Current Fellows
Viviana Barba (she/her)
Viviana Barba will serve as an IRL (In Real Life) Program Associate with the Asheville City Schools Foundation. Originally from Tennessee and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina, Viviana is a recent graduate of the University of North Carolina Asheville, where she majored in Sociology with a focus on gender, sexuality, and race. At UNCA, she received the Senior Faculty Award in Sociology and was inducted into the Sociology Honors Society. Her experiences include working with Pisgah Legal Services on hurricane relief and community engagement, as well as volunteering at local food pantries. Outside of her placement, she enjoys reading, crafting (currently knitting), experimenting with new recipes, and spending time outdoors - whether swimming, rafting, or cloud-watching. Viviana joins Hands and Feet eager to engage deeply with community, grow personally and professionally, and build meaningful connections in the Asheville area.
Sarah Kihn (she/her)
Sarah Kihn is serving as Outreach and Development Coordinator with REACH of Haywood County. Originally from the Netherlands, Sarah grew up in San Diego and Carmel, Indiana, and is a first-generation college graduate with a degree in Public Management and Leadership and a minor in German from Indiana University. She previously worked for six years in Human Resources in state government and the tech sector before transitioning to nonprofit service. Passionate about community, she has volunteered with her local food pantry and enjoys hiking, yoga, cooking, thrifting, and long walks with her golden retriever, Luna. Sarah is particularly interested in intentional living, spiritual growth, and building relationships grounded in compassion. Through Hands and Feet, she seeks to cultivate a life of purpose, connection, and service.
Riley Gall (she/her)
Riley Gall will serve as Volunteer Coordinator for Hurricane Relief with Black Mountain Presbyterian Church. Originally from Saginaw, Michigan, Riley is a graduate of Mars Hill University with a degree in Psychology. As a Bonner Scholar, she volunteered extensively at local schools and libraries, coordinated student wellness events, and received both the Social Justice Award and the Community Building Award. In response to Hurricane Helene, Riley worked to provide food and relief supplies and assisted with rebuilding efforts in Madison County. Her passions include reading, singing, dancing, and spending time outdoors. Riley plans to pursue graduate study in Clinical Mental Health Counseling or Social Work, with the goal of becoming a trauma-informed therapist. She joins Hands and Feet inspired to bring healing and hope to communities in recovery.
Kelly Gregory (she/her)
Kelly Gregory will serve as a Hands and Feet Fellow with Homeward Bound’s AHOPE Day Center. Originally from Roanoke, Virginia, and raised between Tazewell, VA and Siler City, NC, Kelly has spent recent years in Western North Carolina and the Triangle. She brings experience in service and advocacy from her work with Amnesty International, the NC Arts Incubator, and most recently with Rising Light Relief following Hurricane Helene. Kelly has also worked in kitchens and housekeeping, experiences that shape her perspective on labor, justice, and dignity. Passionate about music and movement, she enjoys both listening and dancing enthusiastically. Kelly’s interests center on housing, worker rights, and solidarity across communities. She looks forward to learning from others through the Fellowship, building local connections, and preparing to pursue a degree in social work after her year of service.
Na’I’Cesses “Icy” McKether (she/her)
Na’I’Cesses (Icy) McKether will serve as a Truth-Telling and Narrative Change Fellow with the Reparations Stakeholder Authority of Asheville (RSAA). A native of Michigan, Icy just completed her M.A.R. in Religion and Ecology at Yale Divinity School and holds a B.A. from Adrian College. Her work is grounded in history, storytelling, and reflection, with a commitment to justice, narrative power, and Black futures. She draws inspiration from the natural world, creative expression, and intentional living. Her interests include walking, gardening, cooking, and studying architecture, and her creative process embraces curiosity, reading, and reflection. Icy is passionate about supporting Black-owned and eco-conscious initiatives, and she brings a vision of community-rooted, self-determined change. She joins Hands and Feet seeking to integrate spirit, story, and service, deepening her commitment to justice and faith in action.
