YWCA of Greater Charleston names new Executive Director

The YWCA of Greater Charleston has selected LaVanda Brown, a seasoned social services leader, as its incoming executive director. Brown, who will begin her new role on Feb. 15, will succeed the organization’s interim executive director, Garcia Williams.

For Brown, her first day leading the YWCA of Greater Charleston will bring her back to her youth. Her first job was at a YWCA—in a city often compared to Charleston: Savannah, GA.

“The position at the YWCA of Greater Charleston intrigued me because my first job as a teenager was at a YWCA,” she says. “And as a Savannah native, I am aware that the history and culture of Charleston and Savannah have some similarities, as well as some distinct differences.”

Brown brings more than 20 years of on-the-ground experience in social services, including an early career in social work, to her new role. She has led and advised several Savannah-area nonprofit organizations, including Family Promise of Greater Savannah, Union Mission, and Greenbriar Children’s Center, as well as others in the behavioral health, employment, and community services arenas.

A passionate advocate for causes including the promotion of gender equality and diversity and helping at-risk teens and homeless populations, she envisions a world where differences are not just tolerated but celebrated.

“The mission of the YWCA is one that is very much in line with my personal mission of empowering women and celebrating differences,” Brown says.

She sees Charleston as a city that appreciates integrity, too. “I believe that when you are working in communities and establishing relationships and partnerships, people must know that you are trustworthy and that your agenda is not self-motivated.”

During her time in the field, Brown has developed strategic plans resulting in more positive community interventions; created a homeless case management system, life skills curriculum, and after-care program to help the homeless transition to independence; instituted permanent housing for the mentally ill homeless population; and obtained more than $3 million in federal, state, and local grants. Her work has garnered awards including the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Best Practices Award for Transitional Housing and Case Management, and the Georgia Department of Community Affairs Magnolia Award for Excellence in Housing.

“What interests me most about this role is the opportunity to work with an organization with a rich history, to bring to fruition the vision of a strong and dynamic board of directors, and to develop the staff and programming necessary to make a positive and long-lasting impact on the entire community,” she says.

Brown holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and sociology from Wesleyan College and a master’s degree in counselor education from Georgia Southern University.

“We are thrilled to welcome LaVanda,” says Kerri Forrest, chair of the YWCA of Greater Charleston board of directors. “She is highly regarded for her commitment to the Savannah community, and we’re eager to see her bring her many years of experience to our community in Charleston. We look forward to working with her to develop further initiatives in support of the YWCA mission to empower women and eliminate racism.”

Forrest has words of praise for outgoing interim executive director Garcia Williams as well. “During a time of transition, Garcia was a steady hand at the helm, ensuring the continuity of our service to the Charleston community and bringing a fresh, inspired voice to the YWCA,” she says. “We look forward to continuing to work with her to serve Charleston’s women, minorities, and those in need.”

YWCA of Greater Charleston

For more than 100 years, the YWCA of Greater Charleston has served women, children, and families in Charleston, Berkeley, and Dorchester counties. By engaging area residents and businesses, it is able to create opportunities for women’s growth, leadership, and power in order to attain a common vision of peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all people.

The YWCA USA

The YWCA USA is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. Founded in 1858, the YWCA is one of the oldest and largest multicultural women’s organizations in the United States. For over 150 years, the YWCA has been at the forefront of most social movements—from voting rights to civil rights, from affordable housing to pay equity, from violence prevention to health care reform. Local YWCAs, including the YWCA of Greater Charleston, offer services and programs in three key areas: racial justice and civil rights, women’s empowerment, and women’s health and safety.

For more information about the YWCA of Greater Charleston, please visit www.ywca-charlestonsc.org.