We Are A Team

Our team is committed to ensuring women and children experiencing homelessness have the tools and resources necessary to achieve their dreams. Please click on staff members’ names to learn more about them and their work with Women’s Empowerment! Need to speak with a staff member but you are not sure who to reach out to? Simply call 916-669-2307 or email support@womens-empowerment.org and someone will help!

Meet Our Staff

Earl Bean’s passion is helping strengthen his community, and he says one of his greatest talents is supporting others as they navigate their life journeys. Having worked at Women’s Empowerment since 2013, Earl has been inspired by the transformations he has witnessed as women graduate from the program. He enjoys ensuring that everyone at the office is safe, and that our program operates smoothly.

When he is not at Women’s Empowerment, Earl loves spending time outdoors fishing, barbequing, visiting parks, and playing dominoes with his friends and family.

916-669-2307 | Earl@womens-empowerment.org

Iasia Holmes joined the Women’s Empowerment team in February 2023. She has been working in the real estate and housing industry since 2010 and was a property manager for Affordable, TCAC, and low-income supportive housing from 2016 to 2020. Since 2021, she has worked as a housing specialist in non-profit organizations. Iasia graduated from college in 2009 and worked in the medical field from 2009 to 2017. She has been studying psychology and neuroscience since 2019. Iasia is a certified Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) specialist since 2017 and a licensed real estate agent since 2014. With her adept knowledge of the housing market, compassion, active listening skills, and innovation, she brings valuable contributions to the Women’s Empowerment team.

916-669-2307 x107 | iasia@womens-empowerment.org

Jennifer came to Women’s Empowerment in 2023 after developing a detoxification program for the first homeless shelter in Auburn through Volunteers of America, where she managed several Homeless Prevention and Rapid Rehousing grants as well. Prior to her work there, she owned and operated a treatment facility for ICDTP (In custody drug treatment program) participants, and a transitional housing program for men and women coming out of incarceration and/or entering back into society from substance use and poverty. Expanding to five counties in five years, the program’s methods were later adopted at the state level and incorporated into AB-109 programs and policies that encouraged California state to lower recidivism rates by implementing housing and program access upon release.
By the young age of 13, Lisa knew she wanted to make a difference in the community, and did so by helping those who founded Loaves & Fishes bring sandwiches to the homeless near the railroad tracks. Lisa studied both at UCLA and University of Grenoble in France, and received her degree from UC Davis. A long-time activist and voice for those less fortunate, Lisa spent 10 years after college working in Nicaragua while living on dirt floors. After seeing poverty abroad, Lisa chose to return home to raise her son. She continued working with those struggling to survive by creating various programs with Loaves & Fishes and Quinn Cottages. One of the projects Lisa designed grew into today’s Women’s Empowerment. After working more than 10 years on local issues regarding homelessness and as an employee of Loaves & Fishes, Lisa currently serves as Executive Director of the now independent nonprofit, Women’s Empowerment, which earned Nonprofit of the Year in 2009. In 2008, she received the Woman of the Year Award from the National Association of Business Women for her vision in founding the organization. In 2010, she earned the Ruby Award for her efforts to serve the homeless, a distinction granted on a regional level. Lisa speaks Spanish, German, and French.

916-669-2307 | Lisa@womens-empowerment.org

Melinda (Mindy) Cooper is passionate about children and helping families in need. Mindy has been in the childcare field for nearly 20 years and completed her early childhood development classes at Consumes River College. As the Childcare Coordinator she provides trauma-informed care, facilitates developmental assessments through partnerships with organizations like the Sacramento County Office of Education, and provides individual play plans to help each child reach their developmental milestones. A part of her responsibilities in this role includes; helping our student mothers and their children with their everyday needs. She supplies diapers, wipes, clothes, and toys of all sizes, and colors for the children we serve, and assists with any housing needs such as beds, bedding, and household supplies. Her love for children is the epitome of her life, as she has 5 children of her own, and as an advocate for underserved youth, in 2020 she became a foster mother. Forming rapport with the mothers of the program can be substantially rewarding. The bonds she shares with their children are important to ensure the mothers and their children are comfortable, safe, supported, and healthy while in our care here at Women’s Empowerment.

