Communities for Dialogue. Since its inception, this group has grown in its size and importance in our community. Marie’s heart for service keeps expanding. She indeed took her mother’s advice…the world is already a better place because of Marie.

Annandale Christian Community for Action Vice President, Diane McEldowney says, “Marie has been the champion of building the Fairfax County community’s interfaith and multicultural understanding, respect, harmony, and unity through her 15 years of fostering interfaith and multicultural dialogue.”