Board of Directors 2026
- Ela Twigg, Chair
- David Bartholomew, Treasurer
- MaLeah Raymer, Secretary
- Jack Paksoy
- Annelise Hagedorn
- Ameena Batada
- Lori Hedrick
- Priya Ray
- Rebecca Telberg
- River Wilson
- Dustin Mailman
- June Altamura
Staff
Vicki Meath, Executive Director
Vicki Meath (she/her) came to Just Economics with a background in community organizing. She has worked on environmental, social and economic justice issues ranging from responsible oil and gas drilling to protecting health and human services in the Ohio state budget. In 2006, Vicki worked with Let Justice Roll and Cleveland Jobs with Justice on the successful campaign to raise the state minimum wage and continued to work with Jobs with Justice on the Cuyahoga County Living Wage Campaign and other worker justice issues. Vicki has a strong commitment to and passion for economic justice work. Vicki has a daughter and has lived in the Asheville area since 2007. She is involved in a variety of community activities and lives in West Asheville.
Sam Stites, Living Wage Program Coordinator
Sam Stites (he/him) is a Transylvania County-based organizer and policy advocate with experience in labor and political organizing. He joined the staff as a member of the Living Wage Coalition of Transylvania County, a former member of JE’s Board of Directors, and a graduate of Voices for Economic Justice. Having moved to WNC in 2018 to care for a loved one, he quickly became involved in movement and coalition building, and is thrilled at the prospect of continuing to strengthen rural organizing infrastructure in the greater-WNC counties with Just Economics. Sam received a master’s in city & regional planning from UNC–Chapel Hill where he focused primarily on economic security, labor in North Carolina, civil justice issues, and wages. He loves exploring WNC, hiking and swimming, and his two cats.
Mike Holmes, Community Organizer
Mike Holmes (they/he) is a black queer native of Buncombe County. They have spent their years in the area as an artist, musician, board member and wage worker in various industries and disciplines, where they developed skills in community organizing and event coordination. This experience has fueled a passion to organize those around them to obtain better treatment from employers and support mutual aid networks in order to directly help others in need. Amplifying the stories and voices of people who have been historically oppressed is important to Mike, and he has done so through history archival and through sharing his knowledge of Black Asheville’s history with those who aren’t familiar. Mike loves to make and play music, DJ, skateboard, shoot film photography, walk his dog Bear, and hang out with their lovely partner and their partner’s children.
Emma Hutchens, Operations Manager
Emma is a queer Southern Appalachian abolitionist passionate about building resilient, caring, accessible, liberated communities! With a background in community organizing, campaign development, event coordination, project management and facilitation, Emma uses her virgo skills to keep things running behind the scenes at economic justice nonprofit, Just Economics. Born and raised in rural North Carolina, Emma lives in the Historic Southside Neighborhood of Asheville, NC with her husband Thom, Archi the hound dog, a stray cat and a flock of backyard chickens. She loves gardening, riding her bike and practicing self defense martial arts. She believes that with a little humor, a few spreadsheets and a committed community – anything is possible.