916-669-2307 x 118| melinda@womens-empowerment.org

Rachelle Fernandez was born and raised in Sacramento and from a young age always wanted to help people. After studying fine arts in high school and college, she obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Relations. Rachelle later became an Americorps VISTA member doing a year of service for America. There she began working with countless nonprofits. After spending years with nonprofits, Rachelle wanted to do more to help children and decided to go back to school to study Early Childhood Education. She spent a year working for Women’s Empowerment in the Child Development Center and has now transitioned to an administrative assistant role to better use her skills to help WE.

916-669-2307 x114 | rachelle@womens-empowerment.org

Ronika R. Prakash is Women Empowerments Social Worker. She believes that women can achieve anything they want to with dedication, persistence and hard work! Ronika also believes that no women is free until, as Audre Lordes quote states: “I am not free while any woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different from my own.” Ronika’s life mission has been to help people overcome their challenges that prevent them from personal and professional growth. She has a holistic strength based approach when working with others as a Social Worker. Ronika began her journey helping people as a volunteer in childhood as it is a passion of hers to help others and give back to her community. Ronika attended Sacramento State University from 1996 to 1998 and transferred to San Francisco State University and obtained a Bachelor of Arts diploma in Psychology (Emphasis in Clinical Psychology 1999). She also has a Master of Arts in Counseling diploma from Santa Clara University (Emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy in 2003). Ronika, in addition, is a Mental Health Rehabilitation Specialist (MHRS) since 2003. Ronika has been employed in social services for fifteen plus years providing various social services support in various life domains, such as mental health support, domestic violence prevention advocacy, life skills development, career placement and counseling, substance abuse counseling, individual and group counseling in varying topics, helping at risk youth and families in mental health, foster care and probation services. She has also helped people from diverse multicultural and socioeconomic backgrounds to learn to advocate for themselves. Ronika is also an advocate for women’s and children’s equal rights. In Ronika’s free time she enjoys various activism projects, numerous hobbies, such as reading, nutritious cooking, running, dancing, Zumba, watching documentaries, life long learning and research. Ronika is a survivor of challenges in her own life and believes that any difficulty can be overcome with an attitude of gratitude and never giving up on oneself. Ronika’s biggest goal at Women’s Empowerment as the Social Worker is to help women find their own unique voices and lead healthier independent lives.

Sam Maciel started working for Women’s Empowerment in March of 2023. She has her BA in American Studies and an AA in Political Science. She is newer to the Sacramento area after moving from the central valley within the last couple of years. Originally born to immigrant parents she and her siblings are the first gen and are the first to go to college and graduate. Throughout her life and career, she is a person who strives to uplift, support, and encourage people. 

She brings with her a background in community outreach and advocacy to WE that originated back when she was a senior in high school. Several of her projects focused on providing resources and education to her community about Mental Health, Domestic Violence, and similar subjects. Sam also served on her school district’s Mental Health Board as the student representative for her high school. At her local community college, she served as her branch’s Active Minds member, providing mental health resources to students, and organizing volunteer events and fundraising drives. One of her favorite projects was working with Send’s Silence Packing and the local news.

When transitioning to Sacramento after college, Sam discovered Women’s Empowerment and connected to their mission statement. She is constantly learning, educating, and expanding her mind. She is excited to be a part of WE and to implement new volunteer opportunities to support and empower the women of Sacramento. 

916-669-2307 x117 | samantha@womens-empowerment.org

With over 20 years of employment and motivation experience, Terri
is dedicated to connecting individuals with meaningful employment opportunities.
As an Employment Specialist, she strives to bridge the gap between employers
and job seekers, leveraging a combination of industry knowledge and networking
skills, and has a passion for helping others succeed. Terri also enjoys the
empowerment side of her position, inspiring individuals to unlock their full
potential, embrace change, and pursue their dreams with confidence. Through
engaging talks and workshops, she empowers souls to overcome obstacles, set
ambitious goals, and take actionable steps towards personal and professional
growth.

In addition to her professional endeavors, Terri founded multiple personal
businesses dedicated to promoting holistic wellness and self-care practices. She
advocates for mental, emotional, and physical well-being, encouraging
individuals to prioritize self-care as a pathway to personal fulfillment and success.
Terri created WE Connect which was a series of workshops created to provide
students and graduates an additional space to connect with the sisterhood of
support. Classes included vision boards, generational wealth building,
entrepreneurship, and book writing, to name a few. Moreover, Terri is deeply
committed to building generational wealth and financial literacy within
communities. She believes in empowering individuals to make informed financial
decisions, invest wisely, and creating a legacy of prosperity for future
generations. With a proven track record of guiding clients through the job search
process, providing tailored career counseling, resume writing assistance,
interview preparation, and job placement services, Terri believes in fostering
long-term relationships with both clients and employers, ensuring that each
placement is a mutually beneficial match. Terri is driven by a commitment to
excellence and a deep understanding of the ever-evolving job market. Whether
it’s navigating career transitions, exploring new opportunities, or overcoming
employment barriers, she is dedicated to empowering individuals to achieve their
professional and personal goals.

