Who We Are
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.
As we navigate the post-pandemic world, we also face the social climate created by the Supreme Court’s decisions on race and discrimination, and their fateful ruling to overturn Roe v. Wade. These decisions have set back our country’s progress towards equitable civil rights for all, effectively creating an urgency for our work now more than ever. Together we forge ahead with a renewed commitment to creating a more equitable and just world for all.
Our programs have shifted to meet ongoing and emerging needs. Our advocacy efforts uplift legislative priorities and solutions to eradicate systemic injustices.
Our dedicated team members, interns, volunteers and Board of Directors have stewarded our mission in unprecedented ways as we worked to continue to serve our communities during a worldwide pandemic and the closure of many of our schools, partners' workplaces and more.
Eliminating Racism, Empowering Women and Promoting Peace, Justice, Freedom and Dignity for All.
YWCA MISSION
Our Values
A Compassionate Community
Respect
Wellness
Honesty and Integrity
Non-Violence
Collaboration
Justice and Fairness
The Dignity of All People
Our Team
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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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Fernanda Olivares
OPERATIONS DIRECTOR
Fernanda manages administrative matters and building needs for the YWCA.
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Layla Dargahi
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
Layla manages all YWCA direct-service programs and ensures all address racial and gender justice issues.
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
President
Dia Tschirki-Penning
Vice President
Alyssa Tio
Treasurer
Paige Wheeler Fleury
Recording Secretary
Directors
Christine Cabras
Marilyn Cleveland
Dom DeGuzman
Kate Earle Funk
Francesca Gibson
Marcus Hill
Patricia Jones
Victoria Ladew
Elsy Lewis
Trina Ostrander
Mary Remy
Kalkidan Shebi
Alyssa Tio
Dia Tshirki-Penning
Paige Wheeler Fleury
Adrienne Williams
Rev. G Yi
Annual Reports
YWCA is on a mission to eliminate racism and empower women, and we’re committed to accountability and transparency in everything we do. Below you will find resources that illuminate our financial position, outline how we allocate our resources, and showcase the impact of the valuable support from our donors and sponsors. As a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, we welcome your support of our mission!
2022-2023
Coming Soon
2021-2022
2020-2019