Dewana Little

I am a 3rd generation native of Asheville, with a deep love for my city and the tenacity to influence positive changes for disenfranchised communities.  I am passionate about strengthening and empowering the marginalized communities of Asheville and Buncombe County. I am currently the Marketing and Administrative Associate for Self-Help Credit Union, where I have developed several community development programs: Wealth building, Faithful communities, and Successful Transitions. I worked as the Water Quality Educator and Community Engagement Coordinator at Asheville GreenWorks for 4yrs prior to my current job. During my time at Asheville GreenWorks, I developed and managed the Youth Environmental Leadership Program, which is a paid internship for marginalized youth. YELP in its 4th year and had grown from a 5 intern summer program to a 20 intern year around program. I was a major advocate for recycling access for low income communities which resulted in the implementation of recycling in 5 public housing developments within the city. I am the Co-Chair of the Board of Directors for Green Opportunities, the Co- founder of Positive Changes Youth Ministries, a member of the COA’s Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, New Economies Coalition, a member of the Board of Directors for the YMI Cultural Center, and NAACP. I was also the Chair of the COA’s Blue Ribbon Committee that was tasked with the development of the Human Relations Commission.

My vision for Asheville is for this city to become a model for the nation of what “Equity and Inclusion” more specifically “Racial Equity and Inclusion” looks like in every category. A city that lives the definition “A state in which all people in a given society share equal rights and opportunities”, “Inclusion: Authentically bringing traditionally excluded individuals and/or groups into processes, activities, and decision/policy making in a way that shares Power”. The ABCLT is a step in the right direction and I am committed to seeing the vision realized.

This board appointment will enable me to further my work with marginalized communities to address the affordable housing issues that is quickly gentrifying POC out of the city. It will also allow me to strengthen existing relationships and develop new ones to support the vision of the ABCLT. In this position I will be gaining new skills while expanding on existing ones to further empower community. I will be able to continue to work with community on wealth building through housing and improved living standards. All of this goes to helping me to achieve my long-term goal of “Having a positive Impact on a million lives, plus”.

Libby Kyles

Ms. Kyles is the mother of an eight year old daughter. Libby graduated from Western Carolina University in 2000 and received her bachelors degree in Elementary Education with a minor in psychology. Receiving her National Board Certification in 2011, she graduated from East Tennessee State University in 2013 with a masters degree in Educational Leadership. In August 2014 she became a founding member of YTL Training Programs, Youth Transformed for Life, an organization that has provided summer programming for 12-19 year olds for the past 5 years, after school programming for Middle and high school students for the past two years and began summer programming for girls ages 8-12 this year.  Ms Kyles has also been a teacher in Asheville City Schools for the past 14 years.

Amber Banks

Ms Banks is a lifelong resident of Western North Carolina, coming from several generations of Buncombe County natives. Graduating from AC Reynolds High School with high honors, Ms Banks has been involved in recent years with the struggle for affordable housing in Asheville.

A board member since December 2020, she first joined ABCLT in November of 2019. She began attending board meetings and volunteering with the Community Relations Committee and Governance Committee before being voted onto the board.

In addition to serving on the Board of the community land trust, she is a member of the Asheville City’s Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, which advises the City Council on policies and projects revolving around affordable housing for Asheville residents. She is also a member of Just Economics of WNC, where she sits on the Policy and Advocacy Committee and part of the Affordable Housing Strategy Team. Additionally, she has previous experience with organizations like Showing Up for Racial Justice and the Real Asheville Initiative and is a regular attendee of city council meetings.

Personally, Ms Banks has experience with the housing crisis in Asheville. As a single woman on disability, she has experienced extended homelessness on multiple occasions. She has had to navigate the difficult, and at times dangerous, housing situation in Asheville. Her dedication to pursuing affordable housing policy with a focus on equity is rooted in a personal understanding of the real cost of this issue.

Ms Banks is excited to join the community land trust in seeking innovative solutions to the housing crisis in her community.

Renee White

Born and raised in Asheville, NC. Graduate of Asheville High School, attended UNC-Asheville.

Employed by Change Healthcare-Pharmacy Enrollment Representative

President of East End Valley Street Neighborhood Association

City of Asheville Volunteer of the year 2018

1st Vice Chair of Precinct 1

President of St.James AME Lay Organization

Steward Board member of St.James AME Church

Member of Women for Change with Change Healthcare

Former Faith Ambassador Consultant for Democracy NC

Former 2nd Vice Chair for the Democratic Party

Voter registration education Coordinator

NAACP member

Former Western NC District Coordinator Lay Organization

Board member of the Rosa Walker Educational Initiative

Former member of the Stephen’s Lee Advisory Board

Board Member Asheville-Buncombe Community Land Trust