Our Team
Meet the people who make our mission possible
Board of Directors
Leadership guiding our vision and mission
Victoria Lyall
Board Chairman
Leading our organization with vision and dedication to community service.
Edith Jennings
Board Member Secretary
Homeopathy and the National Polytechnic Institute in Mexico. She is currently pursuing an additional degree at Western Carolina University to receive her BSN. In Mexico, she was a Holistic Doctor. She has 20 years of experience helping the Latin community and making connections between the Hispanic and Anglo communities. She has worked as the administrative assistant for the Latino Outreach and Solidaridad Center. She was a volunteer interpreter and teacher at Saint Francis Catholic Church and ambassador for Latinos Aventureros in the Carolinas. She is currently a Peri Operative Nurse at the Angel Medical Center in Franklin, NC. She was a Board Member with the Coalition of Latino Americans and a Parent's Council Member at Macon Program for Progress. She has been a current board member with Unidxs since 2021. Edith studied at the National School of Medicine and.
Valeria Barrera
Board Treasurer
Managing our financial resources with integrity and transparency.
Our Team
Dedicated professionals serving our community
Ricardo Bello Ball
Executive Director
As the founder of Unidxs WNC in 2021, Ricardo has since worked tirelessly to support our Latin community. Ricardo has 25 years of experience working with the Latin community.
Paul Witty
Community Health Worker
Paul has his BS in Occupational Therapy and has 20 years of experience working for the NC Department of Health before taking on his Community Health Worker role with Unidxs. He is also on the Southwestern Community College Advisory Committee for Occupational Therapy.
Sarah West
Community Education Coordinator
In 2022, Sarah graduated from Western Carolina University with a BA in Spanish and International Studies and minors in Global Business and Philosophy. She is currently working on her graduate certificate in TESOL. After graduating, she worked at Southwestern Community College as a College and Career Readiness Coordinator overseeing the English Language Acquisition and High School Equivalency programs for two years before taking on her new role with Unidxs WNC.
Sarah Hirsch
Educator in English and Spanish
Sarah Hirsch is a longtime educator in English and Spanish. She holds Masters degrees in both languages and is certified in translation and medical interpretation.
Nita Lipan
Regional Education Program Director
Nita Lipan brings over 20 years of educational experience to rural communities in Western North Carolina. With an interdisciplinary degree in Law and Psychology with a specialization in History from the University of Central Florida, Nita approaches educational challenges with a unique and multifaceted perspective. Known as 'The Swiss Army Knife of Education' for her versatility, she has led curriculum development, managed teaching teams, and was recognized with the Employee of the Year award. At UNIDXS, Nita develops educational programs that provide resources and opportunities to students, including creating advisory councils for school partners at Smoky Mountain High School and Blue Ridge Early College, the Hispanic heritage reading club 'Unidxs: Roots and Futures,' and weekly tutoring at Jackson Community School. Certifications: Youth Mental Health First Aid, PMQ, CTC, Lean Six Sigma White Belt, Academic Counseling, K-6 Certified Educator.
Volunteers
Join Us in Making a Difference
Together, we can build a more inclusive and supportive community
Juntos construimos un futuro mejor • Together we build a better future