Core Value: Innovating Possibilities
Salem Kirby, Executive Director, is the organization’s first staff member working across state lines, leading expansion into North Carolina. She oversees strategic growth, community partnerships, and program development. Previously, Salem served as Program Director at H.O.P.E., focusing on food insecurity and education, and brings a nonprofit leadership perspective rooted in collaboration and community impact.
Outside of work, Salem enjoys attending both competitive and social Carolina Shag and West Coast Swing events with her children, playing with food, and proudly answering to “Aunt Queenie.” Her time as a licensed foster parent deeply shaped how she leads and cares for others, and she’s drawn to ESP for its culture of celebration, the way people consistently lift one another up, and the heart behind building programs that truly serve.
Despite a deep love for cooking and baking, Salem firmly believes zebra cakes and Cadbury Creme Eggs are the best desserts known to humanity. No apologies.
