Changing LENS Consulting

---

Libby Kyles graduated from Western Carolina University in May of 2000 with a bachelors degree in Elementary Education and a minor in psychology.  She spent four years teaching at Lincolnton Middle School in Lincolnton NC before returning to Asheville, NC.   Libby taught at Isaac Dickson Elementary School from 2004 until 2019.  During that time she earned her National Board Certification and completed her Masters Degree in Educational Leadership. 

While teaching full time, Libby co-founded YTL Training Programs, Youth Transformed for Life in 2014 and served as the Executive Director until June of 2019.  Under her leadership YTL developed two summer programs, GRACE for Teens for participants ages 11 to 18 and ROSES and MOSS Summer Camp for elementary school aged children.  In addition, she developed an advocacy program to improve the communication between participants, teachers and parents.    

In 2019 Ms. Kyles transitioned from the classroom to the board room accepting the position of CEO of the YWCA of Asheville.  As the first black CEO of the organization in over 30 years, Ms. Kyles began the task of working to address equity issues that had be previously identified within the organization. Six months into her tenure she led the YWCA of Asheville through the beginning stages of the COVID 19 pandemic, ensuring that prograns transitioned to online services and transitioning the childcare services to support critical and essential workers in the community. In addition, with her administrative team,  she worked to ensure that the building was safe for staff, program participants and community members.  Ms. Kyles season with the YWCA came to an end in September of 2020.

Changing LENS Consulting went public in October of 2020 but it’s founder has been working in the areas of consulting and coaching since 2014.  Ms Kyles received coaching training through CoachDiversity Institute. 

OUR APPROACH:Organizational change happens when individuals within the organization are willing to move from being transactional to becoming transformational.  By coaching individuals, particularly those in leadership, groups, and the staff as a whole, we in turn uplift the entire organization one person and sometimes one group at a time.  Through a series of courageous conversations and with guidance on speaking, listening, and hearing we examine the strengths of the organization and collaboratively work towards restoration and repair in areas that need improvement.

OUR VALUES:

• Collaboration - We are partners in this work, each having our own  expertise. It is imperative that we leverage each other'sknowledge to create the best outcomes for the team. 
• Change - Change is often difficult because it requires letting go of the familiar. Change takes time and we value the investment needed to make change sustainable.
• No shame/blame - In doing this work it can be easy to fall into the shame and blame game.  Those tendencies are distractions and take away from the essence of equity work.  When those situations occur we will process through them with the intention of sharing tools and guidance to move past and learn from those moments. 
• Equity and Inclusion - Our work is rooted in anti-oppression and  anti-racist pedagogy. We understand that individuals come to issues of race and oppression with various backgrounds and  perspectives.  We encourage individuals to challenge what they have always known and to flex their empathy muscles to create space for brave conversations.