Quiet Excellence
Kamisha Spencer thrives in the background, quietly transforming lives without seeking recognition. “I’ll do the work,” she says. “Just don’t put me in the spotlight.” But after two decades with Charlottesville’s Department of Human Services, her work speaks for itself—shaping programs, fostering connections, and changing the trajectory for families and youth in her community.
As program supervisor, Spencer oversees a range of initiatives designed to empower families and reduce youth interactions with the justice system. Among them is the Parent Advocacy program and the recently launched Youth Lead program, created in partnership with the Charlottesville Police Department, which diverts first-time juvenile offenders away from court and into community-based services. “It’s about meeting families where they are,” Spencer says. “What do you need today to survive and thrive tomorrow? That’s the question we always ask.”
A Charlottesville native and once a teen mother herself, she understands the struggles faced by many of the families she serves. “I had a strong village growing up,” she says. “But not everyone has that, and for me, this work is about building that kind of support for others.”
Her team is central to these efforts. “They’re extraordinary,” Spencer says. “Everyone brings something unique—whether it’s deep community connections or innovative ideas. We’re not just colleagues, we’re a family.”
Many of the most gratifying moments for Spencer and her team are the quiet, small victories. “When a kid who was disengaged starts calling us, or an adult I worked with years ago comes back to say, ‘I didn’t get it then, but I do now.’ That’s when you know you’ve made a difference.”