#YWCACircle25
#CircleofWomen
#OnAMission
YWCA Minneapolis Board of Directors Sara Ahluwalia Ananya Banerjee Melissa Barra Darlynn Benjamin Cheryl Cooper Boyd Colette Campbell Stephanie Leonard Crosby Michele Durkin Debbie L. Galka Nancy Garrett Deborah B. Hilke, Secretary
Lakeeta Hill Leslie Holman Holt Lisa Huey Remi Kent Tami A. Kozikowski Nicole Kveton Jennifer Laible Josefina Landrieu Carolyn Link Kathy Longo Gwen McFadden-Vincent, Treasurer
Jeninne McGee, Board Chair Stacy O’Reilly Carissa Rollins Constance St. Germain Bria Shea Lana Slavitt Beth Smits Lindsey Farrell Stampone Jan Wikman Susan Williams Andrea Wood
Circle of Women Leadership Committee Lana Slavitt, Event Chair Sara Ahluwalia
Kayla Forbes Jan Wikman
Lana Slavitt, a long time YWCA board member, is delighted to chair Circle of Women for the second time. As part of supporting YWCA’s mission of eliminating racism and empowering women, she is a passionate advocate for gun safety measures and improving voter access. She and her husband, Andy, are parents to two grown sons.
2
EVENT SCHEDULE
Silent Auction Shop online ywcampls.org/circlelive
Program 6:00 – 6:45 PM Welcome and History of Circle of Women Emcee: Gia Vang, KARE-11
Woman of Power Award Maria Regan Gonzalez, 2021 Award Recipient
Keynote Presentation Kishshana Palmer
Special Message Jeninne McGee, YWCA Minneapolis Board Member
Closing
“The support of someone caring about me made me feel powerful. Through the Girls RAP Program, I learned how strong I already am, and how powerful I can be.” Ricki, Girls Resolution and Prevention Program Participant #YWCACircle25
#CircleofWomen
#OnAMission 3
SPEAKERS Gia Vang Gia Vang is co-anchor of KARE 11’s morning show, Sunrise, and is based in Minneapolis. Before moving to the Twin Cities, Gia was the evening anchor at KMPH in Fresno, California. She has also worked in Phoenix, Arizona; Kansas City, Missouri; and Eugene, Oregon. She has covered everything from major elections, to tornadoes and floods, to Super Bowl XLIX parties. Gia graduated with a degree in journalism from California State University in her hometown of Sacramento, California.
Kishshana Palmer Kishshana Palmer is a leadership trainer, change management consultant, educator, author and international speaker. She is the CEO of Kishshana & Co., founder of The Rooted Collaborative and multi-hyphenate social entrepreneur. Kishshana has a 17-year background in fundraising, marketing and talent management. She is an adjunct professor at Baruch College and Long Island University, a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE), a BoardSource Certified Governance Trainer (CGT) and an Association of Fundraising Professionals Master Trainer. When an organization wants to grow, find and retain people on their team, raise money and more, she is the philanthropic fairy godmother they have on speed dial.
Jeninne McGee Jeninne’s Minnesota roots started as a student at Carleton College in Northfield, MN. Most of her career has been in financial services with some time spent teaching elementary school in Hopkins, MN. Jeninne has held leadership and board positions for a number of nonprofit organizations including Jack and Jill of America, MN Opera and the Foundation Board for the Minneapolis Community and Technical College. 4
Maria Regan Gonzalez YWCA Minneapolis is honored to present the fourth annual Woman of Power Award to Maria Regan Gonzalez, a Minnesota leader who embodies the values and mission of YWCA Minneapolis through her extraordinary commitment to social and racial equity, dignity, justice and peace. Her leadership and compassion are demonstrated through her work as the first Latina mayor in the state of Minnesota, serving the city of Richfield, where she uses her role as mayor to advocate for communities often left behind in decision-making including people of color, residents with disabilities, and immigrants including undocumented and mixed-status families. She is part of a growing movement to change the face of leadership in Minnesota. She consistently reiterates that it is important for people of color – particularly children – to see leaders who look like them, and she encourages them to follow their dreams, grow their power and change their communities. In addition to her leadership in local government and healthcare, Maria serves as a board member at the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation and is a co-founded La Red Latina de Educación Temprana MN (The Latino Early Childcare Provider Network), a network focused on organizing, capacity building and providing resources to Latina child care providers.
Woman of Power Award
YWCA Minneapolis established the Woman of Power Award in 2018 to honor women across the Twin Cities who have demonstrated commitment, enthusiasm and support for YWCA’s mission of eliminating racism and empowering women. The Woman of Power Award is presented to an individual each year who has shown extraordinary leadership, dedication and achievement in all of YWCA’s core values – peace, justice, freedom and dignity.
#YWCACircle25
#CircleofWomen
#OnAMission 5
3MOpen.com
The 3M Open is proud to support YWCA Minneapolis
Proud sponsor of YWCA Minneapolis.
Supporting and improving the future for women and girls in the Twin Cities. Together. UnitedHealthcare is honored to sponsor the 25th Anniversary of Circle of Women. Thank you to YWCA Minneapolis for all you have done and continue to do to eliminate racism, empower women and promote peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.
© 2021 United HealthCare Services, Inc. All rights reserved.
THANK YOU, SPONSORS Presenting Sponsors
Champion Sponsors
Lana and Andy Slavitt 9
THANK YOU, SPONSORS Partner Sponsors
Julie and Doug Baker Art Berman Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Colle McVoy Marsden Holding
Minnesota Public Radio Pinnacle Performance Group St. Catherine University White Crane Construction Xcel Energy
Keystone Sponsors Sara Ahluwalia Bank of America Capella University Carousel Motor Group Charles Schwab Comcast General Mills Hennepin Healthcare
Deborah B. Hilke Knock Inc. Jeninne McGee Minnesota Vikings Val Moeller Mortenson Planned Parenthood North Central States
RJM Construction Thomson Reuters Thrivent USI Insurance Services Susan Williams
25th Anniversary Honorary Hosts Anonymous Wendy Bach CarVal Investors Laurie Greeno
Jennifer Laible – Antenna Kathy Longo – Flourish Wealth Management Tracy Moosbrugger Kim Nelson
Special Thanks to: AV For You, Dessa and Edge Marketing
“Without YWCA, I would not have been able to get my bachelor’s degree. Today I am working full-time and I will not be needing any more subsidized daycare. I have made the transition.” Alexis, Early Childhood Education Parent #YWCACircle25 10
#CircleofWomen
#OnAMission