Category Archives: Faces of the YWRC

This month we are happy to introduce one of our newest staff members, Maria Savaidis. Maria started with us as a Mental Health Therapist about three months ago. In her role, Maria works with girls and young women ages 10 – 21 by appointment. “I help girls with a wide variety of symptoms/diagnoses including anxiety, depression, […]

Volunteers are a key component of the YWRC’s success. We are excited to take a moment to celebrate their positive impact as we reflect on the past fiscal year. Our volunteers include those who help with one-time projects and/or weekly tasks, our Board of Directors and multiple committees. The YWRC receives significant community support from […]

Rona Berinobis became a member of our Board of Directors after a discussion about the YWRC’s mission and vision with Kristin Griffith, Executive Director. This conversation inspired Rona and convinced her that she could make a positive impact by joining the board. Rona’s favorite part of serving on the board has been involvement in strategic […]

Marilynn Cedarstrom is starting her third year as an active, year-round volunteer with the Young Women’s Resource Center. Her time with us began when she joined our YWRC Gala Committee (formerly known as the Sit On It! committee). Her favorite YWRC memory is from that first event.   “It was great fun, but also heartwarming […]

We are excited to celebrate one of our hard working, dedicated and kind staff members this month, Ashley Ezzio. Ashley has been part of the Young Women’s Resource Center team for a little more than two years as our Childbirth and Perinatal Specialist. A main component of her role is to facilitate a weekly pregnancy […]

Margaret Jensen Connet became involved with the Young Women’s Resource Center when she was working in Ames with homeless youth and heard that a group of feminist women were starting a new agency in Des Moines. She had personally fought gender role stereotypes growing up because of her love of the outdoors and being told […]

In June of 2017, the YWRC welcomed Ariadna Arias Rosario to our Board of Directors. Ariadna has long been a huge fan of the YWRC’s work and mission and has volunteered with us through the DuPont Pioneer Women’s Network group. She demonstrates a tangible energy and excitement whenever she speaks about her work with the […]

Jann Freed has been a steadfast supporter of the Young Women’s Resource Center since the early 1990s. At that time, she was instrumental in leading the YWRC Board through a strategic planning process which included revising the mission and vision. Since then, Jann has volunteered through providing meals for our Young Moms, participating in fundraising […]

Danielle began her journey with the YWRC when she was referred to our Young Moms program through a counselor at North High School; she was pregnant and 14 years old. We have been honored to see her grow over the last eight years into the nurturing, responsible and successful mother she is today. Danielle officially […]

Wearing many hats is something Kahara Hunafa, Empowerment Program Specialist, thrives on. Over the last three and a half years, Kahara has become an integral part of the YWRC team. “I, along with three other Empowerment staff and two Empowerment Assistants, go into Greater Des Moines schools to facilitate small, six-week Empowerment Groups. These groups […]