Letter to AVP’s Communities: New Leadership and Vision for AVP

AVP is steady and AVP is adapting.

That is the message from AVP's Board of Directors and Management Team following a recent period of transition for the 40 year-old organization. Over the last several months, AVP has taken on restructuring, leadership changes, budget reductions, and a rescaled strategic plan. These measures ensure that AVP-the largest LGBTQ+-specific anti-violence program in the country reaching more than 11,000 people annually-will continue to provide core services now and into the future.

The Board of Directors has promotedAudacia Ray to Interim Executive Director, Ashley Young to Deputy Executive Director, and deputy program directors Aditi Bhattacharya, Reem R, and Leslie Allen to department director roles. "We view the work ahead of us as stewardship for this organization we all care so much about," said Audacia Ray. "Our leadership team shares a vision for stabilizing AVP, communicating about our progress, and preparing the organization for the leadership of a new executive director in 2025."

"AVP's Board of Directors is thrilled to support and collaborate with staff leadership through this next phase of our vital work to rescale," said Board Chair Stephanie K. Blackwood. "Delivering free services to LGBTQ+ survivors of violence is our highest priority. Strategic growth, thoughtful community partnerships, and committed funders will ensure that AVP thrives."

Through the transition, AVP has become more operationally sound, Blackwood also said. "With a balanced fiscal year 2025 budget, AVP is moving forward, continuing to serve clients with uninterrupted care and no waitlist for services."

AVP's free 24/7 bilingual hotline, the organization's longest-running program, is being strengthened through a hotline volunteer drive and autumn training program. AVP's trained volunteers and staff answer nearly 1,500 calls each year to support survivors in immediate crisis and connect them to free counseling and legal services.

During spring 2024, AVP piloted a new six-week community safety planning cohort that supports under-resourced LGBTQ+ groups in the most-threatened states. This new program, developed as a result of the needs assessment research of AVP's Safe Spaces Protection Project, assisted LGBTQ community groups in developing custom plans for safety, including digital safety and active assailant response plans. A second cohort for LGBTQ+ groups at risk of hate violence will run in the fall, leading up to the election.

"In this period of increased violence against the LGBTQ and HIV-affected communities, we are looking at all aspects of AVP's programs with a goal of strengthening our services," Ray said. "We are determined to directly support survivors of violence while advocating for non-carceral policies and resources."

Over the coming weeks, AVP will be sharing more about our leadership team and programs.

Follow us @antiviolence on Twitter and Instagram to meet the team, and support AVP's work through a monthly recurring donation: https://avp.org/monthly/

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