ABOUT ANNIE

Annie Van Avery brings an extensive track record of collaborative leadership in the nonprofit sector, having successfully stabilized and grown each organization she has been a part of by listening to and engaging the strengths of the team. Annie brings a deep understanding of the communities Family Tree Clinic serves, and extensive experience as a co-creator of strategies, sustainable practices, and innovative solutions to support this next chapter for Family Tree Clinic. For more information about her career, please download Annie Van Avery’s CV here.

PERSONAL STATEMENT

Annie began her journey to Family Tree in the 1980s around the age of 5, when her father came out. It was the height of the AIDS crisis and a time when very few LGBTQ families were visible. There was a great deal of pressure to present as a nuclear family and any other family structures at that time were considered “alternative.” It was in this context, as a child, that Annie recognized the power of affirming spaces and the impact when those spaces do not exist. This understanding grew and continued through her professional and personal life experiences, from Annie’s leadership work to her own family formation. 

“With gratitude to Alissa Light and decades of expert staff members, Family Tree Clinic is a beacon of safety, acceptance, and light in the pursuit of affirming healthcare and education. In many ways the mission has never been as important as it is today. I am committed to stewarding the organization’s exceptional programs and services — Family Tree will continue to champion radically inclusive healthcare, advocacy, and education. I am thrilled to join the exceptional staff and board in co-creating the next chapter for Family Tree Clinic.”