RE-Center, Race & Equity in Education announced today that Kate Gervais, its Executive Director, will be leaving the organization after more than five years of leadership. Gervais will leave RE-Center at the end of the 2020 calendar year.
Joelle Murchison, RE-Center’s Board Chair, shared that a few years ago, she met a persistent leader who asked her if she would consider joining the board of an organization that she had only recently heard of. Murchison says, “The timing was not right but a year later when my situation had changed a bit, this same leader called again. This time, I could not say no”.
Fast forward to 2020, a year unlike any other. The organization had experienced some staff transitions but despite COVID-19, was ready to meet the new challenges – both financially and operationally. As the board chair, Murchison had become accustomed to Kate calling her with frequent updates, but this call in late August was different. It was the call that Murchison feared, Kate was calling to let her know that it was time to move on.
Murchison shared that it was not a call that she was expecting, and she experienced a range of emotions, but immediately realized that all would be well. “Kate Gervais has brought RE-Center to where it is today – through a name change, rebranding process, strategic plan, multiple board and staff transitions, and the addition of RE-Center Consulting, to name a few. Kate has done a yeoman’s job transforming the organization to embrace a mission and vision that would position us for this very moment. We owe Kate a debt of gratitude for all that she has done for RE-Center’s, past, present, and future. On behalf of the board, we thank you Kate for your dedicated service!”
We enter this moment of search with intentionality and optimism as we seek an Executive Director who will carry RE-Center into its next season. Kate has laid a strong foundation and so we expect that the new Executive Director will be able to use it as a launching pad. In the meantime, we have decided to hire an Interim Executive Director who has the resources and skills to ensure a smooth transition and continuous support to our board and staff. We are excited to introduce you to Andréa Hawkins, who officially began working with RE-Center on Nov. 16. Hawkins says, “I look forward to partnering with the very capable staff as they carry out their mission to partner with communities to eliminate systemic racism, empower students and create safe, supportive schools.” Her depth of understanding and the ability to ask the right questions position her well to ensure an effective and intentional transition. Andréa will lead the staff into the early spring, at which point we expect to have conducted a positive and productive Executive Director search. Hawkins shared, “As a lifelong member of this community, I look forward to providing support as the organization identifies its next leader. “
Previously, Hawkins successfully led the Amistad Center for Art and Culture as its Interim Executive Director from December 2018 – February 2019.
We look forward to Andréa’s leadership and we celebrate the enormous contributions of Kate Gervais. Please stay tuned for more information on RE-Center’s upcoming work and a possible farewell opportunity to wish Kate well in her new journey.
