Vashon Sisterhood has announced the appointment of islander Betsey Archambault as the organization’s founding executive director.

Archambault is the former executive director of The DOVE Project. Her career has largely focused on working on issues concerning women and girls, both nationally and internationally. Archambault is originally from Michigan and moved to Vashon by way of Shanghai, China. She has a Master’s Degree in International Educational Development and a doctorate in Gender & Political Anthropology.

“I am thrilled to join Sisterhood at this exciting time to help them grow,” Archambault said. “As the mom of two daughters, I see how powerful Sisterhood Circles can be, not only to individual girls but to the community at large. Strong, empowered girls create strong communities.”

A Facebook post said that Sisterhood’s all-volunteer board had made the hire to increase the organization’s capacity in expanding programs for more than 80 girls and female-identifying students in elementary and middle-school grades.

In its first year, Sisterhood piloted Circles, a weekly counsel-based offering in all three Vashon schools. In its second year, the organization obtained 501(c)3 nonprofit status, and expanded to include Sisterhood Homeroom at McMurray, a Sisterhood SMART period at VHS, and a before-school Circle offered to every fourth and fifth-grader at Chautauqua. Now starting its third year, in addition to offering both virtual and outdoor Circles, they will add afternoon fee-based offerings housed at Klahanie School for third to eighth-graders.

This year, in addition to offering both virtual and outdoor Circles, Sisterhood has added afternoon fee-based offerings housed at Klahanie School for girls and female-identifying students in grades 3 to 8. For more information about Sisterhood’s programs that start in September, email VashonSisterhood@gmail.com or visit vashonsisterhood.org.