YWCA of Asheville Names Dr. Amieris Lavender as Chief Program Officer. YWCA of Asheville and WNC is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Amieris Lavender as Chief Program Officer. Lavender brings to the YWCA a proven trajectory of program development and implementation along with her passion as an educator and an advocate for racial and gender equity. Lavender received her BA in Feminist Studies from UC Santa Barbara and a Ph.D. in Education Policy from Michigan State University.

Lavender, a first-generation college graduate, shares that “as a Black woman raised by a single mother I understand first-hand and can relate to the lived experiences of those seeking services from the YWCA of Asheville and I am honored to be a part of supporting the rich legacy of this organization.” Leveraging both her familiarity with issues of women’s empowerment and social justice and her expertise in program design, implementation, and evaluation Lavender is eager to contribute to the YWCA of Asheville’s growth, service to the community and mission of eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.

Lavender will oversee all programming at the YWCA of Asheville. Our programs are designed to address the inequities that are created by institutional racism and gender discrimination, including disparities in health (Early Learning nutrition program, Fitness Center, and Swim Equity program), income (Getting Ahead in a Just-Gettin’ By World program), lack of affordable childcare (drop-in Empowerment Childcare and Early Learning program), and racial disparities in birth outcomes (MotherLove). Diana Sierra, Interim CEO “Dr. Lavender’s unique combination of experience, education, and passion for our mission will be a great asset to YWCA of Asheville. We are excited to have her join the team and I am confident that her leadership and expertise will have a significant impact both internally at the YWCA and within our community.”