Marisa Romanat (she/her)
Marisa Romanat will serve as a Construction Craft Laborer with Habitat for Humanity’s Home Repair Program. A native of Boone and Charlotte, North Carolina, she is a recent graduate of UNC Chapel Hill with degrees in Sociology and Religious Studies. Her experience includes working with Cross Connection, a nonprofit camp providing safe-access projects across underserved communities, as well as with Common Good in South Africa and Hope Renovations in Chapel Hill. These roles shaped her passion for community-based service and construction ministry. Marisa describes herself as endlessly curious, with a love for learning, adventure, and conversation - whether through small talk or deep discussions. In her free time, she enjoys live music, exploring new coffee shops, and taking spontaneous road trips. She joins Hands and Feet eager to grow spiritually, engage in meaningful service, and deepen her understanding of justice-centered community.
Alexandra Salcedo (she/her)
Alexandra Salcedo will serve as a Fellow with the YWCA. Raised in California and Florida, Alexandra has lived and traveled widely, including to 13 countries where she’s explored diverse cultures. She holds a Bachelor’s in Neuro-Psychology and a Master’s in Higher Education from Penn State University. Her professional and volunteer experiences include advocacy for survivors of human trafficking, refugees, unhoused individuals, and those navigating incarceration. While at Penn State, she worked with the Restorative Justice Initiative and served as a counselor at the Herr Clinic, offering mental health support rooted in empathy. A lifelong commitment to faith and justice shapes her work, which she views as an expression of loving God and loving others through action. Alexandra joins Hands and Feet to deepen her servant-leadership, strengthen her advocacy, and live out her values of compassion and justice.
Gaby Sanclimenti (she/her)
Gaby Sanclimenti will serve as a Program Associate with FIRSTwnc. Originally from Doylestown, Pennsylvania, and later Wilmington, NC, Gaby is a recent graduate of Davidson College with a degree in Psychology and a minor in Art History. At Davidson, she combined interests in mental health and the arts, participating in nonprofit leadership, volunteering as a literacy tutor, and working in the college’s art galleries. A lifelong dancer, Gaby has also performed with campus dance companies and maintains a passion for museums and creative expression. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, music, and exploring new places. Through Hands and Feet, she hopes to expand her comfort zone, build meaningful relationships in Asheville, and explore opportunities in counseling and social work.
Sakara “Saki” Sullivan (she/her)
Sakara Sullivan will serve as Resilience Hub Manager for United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County. Born in Asheville and raised in Northern California, Sakara has recently been living in Gunnison and Crested Butte, Colorado. She graduated from Western Colorado University in 2023 with a degree in Politics and Government and will begin a Master’s in Public Affairs at Western Carolina University this fall. Her professional experiences include serving as Executive Director of an arts nonprofit, fundraising for a newspaper, and teaching as a professional ski and dance instructor. Sakara loves mountain biking, skiing, hiking, and spending time with her dog. She is passionate about disaster preparedness and resilience and hopes to pursue a career in disaster response following her graduate studies. Sakara joins Hands and Feet motivated by a love for Asheville and a desire to give back to the community that raised her.
Landry Werth (she/her)
Landry Werth will serve as the Community Engagement Coordinator with Asheville GreenWorks. Originally from San Jose, California, and raised in Silver Spring, Maryland, she earned her B.S. in Environmental Biology from the University of Dayton. Her experiences include working on a USDA-certified organic farm, supervising operations at Dayton’s recreation center, volunteering in DC schools, and interning at a solar prairie research site. Landry is passionate about the intersection of social and environmental justice and enjoys outdoor activities, cooking, reading, and connecting with friends. She joins Hands and Feet eager to grow personally, professionally, and spiritually while contributing to Asheville’s resilience. In the future, she hopes to pursue graduate study in Resilient and Sustainable Communities.
