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The Reparations Stakeholder Authority of Asheville recently added its first Reparations Project Director to the RSAA team. Please join us in celebrating this milestone!
Introducing Torre Garrison: Electric Visionary and New RSAA Reparations Project Director
Asheville, NC — The Reparations Stakeholder Authority of Asheville (RSAA) proudly announces the appointment of the dynamic Torre Garrison as the inaugural Reparations Project Director. The RSAA is confident that this bold, community-driven social change champion will spearhead the cause of reparations for Black citizens in Buncombe County, North Carolina, with grace, determination, and an unwavering commitment to justice.
Torre is a kaleidoscope of roles and talents: a devoted wife, loving mother, prolific author, inspiring radio host, and passionate advocate for social and racial justice, mental health, and labor union rights. In her downtime, Torre embraces the simple joys of life – from good food to thought-provoking documentaries. A true Asheville native, she delights in reading, writing, hiking, shopping, and crafting and fiercely supports buy-local ethics.
In her professional life, Torre made strides in the fight for a more just society. After a decade of Federal Government service and fueled by her passion, Torre founded TW Consulting, a mental health training and consulting firm dedicated to empowering others. She is also an active member of the United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County Community Conversations Committee, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Young Organizing Unionists for the Next Generation (Y.O.U.N.G.) and Black Leaders Advancing Change and Knowledge (B.L.A.C.K.) committees. Torre previously served as the Co-Chair of AFGE Y.O.U.N.G., Chair of AFGE B.L.A.C.K., and on the WNC Central Labor Council E-board. Her advocacy efforts also earned her a spot on the prestigious CoThinkk Community Leader awardees list in 2021.
Guided by her understanding of America’s inextricable history with racial injustice, Torre states,
It is impossible to examine the history of America and not see the intentional destruction of equality for Black people. In order to reach true equity, we must understand and embrace the importance of reparatory justice and reparations.
As the Reparations Project Director, Torre will channel her relentless energy into leading local reparations efforts, ensuring that Buncombe’s Black communities shape their individual and collective futures.
With Torre leading the way, the RSAA is well-positioned to create lasting, transformative change and healing for Black citizens of Buncombe County.
About the RSAA: The Reparations Stakeholder Authority of Asheville (RSAA) is an independent, Black-led Reparations Finance Authority that manages the distribution of monetary reparations to local Black citizens in response to community input. In working to heal the harms caused by systemic racism and discriminatory practices, the RSAA envisions a future where the United States of America has fully atoned for the harms of chattel slavery, the transatlantic slave trade, redlining, and other manifestations of systemic racism. The RSAA is a fiscally-sponsored project of the Tzedek Social Justice Fund.
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