Staff

Mariah is our Girls Inc. of Central Iowa Program Specialist. She provides direct programming and support for YWRC participants primarily in 3rd through 12th grades. Key duties include coordinating, implementing, and facilitating groups, presentations, and workshops onsite, within schools, and in the community.

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Marcia is our Art Therapist and specializes in creative counseling techniques. She provides voluntary and confidential counseling services for our girls and young women in schools and at the YWRC.

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Shannissy is our Young Moms Doula Program Coordinator. She works with contracted doulas to provide support, assigning doulas to Young Moms participants, managing trainings and payments to doulas, and being a mentor to contracted doulas.

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Mary is our Senior Fund Development Manager and is responsible for managing and executing grants, annual appeals, and individual giving. Mary also supports sponsorships and events.

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Amy is our Chief Program and Operations Director. She is responsible for providing strategic vision and operational oversight for YWRC’s core programs: Empowerment, Young Moms, and Counseling. Amy also ensures all programs are mission-aligned, data-driven, and deliver measurable impact.

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Gary is one of our Transportation Specialists. He ensures our participants get safely to and from YWRC groups and programs.

Pronouns: He/His/His

Aura is a Young Moms Program Specialist. She provides direct programming and support for participants through coordinating, implementing, and facilitating groups, presentations, and workshops onsite, within schools, and in the community.

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Zina is our Executive Operations Partner. She provides high-level administrative, governance, project management, and fund development support.

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Tony is one of our Transportation Specialists. He ensures our participants get safely to and from YWRC groups and programs.

Pronouns: He/His/His

Lisa is a Young Moms Program Specialist. She provides direct programming and support for participants through coordinating, implementing, and facilitating groups, presentations, and workshops onsite, within schools, and in the community.

Berenice is our Empowerment Program Manager. She trains, supervises, directs, and cultivates growth and development of the Empowerment team. Berenice collaborates with the program team on implementation and reporting of programming, and also leads Empowerment Groups within the schools and After School groups at the YWRC.

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Jenny is our Chief Finance and Administrative Officer. Jenny manages the YWRC finances, including overseeing the entire organizational budget. She also leads human resources, operations, and the program results database.

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Erin is our Chief Communications and Engagement Officer. She is responsible for all of the YWRC's marketing and communication efforts including print and digital materials, social media platforms, website management, graphic design, and media relations. Erin also oversees fund development, outreach and volunteer services, and community engagement.

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Will is one of our Transportation Specialists. He ensures our participants get safely to and from YWRC groups and programs.

Pronouns: He/His/His

Jewelz is our Young Moms Specialist. She provides direct programming and support for parenting and pregnant young moms. Key duties include coordinating and implementing childbirth education groups onsite and within the schools, and is also a certified lactation specialist and doula.

Pronouns: She/Her/hers

Sarah is our Administrative Coordinator. She leads reception duties including resources and referrals, provides administrative support to the Executive Director and senior leadership team, coordinates transportation schedules and fleet maintenance and repair, and ensures the execution of day-to-day office and operational needs.

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Feleecia is our Community Outreach Manager. She is responsible for leading community engagement activities, supporting YWRC events, recruiting and managing volunteers, and overseeing our in-kind donations and resource closets.

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Nicole is our Girls Inc. of Central Iowa Program Specialist. She provides direct programming and support for YWRC participants primarily in 3rd through 12th grades. Key duties include coordinating, implementing, and facilitating groups, presentations, and workshops onsite, within schools, and in the community.

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Rachel is our Chief Executive Officer. She ensures programs and operations are aligned with our mission, values, goals, and policies. Rachel also supports the development and implementation of YWRC’s strategic plan, oversees the financial growth and health of the organization, and leads daily operations.

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Maria provides bilingual (Spanish and English) counseling services to YWRC participants. Maria has been a victim counselor and advocate at Polk Crisis and Advocacy Services for the last 26 years. She believes in the power of community and works to cultivate hope and resilience through advocacy, empowerment and relationship building.

Pronouns: She/her/hers