As SVA prepares for the challenges and opportunities that 2025 will bring, we’re strengthening our organizational resilience and expanding our capacity to meet this political moment by promoting several people and hiring new staff.
Congratulations on these promotions and transitions:
- LeiLani Dowell, Vice President of Operations
- Wesley Morris, Vice President of Programs
- Jae S. was promoted to People’s Solidarity Hub coordinator
- Kylah Guion to Students Organizing the South coordinator
Delaney Vandergrift has transitioned to Power Building Coordinator and Everett is now Power Building Co-Director. Jess Jude, Associate Director, will continue to oversee the robust Sponsored Projects department.
In the first quarter of 2025 SVA and its Sponsored Projects hired 23 workers, which brings us to a total of 90 staff! As our team grows, so do our leadership and organizing skills, as well as our collective power to create the world we all deserve. Welcome and congratulations to these new staff members!
New SVA hires:
- Penelope French, Queer Mobilization Fund Power Building Coordinator
- Roxane Richir, Power Building Co-Director
- Kel Sheridan, People’s Solidarity Hub Associate
- Treasure White, Students Organizing the South Comms Associate
Sponsored Projects’ hires and promotions:
- Aflorar Herb Collective hired Camille Nevarez-Hernandez, Story Catcher and Organizer, Dr. Sarah Nuñez, Co-Founder and Ecosystem Connector, and Zsa Zsa, Volunteer and Mutual Aid Coordinator
- Durham Beyond Policing promoted Poet Williams and Nhwandie Smith to interim Co-Directors
- Pride Liberation hired three organizing fellows: Alexandra Belter, Sullivan Manley, and Red O’Brien
- ROOTZ Durham hired Ragina Gray, Project Coordinator for the Black Mothers March
- South Carolina Housing Justice Network hired Chris Tittle, Tri-county Tenant Organizer
- Southern Organizers Brigade hired Kelsey Coleman, Organizer; Lindsey Jordan, Organizing Coordinator; and Ana Maria Reichenbach, Brigade Operations Manager, as well as six community canvassers: Lakesha Barrett, Ryan Brown, Raymond Harwell, David Johnson, Carlos McLendon, and Convellus Parker. Later in March, Rob Stephens will join the team as the Faith-Labor Partnership Specialist and Jasmine Williams will be Arts and Culture Specialist.
