LEA THULLBERY
Director of Diversion & Outreach
Lea began her relationship with CwD in 2013 as a volunteer organizer for the Overflow Shelter, and immediately identified outreach work as a passion she did not even know she possessed. In the summer of 2015 she left her full time job to find out all she could about the systems that supported our neighbors experiencing homelessness.
She is a founding member of the non-profit and leads CwD’s Case Coordination and Street Outreach Team.
RUTH COLE BURCAW
Executive Director
Ruth joined the CwD team in July of 2021. Her curiosity, passion, leadership, and collaboration skills make her uniquely suited to lead City with Dwellings. Ruth earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology at Moravian College in Bethlehem, PA. She worked for the first female mayor of Winston-Salem, the Honorable Martha Wood. While in city government, she earned her Master of Public Affairs from UNC Greensboro. She later co-founded a corporate event management firm, specializing in experiential marketing. For the past 9 years, Ruth has served as the Executive Director of the Board of Cooperative Ministries for the Moravian Church, Southern Province, engaging and supporting Moravian faith communities throughout the southeastern U.S.
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CARLOS TOLBERT
HEARRT Peer Support Specialist
What brings Carlos the most joy in being part of the CwD team is being present and walking alongside people in our community on their individual journeys. He first got involved with the Overflow Shelter as a volunteer overnight monitor in 2013, and has worked as a monitor at First Presbyterian every year since.
In May of 2019, Carlos joined our staff as a full-time Peer Support Specialist to help launch the HEARRT project.
KRISTA O'CONNELL
Diversion and Outreach Specialist
Being part of the CwD team has brought Krista joy through the unconditional relationships she has made with community members both similar and different from herself. She started volunteering for CwD in 2015, and joined the staff as Organizational Administrator in the fall of 2018. Krista also helps support the HEARRT project and transitioned into her current role October of 2020.
MARK DOCKERY
Transportation & Street Outreach Specialist
Mark is proud to be part of the CwD team because we see everyone in our community as equal, treat everyone with respect, and have compassion and empathy for people facing crisis moments. He was one of the first volunteers at the Community First Center when it opened in 2017, joined the Overflow Shelter staff as a monitor in 2018 and began his new full-time role with CwD in October of 2020.
CHRIS WILSON
Outreach Transportation Assistant
In his new role at CwD, Chris provides transportation to folks from open hours and at other times in the week.
He is also currently assisting us with winter shelter check-in. Chris is a veteran and has great experience with a variety of marginalized populations.
EMILY NORRIS
Communications Specialist
As one of the former ministers of Augsburg Lutheran church, Emily fell in love with the work and people of City with Dwellings in 2013 with the beginning of the Overflow Shelters. She is a Founding Board member of CwD and has been the creative/marketing/branding brain behind the organization since its inception. Emily officially came on staff in 2020 as the Communications Specialist. She delights in this work and our people and finds joy in the shared relationship with our community.
BETH STAFFORD
Office Manager
Though she primarily works in the office in the morning, you may see her friendly face around the building. Beth is retired from Winston-Salem State University and has a background in public service, having previously worked with the Winston-Salem Housing Authority and the City of Winston-Salem's office of the mayor.
ERIC VAUGHN
HMIS Specialist
Eric joined the CwD Staff as the HMIS Specialist in October of 2021. He is certified Peer Support Specialist, has worked many years as a monitor at Bethesda Center for the Homeless and a world class chef. Eric is born and raised in Winston-Salem and now raises his daughter here as well. He is passionate about this community because of his love for people and desire to make changes in the homeless systems.
TANISHA MORELAND
Peer Support Specialist
Tanisha has been a part of the City with Dwellings Community through the Women's Overflow Shelter at St. Timothys for several years. Her passion for caring for her community through mutual respect, understanding, and empathetic care led her to join the CwD team at a Peer Support Specialist in the fall of 2021. Tanisha believes in walking with our community and reminding them of their worthiness.
