YWCA Northeast Kansas Announces New Director of Community Engagement
YWCA Northeast Kansas is excited to announce the appointment of Alicia VanWalleghem as the new Director of Community Engagement. VanWalleghem will be succeeding Allison Marker, who has served in her current role at the YWCA since August of 2022, and prior to that, served for 5 years as the Resource Development Director for the agency. During Marker's tenure, YWCA Northeast Kansas was able to increase total public support by 87% and secure significant corporate and individual funding.
“Allison Marker's departure is bittersweet,” said Kathleen Marker, CEO of YWCA Northeast Kansas. “Under her leadership, the organization experienced unprecedented growth and success in community engagement and fundraising efforts. I want to thank Allison for all she has done to advance our mission and grow our movement throughout her tenure.”
Marker will be transitioning to a new role as Senior Strategist with Advocacy & Communication Solutions, LLC, a national female and minority owned consulting firm headquartered in Cleveland Ohio. Established in 2004, ACS has gained a national reputation for not only its advocacy, communication and strategy development expertise but also a deep understanding of matters within the early childhood, K-12, workforce, Medicaid, and health and human services fields across the non profit, government, and philanthropic sectors.
YWCA Northeast Kansas is enthusiastic about the future with Alicia VanWalleghem taking on the role of Director of Community Engagement officially on Monday, March 4th. VanWalleghem brings with her years of small business development and a commitment to YWCA's mission, making her well-positioned to continue to grow YWCA's public support and impact in the coming years. She is a 2019 honoree of Topeka's Top 20 Under 40, and has received numerous awards and accolades for her leadership in Downtown Topeka.
"As the former owner of Leaping Llamas Artisan Shop, Alicia brings a wealth of experience in fostering relationships and community engagement. Her dedication to social justice and driving positive change on both a local and global scale will make her a natural fit at YWCA Northeast Kansas," said CEO Kathleen Marker. "We are so grateful for her longtime contributions as a volunteer, notably with our Concealed Revealed Art Auction, and have no doubt she will succeed in this vital leadership role."
