Meet Our Team
For 135 years, the YWCA Berkeley/Oakland has elevated the voices and concerns of women and girls, BIPOC and LBGTQ+ communities and fought for social justice.
Our Executive Staff
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Monique Lesarre, PsyD
Executive Director
Monique provides strategic and visionary leadership while managing day-to-day operations at the YWCA.
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Layla Dargahi
Associate Director
Layla manages all YWCA direct-service programs and ensures all address racial justice issues.
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Juliet Galvez
Bookkeeping, Communications & Development Manager
Juliet oversees financial records, manages internal and external communications, and drives strategic development initiatives to support organizational growth and efficiency.
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Fernanda Olivares
Operations Director
Fernanda manages administrative matters and building needs for the YWCA.
Our Staff
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Chris Carlisle
Facilities Manager
Chris manages the YWCA Berkeley/Oakland building.
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Victoria Mendoza
Program Manager
Victoria leads workforce development workshops and financial literacy programs.
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Ariyana Tavakoli
Program Manager
Ariyana champions YWCA's race and gender equity advocacy efforts, as well as oversee GGMP with the goal of helping girls navigate personal and academic challenges.
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Karen Lei
Program Coordinator
Karen facilitates English-in-Action, a program that helps English learners through one-to-one conversational practice with local volunteers. -
Jenna Kim
Program Coordinator
Jenna directs Tech Lab, empowering women, BIPOC and other underrepresented identities in tech. -
Claire Marchiano
Career Coach
Claire offers one-on-one career coaching sessions.
Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors is a diverse group of women leaders using their passion, insights, and connections in the community, to create real impact for YWCA Berkeley/Oakland.
2024 – 2025 Officers
Laura Kirkwood-Datta
Marilyn Cleveland
Co-Presidents
Alyssa Tio
Treasurer
Paige Wheeler Fleury
Recording Secretary
Dom DeGuzman
Kate Earle Funk
Francesca Gibson
Marcus Hill
Patricia Jones
Victoria Ladew
Elsy Lewis
Directors
Trina Ostrander
Mary Remy
Kalkidan Shebi
Alyssa Tio
Dia Tshirki-Penning
Paige Wheeler Fleury
Adrienne Williams
Rev. G Y