Cherese Ledet To Succeed Karen Singer As YWCA Evanston/North Shore CEO

EVANSTON, IL — Cherese Ledet has been named the new CEO of YWCA Evanston/North Shore following a comprehensive national search.

Ledet is set to take the helm on March 6. She will succeed Karen Singer, who led the Evanston-based nonprofit for the past 18 years and announced her plans to retire last April.

Shabnum Sanghvi, chair of the local YWCA's board, said in a statement that she and her fellow board members are sure that Ledet is the right pick to take the organization to the next level.

"She has tremendous experience as a strategic nonprofit leader and a strong record of impacting communities through service," Sanghvi said. "We are excited to warmly welcome Cherese to the YWCA family.

Ledet has been in leadership positions with YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago since 2004 and has implemented new initiatives, secured resources, and developed innovative programs that address the needs of the community, according to YWCA representatives.

In her most recent role as chief community development and equity officer, Ledet focused on reducing health, social, and financial disparities while advancing equitable and healthy communities.

“At a pivotal moment when the rights of women, families, people of color, and other marginalized populations are under ever greater threat, I am ready to harness the power of the YWCA and its community of partners and supporters to lead the organization into its next chapter as President & CEO,” Ledet said.

Ledet, who is a certified US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Housing Compliance Manager, is a graduate of Y-USA’s Multicultural Executive Development Institute and is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc. – Will County Black Diamond Chapter, the National Housing Network, according to a release. She is also the sponsor of the YMCA's Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Team.

YWCA representatives thanked the executive search firm Koya Partners for its staff's assistance in identifying a successor for Singer, the outgoing CEO, who said she expects Ledet to be a success in her new role.

“I am confident," Singer said, "that Cherese’s management experience, financially driven strategic leadership and equity lens will make her successful as she leads our mission, to eliminate racism and empower women, into the future."