Dear Friends,
We are writing to share big news with you from the Southern Economic Advancement Project (SEAP).
Sarah Beth Gehl is stepping down from the Executive Director role at SEAP at the end of May 2026. Sarah Beth started as Research Director when SEAP was founded in 2019 and became Executive Director in 2022, leading the organization through a time of significant growth in our work and change in our region.
This isn’t a goodbye to Sarah Beth; it’s more of a “see you soon.” After stepping down, she will be joining our Board of Advisors. While we are sorry to see Sarah Beth leave SEAP staff, we are grateful that we will continue to have her guidance and expertise as we move into the next chapter.
Under Sarah Beth’s leadership, we’ve built a strong regional policy and advocacy network by connecting 330+ organizations across states through the SouthStrong initiative and communities of practice. SEAP helped keep millions in federal recovery dollars in the hands of local governments and backed advocates pushing for those funds to be used more equitably. Through creative partnerships, we made sure the voices of more than 10,000 food-insecure Southerners were part of the policy conversation. And in crises like Covid-19, Medicaid unwinding, and sweeping federal policy change, SEAP met the moment with regional programming that reached thousands of participants, microgrants to nearly 70 organizations, town halls for 40,000 people, and even 800,000 servings of food. SEAP now stands as a critical technical assistance and convening partner for community groups, movement leaders, and local governments across the region.
SEAP is excited to announce that our current Deputy Director, Genny Castillo, has been selected by the Board of Advisors to lead the organization as Executive Director effective June 1, 2026. Genny has been with SEAP since its founding and brings a zeal for progressive policy and people power to the work that few in the region can match. At such a precarious time in our nation, we are thrilled to elevate a leader like Genny who has a proven commitment to championing the South’s unheard voices and ensuring everyone has a seat at the policymaking table.
As SEAP’s new Executive Director, Genny brings deep experience at the intersection of policy, leadership development, and organizational strategy. Her commitment to building Southern people power led to launching the Policy Entrepreneurs Program, one of SEAP’s signature programs. Genny’s lens and lived experience create a unique vantage point of how systems change occurs at the intersection of community voice, actionable data, and institutional decision-making.
These changes are existing alongside our unwavering commitment to bridging the gaps between progressive policy and Southern communities. We remain as focused as ever on connecting Southern changemakers to best practices and to each other and to championing the vision of a South where everyone can thrive. We hope you’ll join us in thanking Sarah Beth for her contributions to that vision and congratulating Genny on her well-deserved opportunity to lead this work into the future.
In Partnership,
SEAP Board of Advisors and Staff
