For 135 years, YWCA Minneapolis has worked with our community to meet the needs of hundreds of thousands of people throughout the Twin Cities.
Who We Are
We invite you to stand with us in our mission and our work.
Last year alone, our programs helped 600+ children receive high-quality early childhood education; 1,500+ youth gain the skills and experience to become leaders in their lives and communities; 2,000+ individuals learn about civic engagement and how to combat racial inequities.
YWCA Minneapolis stands for a fully inclusive community in which each person is healthy and valued, and where racial justice, gender equality and human dignity are promoted and sustained through bold and effective women’s leadership.
Eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.
YWCA MISSION
Our Values
Inclusiveness
We embrace people of all cultures and backgrounds and we expect all to create an environment where each person feels engaged, connected, accepted and respected.
Ownership
We aim high, taking responsibility for our actions and decisions, knowing we have the courage and the support of our teammates to help us succeed.
Collaboration
We believe in the power, effectiveness and creativity of teamwork and community.
Integrity
We act with integrity and openness, assuming good intent in all of our interactions with each other and our community partners.
Celebration
We celebrate achievements that further our mission in our organization and community.
Discipline
We maintain financial and operational strength through excellence in fundraising, entrepreneurship and business practices.
Our Leadership Team
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Shelley Carthen Watson
PRESIDENT, CEO
Shelley Carthen Watson has led YWCA Minneapolis in programs, mission and vision since August 2021.
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Lee Friedman
CHIEF FINANCIAL & OPERATING OFFICER
Lee Friedman is the incoming CFO and oversees the business office; information technology; human resources; and the organization’s Early Childhood Education, Girls and Youth, and Health and Wellness programs.
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Julie Schlueter Engen
VP, HUMAN RESOURCES
Julie is responsible for recruitment, retention and nurturing a strong positive workplace culture.
Board of Directors
Our board of directors is a diverse group of leaders using their passion, insights, and connections in the community, to create real impact for YWCA Minneapolis.
2026 – 2027 Officers
Amy Phenix, (Board Chair) Senior Vice President of Public Affairs, Law Enforcement and Facilities, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis
Elizabeth Bierman (Vice Chair), Director of Engineering, Comcast Twin Cities Region
Hyun Mee Graves (Secretary), Marketing Vice President, Ecolab Global Pest Elimination
Arthur Berman (Finance and Investment Chair), Retired Nonprofit CEO
Amy Dragland-Johnson (Governance Chair), Consultant
Sharon Dykes, (Program and Operations Chair) MN Colon & Rectal Surgical Specialists
Jennifer Soderholm, (Development and External Relations Chair) Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer, Children’s Minnesota
Shelley Carthen Watson, President and CEO, YWCA Minneapolis
Directors
Cheryl Bethune, Chief Human Resources Officer, Bio-Techne Corporation
LaToya Burrell, General Counsel for Zinpro Corporation and Executive Director of Anderson Foundation
Jill Davies, Senior Director of Corporate Responsibility at Best Buy
Rebecca Dehn, Vice President of Client Services at Advantage Solutions, Advantage Solutions
Deborah Estes, Senior Management, EVP MNSE & Ancillary Events
Dr. Marcheta Evans, Ph.D., President of St. Catherine University
Rachel Whitcomb Fossum, Founder, Stratvera
Melisa Lopez Franzen, Director of Government Affairs, Starkey Hearing
Jennifer Harris, President, CEO, FJ Harris Consultants
Janine Sanders Jones, Associate Dean for Faculty Excellence, University of St. Thomas
Karissa Kirvida, Senior Director, Nature’s Path Foods
Kris Lockhart, Retired Associate Vice President for Equity and Diversity, University of Minnesota
Crystal Manik, Senior Program Administrator, CenterPoint Energy
Minya Nance, CEO and Founder of Culture Core
Quyen Ngo, Executive Director, Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation
Arianna Orcutt, Strategic Insurance Consultant
Nikkie Purvis, Business Risk Officer, Sr. Vice President, Old National Bank
Shelley Sánchez, Business Consultant, Speaker, Podcaster
Katie Schoeneck, Client Centricity Strategist, Thrivent Financial
Lana Slygh, VP Brand & Integrated Marketing, Thrivent Financial
Naamua Sullivan, Senior Director of Digital Communications, Content and Storytelling, Amrize
Kathy Timm, Retired Attorney
Ivan Torres, Founder & Project Manager/Urban Planning and Construction Mgmt, Hue-Voice
Shanequa Williams, Target Corporation
Cheryl Winston, Sales Director at Kenvue
Ebony Wyatt, Vice President North America Retail and Sales Strategic Initiatives at General Mills
Key Dates in YWCA History
Community 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!