The YWCA Central Massachusetts Board of Directors announces Deborah Hall as new Executive Director of the YWCA Central Massachusetts

Worcester, MA — On behalf of the YWCA Central Massachusetts, the Board of Directors is pleased to announce its appointment of Deborah Hall as the new Executive Director of the YWCA Central Massachusetts, replacing Linda Cavaioli who is retiring in June after 30 years.

Ms. Hall is uniquely qualified to lead this important organization into the future. Her life and career are the very embodiment of our mission to eliminate racism and empower women, and her vision for the organization as an important contributor to a more just society reflects the needs and circumstances of our time. Ms. Hall will continue the fundraising and awareness campaign to highlight the mission of eliminating racism and empowering women.

“I am excited to embark on this new journey.  The YWCA’s mission to eliminate racism and empower women is in alignment with my life’s work. I look forward to working with community partners to continue making great strides toward a more just society for everyone,” says Ms. Hall.

Ms. Hall has deep roots in the Worcester community: She is currently Director of Domestic Violence Services at the YWCA Central Mass and was Director of Supportive Services at RCAP Solutions in Worcester from 2014 – 2015. She served as a board member of the YWCA 2016-2018 and of the Worcester Eastside CDC 2015– present, and she was a Commissioner on the Advisory Committee on the Status of Women in the City of Worcester from 2015 – 2020.  Currently she is a board member of Jane Doe Inc. She also is Founder and Chair of Worcester Black History Project.

Before coming to Worcester, Ms. Hall was Domestic Violence Program Manager at Crossroads RI in Providence from 2016 – 2019 and before that worked in Kansas City, MO and St. Louis MO where her responsibilities included Shelter Manager at the Rose Brooks Center and Client Advocate Supervisor in the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office.

“I am excited with the appointment of Deb Hall and know the YWCA will be well positioned for the future. Ms. Hall knows well the needs of the people we serve: parents and children who rely on our day care; survivors of domestic violence and homelessness who need shelter or assistance with legal issues; and people who use our programs and facilities to improve their education, health, and wellbeing. The lives of our clients are often beset by stress and economic hardship, and Ms. Hall fully understands what it takes for our staff to respond to their needs, including collaborating on their behalf with local agencies and community partners. Through her actions Ms. Hall gives life to her philosophy that change is a collaborative accomplishment as much as it is the result of individual effort”, says Linda Cavaioli, Executive Director.

Ms. Hall holds a BS in Political Science and African-American Studies from Washington University, St. Louis, and a Master of Science in Non-Profit Management from Worcester State University.