Tzedek Impact Awards honor individuals who have engaged in systems change or community healing work in the Asheville region using the wisdom gained by directly navigating systems of oppression.
We are deeply inspired by these leaders and are honored to celebrate their past achievements.
Dr. Amieris Lavender, Chief Program Officer at YWCA of Asheville, is a proud Black, queer, first-generation college graduate, caregiver, social justice advocate, and dad joke aficionado dedicated to eliminating barriers and smashing silos continuing to threaten Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) youth achievement and advancement.
She has worked to dismantle white supremacy systems and culture at every step, remaining fiercely committed to implementing effective, responsive, anti-racist programming and nurturing intersectional community collaborations.
Dr. Lavender’s critical racial justice lens has also been pivotal in reshaping Asheville’s educational ecosystem through her executive role on the Asheville City Schools Foundation Board, as tri-chair for the Asheville Buncombe Preschool Planning Collaborative, and as the Facilitator for the Education Impact Focus Area of the City of Asheville and Buncombe County Reparations Commission.
Until Black educational excellence is the standard, she persists—undeterred and unafraid in upholding the unlimited potential of Black learners.
Read to Succeed (R2S) co-director Ashley Allen championed community-powered literacy as a fast-track path to meaningfully improving inclusivity, accessibility, and equity in education. In her R2S programming and Asheville City Schools (ACS) leadership, Ashley integrated diverse storytelling to challenge oppressive, dehumanizing systems invested in perpetuating the opportunity gap undermining the health, wealth, and welfare of all students.
Ashley’s education empowerment mission has included collaboration with ACS school-improvement initiatives, Claxton Elementary‘s Social Justice League,…
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