Our Board

alondra Vargas (she/her)

Alondra Vargas (she/her) brings a wealth of experience and dedication to her role at Youth Outright. As a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor-Associate, Alondra currently serves as a Child and Adolescent Therapist within the state of North Carolina. Her work focuses on implementing play therapy and mindfulness-based techniques tailored to the unique needs of LGBTQ+ youth and families, various minority populations, and neurodivergent youth and young adults.

Alondra’s professional journey includes her role as a Family Intervention Specialist at Youth Villages, where she provided crisis intervention and comprehensive assessments for youth at-risk of entering foster care. She is committed to ongoing professional development, holding trainings and/or certifications in Suicide Assessment and Safety Planning, Collaborative and Proactice Solutions, Mental Health First Aid for Youth, and more.

A passionate advocate for equity and inclusion, Alondra's advocacy and activism started as young 15 years old when Alondra created the first annual 5K focused on decreasing adolescent homelessness in her hometown. Alondra volunteers with Tranzmission, offering mental health support at community events and tabling. Additionally, Alondra was a Community Mental Health Leadership Fellow for the Obama Administration and engaged in research focused on topics including child trauma, psychobiology, and personality traits. Alondra’s holistic and culturally sensitive approach underscores her commitment to empowering LGBTQIA+ adolescents, young adults, and families.

Becky Baylor (she/her)

I have been engaged with YO since 2019, when I served as an intern for the organization. Since then I have volunteered periodically and closely followed the organization's development and growth. As a born and raised queer southerner, I am incredibly passionate about supporting and empowering the queer youth who grow up here. My role as a school social worker has allowed me to connect directly with youth, and I've proudly sponsored several GSAs. I look forward to seeing what the future holds for YO!

Blair Hamel (She/Her)

Dr. Blair Hamel (she/her) became a member of the board in early 2024, bringing with her the experience she has as a licensed psychologist and as Chief Executive Officer of Matone Counseling and Testing. With a strong commitment to advocacy and allyship, Blair is enthusiastic about contributing to the mission of Youth OUTright, ensuring that individuals have the opportunity to be celebrated for who they are. Throughout her career, Blair has prioritized serving LGBTQ+ populations, through volunteerism and education - striving to create more inclusive spaces in both the medical and mental health communities. Her passion is driven by her genuine commitment to making a positive impact in the lives of others. Blair aims to bring qualities of compassion and empathy to this role, and looks forward to being a change facilitator on both small and large scales. Outside of her professional pursuits, Blair finds joy in spending quality time outdoors with her family and exploring new destinations through travel.

Irene Park Ulrich (she/her)

Irene Park Ulrich (she/her) is a clinical pharmacist at the Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC). In September 2022, she launched the MAHEC Gender Health Clinic serving gender diverse people in Western North Carolina. Irene has served as a Board member-at-large for Youth OUTright since March 2023. As a cisgender ally, Irene has chosen to engage with Youth OUTright because of her passion for equity and the fundamental belief that, especially youth, have the right to flourish.

Michelle Padrón (they/them/ella)

Michelle Padrón (they/them/ella) is a queer Afro Latina who has called Asheville their home for about a decade. They’re a social worker and educator, dedicating their professional life to supporting local youth and their caregivers. A big believer in mutual aid and community care, they spend their free time community building, dreaming up a better future, and making moves to see that future come to fruition. Michelle is honored and thrilled to be joining the Youth Outright team! 

Rebby Kern (they/them)

Rebby Kern (they/them) is a Black, nonbinary queer person whose personal experience and professional career has placed them in the work of opening hearts and minds to equity, inclusion and action. 

 Serving North Carolina, Rebby serves as the Director of Education Policy at Equality NC, advocating for and investing in young changemakers, supporting policy reform and implementing LGBTQ-inclusive training and professional development across North Carolina. Rebby joins colleagues as a board member of Youth Outright, empowering LGBTQIA kids and teens.

Expanding their work across the nation, Rebby is a Nationally Certified Trainer for Human Rights Campaign Foundation Welcoming Schools, the nation’s premier professional development approach for elementary schools. Locally, Rebby is a statewide facilitator for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction providing day-long trainings to school staff across the state. 

Rebby previously worked as the Director of School Outreach at Time Out Youth Center in Charlotte, NC, and as the Media, Communications and Programs Manager at Campus Pride. Rebby is an alumnus of the Community Builder’s Initiative Leaders Under 40 Program. 

In recognition of their work within youth policy, Rebby has been awarded with the 2017 Champions of Pride Young Catalyst Award from Charlotte Pride, the 2020 Impact Awards by the Charlotte LGBT Chamber of Commerce and the 2020 Self-Care Revolutionary Award by Amplify and Activate Charlotte. 

Outside of youth policy and organizing, Rebby is a yoga teacher, race and gender equity educator, and consultant within yoga and wellness spaces. As of 2019, Rebby was named lululemon’s first Black, nonbinary ambassador at Charlotte’s Atherton Mill store.

Walt Hill (he/they)

With roots deeply planted in family farms of Eastern NC, I've cultivated a career in the food industry, culminating in my current role as the Wholesale Accounts Manager and Sales Representative for Biscuit Head Restaurants. My journey with Biscuit Head began in 2017, under the same roof as Youth Outright, where meeting Adrian and the team inspired me to embrace and champion authenticity. This experience propelled me on a personal mission to live openly and joyfully, serving as a beacon for youth who, like myself growing up in the south, so often lacked visible, out mentors.

As a proud board member of Youth Outright, I am committed to using my extensive experience and connections in the food industry to support the organization and its dedicated staff. My involvement extends beyond the boardroom; I also contribute to the community as an advisory committee member for PROpel AVL (formerly Young Professionals of Asheville) and as an administrator for the burgeoning WNC Queer Professionals group. Through these roles, I aim to foster the growth of and lift up voices of LGBTQ+ business leaders by facilitating meaningful connections and opportunities.

Off duty, my passion lies in enriching our community—whether that's through supporting local drag shows, catering Drag Brunch with Biscuit Head at Banks Ave Bar, or soaking in Asheville's arts and natural beauty. I'm all about building a community that uplifts everyone; it's about making sure everyone knows they have a place where they belong, just as I found mine.