Nonprofit United Community Leader Steps Down

HYBLA VALLEY, VA — The leader of the Richmond Highway corridor nonprofit addressing poverty will step down, prompting a search for a new leader.

United Community President and CEO Alison DeCourcey announced she would step down after six years. She cited "responsibilities as a mother, daughter and wife" as the reason for her resignation. Her last day in the role will be June 30.

"While I am proud of the accomplishments of United Community over the past several years, they are not about me," said DeCourcey in a message to United Community followers. "They are about you. You have trusted, supported, and partnered with our team as we have taken bold leaps and work diligently on an audacious goal to end multigenerational poverty in our community, while living our values of Unity, Empathy, Collaboration, Accountability, and Integrity."

DeCourcey led the nonprofit during the COVID-19 pandemic, when it saw an increasing need for services like food distribution among people in need. United Community has been serving the Richmond Highway corridor for 50 years, providing emergency assistance, food distribution, two community centers, a literacy and citizenship center, youth programs, Community Schools programs at two public schools, early childhood learning center and more.

The nonprofit's board has appointed a search committee and will seek a new leader over the next few months. Chief Operating Officer Bryant Rice will serve as interim CEO.

Board Chair Thomas Curcio thanked DeCourcey for her contributions to the nonprofit.

"She significantly elevated the impact that United Community has on the community we serve," said Curcio. "She built a strong leadership team and guided the organization through the Covid pandemic with agility and resilience as we experienced an extraordinary increase in the need for our services. We are positioned better than ever to pursue our vision of ending multigenerational poverty, not merely serving poverty."