CHAIR

Dr. Bo Bennett is currently an administrator in the North Carolina Community College system. He is a proud Air Force veteran with over 26 years in the human services field in various positions, such as a police officer, shift supervisor, correctional officer, case manager, counselor, professor, and college administrator. He holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, a master's degree in psychology and a doctorate in human services.

VICE CHAIR

Lionell Hightower (aka Hightower) has made a major impact in WNC following his release from prison in 2016. This devoted father, Forensic peer support specialist, Certified Peer Support Specialist, and Community Health Worker has been actively working in this community for over five years. Hightower is also the driving force behind the groundbreaking Child Support program at Sunrise Community for Recovery and Wellness.

BOARD TREASURER

Lean six sigma engineer adept at building systems and eliminating waste. He has a background in manufacturing, finance, and health care.

BOARD SECRETARY

Dustin has a background in camping ministry, urban ministry, homelessness advocacy, Fresh Expressions, and hospital chaplaincy. He also serves as an animator for Fearless Dialogues, a nonprofit committed to equipping those within and outside of the church with the tools to create unique spaces amongst unlikely partners with the common goal of sustainable social change.

BOARD DIRECTOR

Kelly White is an Experienced Instructor with a demonstrated history of working in the hospital & healthcare industry. She is skilled in Microsoft Excel, OneNote, Adult Education, Employee Training, and Communication. Strong education professional with a Master's degree focused in Public Health and Health Education from Purdue University Global.

BOARD DIRECTOR

Destiny is an enrolled member of the eastern band of Cherokee Indians and a person in long-term recovery. She is a certified peer support specialist, certified community health worker, certified recovery coach, crisis intervention specialist, and harm reduction specialist. She works for the county’s community reentry team and has many years of lived experience. She loves to use her voice to help those who are unable to use their voice at this time. She is grateful to be a part of such an amazing board of directors.

BOARD DIRECTOR

Shaunessy Lofton, MPH, is a dedicated public health professional and community health worker with a passion for addressing systemic injustices through an equity-focused lens. Shaunessy has actively contributed to interventions and strategic planning aimed at mitigating the impact of racism on communities and organizations. Shaunessy is a native of Asheville, NC holding a Master of Public Health with a concentration in Community Health, a Graduate Certificate in Ethnic and Rural Health Disparities, and a Bachelor of Science in Public Health with a concentration in Community Health. Her academic background, coupled with a commitment to equity, positions her as a dynamic force in community health. Currently serving as the Senior Project Manager of Community Health Worker Sustainability and Integration at Partners in Health- US, Shaunessy leads initiatives in collaboration with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) and other partners. Her role involves strategic advising, technical support, and fostering collaborative relationships to drive sustainable change in North Carolina. Shaunessy is committed to equitable practices within communities with a constant focus on systemic accountability.

BOARD DIRECTOR

Rob Thomas, Executive Director, Racial Justice Coalition: Rob is a 36-year-old African American male, Asheville native, and Community Activist. Rob is a formerly justice-involved individual with first-hand experiences related to the inequities congruent with the disparities he now works passionately to unravel. As the Racial Justice Coalition’s Director of Strategy, Rob has facilitated and been a keynote speaker at over four dozen community-related events.

Rob is the recipient of CoThinkk’s 2020 community leader award, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Association of Asheville & Buncombe County’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, 2021 Service Award, the Peacemaker of 2020 in Western North Carolina award, the Tzedek Social Justice Fund’s 2020 Impact Award, and Fayetteville P.A.C.T. 's Certificate of Appreciation. As a public speaker, team collaborator, and systems change advisor, his achievements are related to empowerment, strategizing, and support that redirects the power back to communities of color. As a former justice-involved individual who has spent around 11 years incarcerated, he understands the negative impacts and disparities faced by people of color in America. Rob has organized and led several protests, including the June 6th protest in Downtown Asheville, with over 10,000 people in attendance. Rob uses his lived experience in collaboration with his native connections to inform, educate and mobilize the community to produce systems change. Rob believes true transitional justice requires redistribution of power and fights to place vulnerable and disenfranchised community members in a decision-making position over processes where they are the most impacted demographic.

BOARD DIRECTOR

Director of ABCCM’s Recovery Living Ministry @ The Costello House 2022-Present

HHJ Construction- Qualifier, Senior Project Manager & Consultant 2007-Present

Bank of America –Corporate Real Equipment; Equipment Inventory Management & Mortgages from 1998-2007

Current 2023 Leadership Asheville 42 member

Current General Contractor License Holder NC/SC

Former NC Real Estate License Holder

Member of the Que Psi Phi Fraternity

Volunteer Efforts

Pisgah Legal

Chosen

Mediation Center

BOARD DIRECTOR

Coryn is the Director of Fundraising Strategy at Spark Point Fundraising, where she supports nonprofit organizations to tell their incredible stories and reach their fundraising goals through practical fundraising strategies. Coryn has dedicated over twenty years to serving her community and focusing her considerable energy on the fight for social justice. Her work has resulted in streamlined application processes for assistance, holding partners and vendors accountable, suggesting new policies, rewriting existing policies, changing hiring, retention, and promotion practices, and fundraising that centers the community rather than the donor. She is particularly passionate about the intersections of gender, race, and criminal justice. Coryn has a Master of Public Affairs with a concentration in Nonprofit Management from. In her free time, you find her pretending to be a T-Rex or exploring the world with her young son.

BOARD DIRECTOR

Erin Bowman works as the CEO of the Julian F. Keith Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment Center. As an addictions therapist specializing in trauma, she understands the importance of treating the whole person without judgement or stigma. Erin’s passions include connecting patients to the care they need and building bridges between different community partners. She trains on Trauma Informed Care and specializes in Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders as well as substance use disorders. Erin is the owner of Bowman Collaborative Consulting, LLC. Erin enjoys spending time with her family, including three dogs, cooking, yoga and beekeeping.

BOARD DIRECTOR

Lara Cates is an experienced mental health and substance use professional holding a Master of Social Work. She is dually licensed as a clinical social worker and addictions specialist. Lara is currently employed as a care manager for a managed care organization. She is a published author of academic articles that focus on incarceration and medications for opioid use disorder. She served as the grant coordinator for the State Opioid Response grant. Lara is dedicated to fostering equity for all and is committed to reducing the stigma surrounding incarceration. She is passionate about creating inclusive spaces that promote understanding and support. Lara is committed to making a positive impact through a social justice perspective.

BOARD DIRECTOR

Eric Jackson is a 35-year technology industry veteran who has worked in technical and executive roles in academia, the private sector, and municipal government. He currently leads the Office of Data and Performance at the City of Asheville. Eric serves on the Community Engagement Workgroup of the Buncombe County Safety and Justice Challenge, which seeks to reduce the jail population by addressing drivers of incarceration. As a volunteer, he developed the Buncombe County Court Reminder system that provides free court date text reminders. Eric is in long-term recovery.