The executive director of Petersburg’s violence prevention and advocacy organization is stepping down.
Skyler DuPont, who uses “they/them” pronouns, started work at Working Against Violence for Everyone, or WAVE, in July of 2024. But a housing search complicated things, and DuPont didn’t arrive in Petersburg until the fall. They gave the board of directors a letter of resignation on January 8.
DuPont told the WAVE board there were “challenges in the position that they could not overcome,” according to a press release issued by board Chair Nicole McMurren on January 12. In an interview with KFSK, Mcmurren did not elaborate. DuPont declined to comment but texted, “Although I am resigning, WAVE remains strong, and is dedicated in its mission to provide services to victims of violence, and to work to prevent violence in Petersburg.” They said it had been an honor and a privilege to serve the community.
McMurren said the WAVE board will start searching for a replacement as soon as possible. But, she said, they plan to take their time finding the right candidate.
“We’ve got some particular qualities that we want to look for in an individual,” she said. “And we really want somebody who is interested in getting themselves enmeshed in the community.”
McMurren said they’re considering an interim director in the meantime.
“Ideally we would hire someone from Petersburg who was already part of the community,” she said. “[We’re] looking for an interesting mix of skills, where we do have that grant writing and management and the ability to collaborate and cooperate and to manage organization and supervise employees, all while doing crisis based work.”
McMurren said that while some day-to-day operations may be affected, both staff and the board are working hard to make sure that there is no interruption in service. WAVE still has active prevention and advocacy programs. Their crisis hotline is currently covered 24 hours a day.
DuPont’s final day at WAVE is January 17.
