VANITY REID

DETERVILLE

Dismantling systemic inequities through policy design, transformative education, and unapologetic advocacy.

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POLICY ARCHITECT

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PUBLIC HEALTH STRATEGIST

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LIBERATION WORKER

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POLICY ARCHITECT / PUBLIC HEALTH STRATEGIST / LIBERATION WORKER /

"I don’t just study marginalized communities. I am of them. That’s why my work isn’t about giving voice. It’s about dismantling the systems that silence us."

"From sitting silently to raising my voice, every poem I write, every policy I draft, every house child I mentor is part of the same story: we heal by leading."

Rooted in love, justice, and community, Vanity Reid Deterville is a storyteller, advocate, and visionary shaping the future through voice, connection, and care. Her work bridges public health, culture, and collective healing, making space for liberation in every form.

Vanity Reid Deterville is shaped by the deep roots of Gullah Geechee Lowcountry heritage and the rich cultural threads of West Indian ancestry. A graduate of the College of Charleston with a B.A. in Political Science (Public Policy concentration), Vanity is currently pursuing her Master of Public Health at UNC-Chapel Hill, focusing on Leadership in Practice—supported by the Excellence in Public Health Impact Scholarship.

Vanity's life and work are inseparable from her lived experiences — from her journey navigating the intersecting challenges of race, gender, and sexuality, to her leadership as Interim Co-Executive Director of the LGBTQ Center of Durham. Her path has been one of moving from "sitting silently" — as she writes in her poetry — to raising her voice with purpose, bringing theories of love, justice, and healing into public health practice.

With a strong foundation in Black queer feminism, abolition, gender justice, and healing justice, Vanity leads initiatives that center marginalized communities, particularly queer and trans people of color. As a facilitator in the Transformative Teaching Collective, a ballroom house mother, and a policy advocate, she weaves together research, community wisdom, and restorative practices to create spaces of collective healing and empowerment.

Her work spans national convenings—from the Inaugural Black Trans Policy Convening to co-facilitating TWILLOW interventions across the South—and organizational transformation trainings for government agencies and LGBTQ centers nationwide. Whether developing TGI workplace inclusion curricula for Santa Clara County or spearheading Durham's Trans Day of Remembrance, Vanity's approach remains consistent: the people most impacted must lead the change.

Through her new consulting venture, Vantage Pointe Consulting, Vanity brings this depth of experience directly to organizations ready to do the work of genuine transformation. For Vanity, the work is always about connection: recognizing what we have, not just what we lack, and spiraling forward in love, abundance, and liberation.

Vanity crafts policy and programs that do more than check boxes. They rewrite the rules, merging public health research with the dignity of lived experience to create liberation strategies that reach the streets. From trans employment pipelines to adapted CDC interventions for Southern communities, her work follows one non-negotiable standard: centering those who know the struggle best.

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Sitting Silently

Sitting silently seeking serenely nature’s call

The squirrels scramble, one leaf, then two leaves fall

Birds will flock some then all

And so here I sit strategically but semi purposefully

And I need to know where I fit in

When it’s time to add my note, my call

And not necessarily my musical singing

But of course my thoughtful bringing

Of the theories of love that I possess and my cravings of flesh (an earthly test)

To the many lessons learned from worst to best

Surely my inclusion in this chorus of life is near

And I’ll sit silently no more, then my joyful melodies of living you’ll hear.

“Systems change doesn’t happen alone.”

BUILDING SYSTEMS ROOTED IN EQUITY

"Equity begins when we stop asking 'what's wrong with communities' and start asking 'what's wrong with the systems meant to serve them."

Keynote Speaking / Public Lectures

Through engaging keynotes and tailored implementation plans, participants gain practical tools to put equity theory into action every day. They learn to audit policies, identify hidden systemic biases, and explore strategies for elevating marginalized voices without tokenism. With tested equity frameworks to improve hiring, service delivery, and partnerships, leaders leave with fresh insights and clear next steps for building inclusive, innovative organizations.

Policy / Program Consulting

Organizations build capacity to redesign systems with equity at the core, starting with a community-informed audit that uncovers both structural and hidden barriers. Together, we co-create programs that reflect community needs and attract sustainable funding, supported by implementation plans that anticipate real-world challenges. With accountability tools to keep equity work active and ongoing, and strong community leadership guiding programs as they evolve, organizations are equipped to create lasting, meaningful change.

Workshop Faciliation

Through hands-on workshops, participants build real-world equity skills by practicing responses to microaggressions, engaging in collaborative policy drafting, and stress-testing programs with community-informed perspectives. Each session provides custom facilitation tools and follow-up resources, ensuring teams walk away with actionable steps and practiced skills for immediate impact.