Outside of work, she enjoys converting meat dishes into healthier vegan plates,
creating inspiring content for her followers on various social media platforms and
giving back to the community, connecting and partnering with local businesses
and her Glam Squad hosting “GLO UP” tours, which provide prom makeovers for low-income students, treasure-hunting at local thrift stores for classic pieces, and giving back to the community through other volunteer work and mentoring programs.

916-669-2307 x113 | terri@womens-empowerment.org

Tracie joined the team in July 2019. She always felt it was important to serve her community and while living in San Francisco, spent all of her free time volunteering with the homeless community. She found this so rewarding that she decided she wanted to do this full-time and moved to Sacramento in search of a nonprofit that would align with her goals and values. When she found Women’s Empowerment, she knew she found her home. She started out as a volunteer in the WE – Lending Library and as a career mentor. After a short few months volunteering she saw an opportunity for a Social Enterprise Manager and given her management experience and love of working with these women she knew this would be the perfect fit. She applied and got the position, and now has the privilege of working with WE graduates to help create the Get a Job Kit, a social enterprise that helps job seekers across the country find employment. Tracie served as the Social Enterprise Manager for four years before stepping into her current role as Program Director.

916-231-1394 x110 | tracie@womens-empowerment.org

Zoe Fishman joined the Women’s Empowerment team in March of 2019 bringing a plethora of experience in both the private and nonprofit sectors. Skilled in campaign development, relationship building, marketing, and event fundraising, Zoe has a creative and innovative approach to the continuous advancement of community engagement and philanthropy.

Zoe’s love of nonprofit development began with her position as Community Events Coordinator for Sunburst Projects, an organization that serves women and families impacted by HIV/AIDS. Passionate about strengthening communities and bettering the world through her work, Zoe is inspired daily by people (donors, volunteers, advocates, and community partners) who have such a tremendous capacity to make a difference, and who give so generously with their resources, time, and heart!

Prior to joining the nonprofit sector, Zoe was the production coordinator for an event planning company, producing large-scale events across the United States, such as San Francisco Pride, Lesbians Who Tech (Pavilion), San Francisco Cinco De Mayo, and Pride Fort Lauderdale. Outside of work, she serves on the board of two local non-profits, is a dog lover, food fanatic, and frequent road-tripper.

916-669-2307 x104 | Zoe@womens-empowerment.org

Meet Our Board of Directors

Cindy Sparks, Board President

Folsom Excellence Team Manager, Intel

Leslie Medina, Board Vice President

Founding Partner, Capitol Advocacy

Robin Kelly-Dunton, Board Secretary

Women’s Empowerment Graduate, Field Representative for Assembly Member Kevin McCarty

Jennifer Davidson, Board Treasurer

Chief Financial Officer, SMUD

Jonathan Kaufman, Board Development Officer

Co-Founder and Principal, Third Plateau Social
Impact Strategies

Jessica Cook

Assistant Vice President, Product Manager, US Bank

Bethany Curiel

SVP/Treasury Management Regional Sales Manager & Sales Support Manager, Umpqua Bank

Natoshi DuBose

Women’s Empowerment Graduate, Graduate of California State University, Sacramento

Mary May Furtado

Board Fellow, UC Davis MBA Program

Lynda Grindstaff

Vice President of Engineering, McAfee

Bindu Jaduram

Regional Manager, Vice President, Tri Counties Bank

Keitie McGhee

President & CEO, of Argent Insurance Agency

Nikky Mohanna

Principal/Real Estate Developer, Mohanna Development Co.

Monica Perez, MBA

Senior Vice President, Global Corporate Finance and Treasury, VSP Global

Page Robbins

Underwriter, Multifamily Production, U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development

Sylvia Stephenson

Managing Director, Slalom Consulting

David Topp, JD

Senior Director of Government Affairs, Abbott Laboratories

Thuy Wagner

Support Services Administrator, Kaiser Permanente