Lisa Culp
Executive Director

Even at the young age of 13, Lisa knew that she wanted to help or be a part of making 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 working in Nicaragua while living on dirt floors.  After seeing the poverty abroad, Lisa chose to return to her home country to raise her young son, but continued working with those struggling to survive.  After creating various programs with Loaves & Fishes and Quinn Cottages, Lisa designed, shaped and grew this program called Women’s Empowerment.   After working more than 10 years as an employee of Loaves & Fishes, Lisa is now the Executive Director of the newly organized and now independent non-profit, Women’s Empowerment.

Erie Shockey
Case Manager

After growing up in the Midwest as a tomboy with her parents and two brothers, Erie attended the University of Texas in Austin. She then moved to the Washington, DC area for graduate school and received her Master’s in Social Work degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. While living in Fairfax, Virginia, with her husband and two sons, Erie worked as a school social worker with older teens and young adults who had special needs and were transitioning into the workforce. After moving to Sacramento, Erie began working as a case manager in 2002 helping women to become their own case mangers in life. She also coordinated the Women’s Empowerment Volunteer Job Mentoring Program. Erie’s greatest pleasure on the weekends is exploring the nooks and crannies of beautiful Northern California.

Jennifer Beckstead

Mallory Cain
Job Skills Coach

Mallory is a recent graduate of Boston College with a B.A. in Psychology. She is our current Jesuit Volunteer: an annual one-year volunteer position established through the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. Mallory works one-on-one with students and graduates on their job searches and facilitates the job skills class one day a week. She is also the keeper of the professional clothing closet - sorting donations and maintaining a clean and welcoming space for women as they search for appropriate clothing for interviews and employment. In her free time, Mallory enjoys reading, playing outdoors, ninjas and high-fives.

Yvette Wooten
Child Care Co-ordinator

Yevette has lived her whole life in California. She grew up with her mother, sister and two brothers in Vallejo, where she graduated from high school and earned early childhood education credits. Yevette moved to Sacramento in 1990, got married, and began a family. She was a stay-at-home mom for a while, then returned to work as a s certified nursing assistant a various hospitals. Yevette began working at Maryhouse and St. Johns Shelter for Women and Children in 2002. Since 2003, Yvette has been taking care the little ones at Women’s Empowerment while their moms are attending class. Yevette’s bright, cheery playroom is full of laughter and love as Yevette adores her little ones and they adore her. While not at at work, Yevette enjoys taking long walks on the river and bike riding with her daughter.

All staff photos taken by Erie.