Yolanda Savage-Narva

Yolanda Savage-Narva has twenty years of experience working with public agencies and non-profit organizations to promote equity and inclusion. She is a Centers for Disease Control (CDC)-trained public health specialist who has led community-based efforts in community health assessments for Indian Health Service; public education for the Alzheimer’s Association; pedestrian safety and advocacy for America Walks; and health equity efforts for the National Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. Yolanda was also the Executive Director of Operation Understanding DC, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting understanding, cooperation, and respect while fighting to eradicate racism, anti-Semitism and all forms of discrimination.

Yolanda Savage-Narva is currently the Vice President of Racial Equity, Diversity and Inclusion for the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) and the Religious Action Center (RAC). She is also an alumna of the URJ JewV’Nation cohort, a past Vice-Chair of the Commission on Social Action, and a Senior Schusterman Fellow. Yolanda is a member of the Board of Directors for the Federation of Greater Washington, the Capital Jewish Museum, Leading Edge, and the Historic Sixth and I Synagogue in Washington, D.C. She is a member of the Tree of Life Advisory Committee, and a newly appointed Board member at American Jewish World Service. Yolanda is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority—an international Black sorority dedicated to community service and education.

Yolanda is a graduate of Tougaloo College, where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, and of Jackson State University, where she earned a Master of Science in education.

In her spare time, Yolanda loves being outdoors, reading, birdwatching, playing sports and traveling with her son Miles and husband Andrew.