Gretchen Summerville (she, her, hers) has been working in the field of public health since 1997 and has a degree in Political Science from NC State University. For over 20 years, she has worked at the local and state level in North Carolina and Nevada, focusing on creating healthy communities and improving health outcomes. Gretchen is currently the Director of Community Health Initiatives for Western Youth Network (WYN), a non-profit dedicated to creating healthy, more equitable communities for youth and families. WYN serves the five-county region of Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Watauga, and Wilkes, offering evidence-based services including youth programs, mentoring, and public health, as well as pilot initiatives addressing health equity and community health integration. Gretchen is passionately committed to not only addressing the root causes of complex community health issues present today, but also in her personal life as an outdoor enthusiast, mom, and social justice advocate.