January – February 2025 

January Birthdays

3 Bryan Zuniga-Ramirez 
4 QuaTauna Bostic 
6 Lakeesha Palmer 
9 Amaya Washington 
12 Sandeepthi Balumuri 
13 Leslie Rubin 
14 Danielle Malaika Mitial 
15 Kynalyn Waderker 
16 Navya Nalla 
17 William Benson 
17 Ynobe McCrae 
18 Mandi Buchwald 
19 Alexa Bush 
20 Makale Bangoura 
21 Othello Banks 
21 Amos Li 
21 Natasha Battise 
22 Kim Hamilton 
23 Fredrick Phells 
26 Ashley Marie Boylan 
26 LaiMari Spence 
28 Renee Owens 
29 Wayne Deal 
31 Phyl Flanagan 

February Birthdays  

1 Sally Ristucci 
1 Keith Hall 
1 Ericka McFarland 
12 Angelique Clark 
13 Katherine Taylor 
17 Linda Cox 
21 Pamela Wilson 
23 Deborah Turner 
23 Esther Oluwakemi Popoola 
24 Molly Kowaleski 
26 Loren Beckett 
26 Shannon Thomas 
26 Camille Moultrie 

January Anniversaries  

2 YEARS 
Elizabeth Brown 
Taquasia Hollingsworth 
Natasha Battise 
Lakeesha Palmer 

4 YEARS 
Rosalyn Lsekan 
Alexa Bush 

11 YEARS 
Deborah Turner 

18 YEARS 
Katherine Taylor 

19 YEARS 
Keith Hall  

25 YEARS 
Val Henthorn 

February Anniversaries  

2 YEARS 
Veronica Bridges 
Michelle Chilton 
Bridget Stringer 

3 YEARS  
Kayla Hylton 
Ellen Roberts 
Roberta Jean Romito  
Kim Williams 

4 YEARS 
Jose Torres 
Camille Moultrie 

7 YEARS 
Judy Peterson 

11 YEARS 
Cheryl Glenn 

13 YEARS 
Jerome Burger 
Wayne Deal 

Welcome to the following teammates who joined the YWCA family in November and December:  

  • Sofia Aguirre – program assistant 

  • Annie Bowen – executive assistant to the president & CEO 

  • Diana Campbell – front desk engagement specialist 

  • Judy Chesnut-Gerdeman – program assistant 

  • Zion Collins-Lauderdale – program assistant  

  • Jheaya Conwell – site director 

  • Daejah Dower – program assistant 

  • Selena Flores-Mora – program assistant  

  • Betwan Goff – program assistant

  • Aliyah Hiram – program manager, leadership & social justice  

  • Daniel Kinney – front desk engagement specialist 

  • Shelley McClary – program assistant 

  • Tanay Oden – front desk engagement specialist 

  • Rebecca Stanett – program assistant 

  • Tiana Williams – program assistant 

  • Jae-ana Mari Willis – program assistant 

Welcome, Aliyah! 

We are excited to welcome Aliyah Hiram to YWCA Columbus as the new leadership & social justice program manager. After graduating from Ohio University (OU, OH YEAH!), Aliyah began her career as an English teacher at Columbus Collegiate Academy – Dana, where she focused on student success through data-driven strategies and creating a positive, inclusive learning environment. She is also an engaging & impactful speaker and trainer. In her most recent role as program coordinator at ROX, she gained a wealth of experience connecting with women across the country. Outside of work, Aliyah enjoys spending time with her family and walking her puppy, Buster! You can also catch her playing softball in the summertime; she is always in for anything competitive! 

Team Announcements + Updates

  • This year, we are so excited to welcome three YWCA Columbus staff members into the 2025 Class of Leadership for Social Change! A huge congratulations to Autumn Ford, Mariah Martinez, and Mikhala Wilson on their acceptance during one of the most competitive application processes in the history of the program! 

  • Do you know a group of middle or high school girls/gender-expansive youth interested in learning about racial equity? As a new component of YWCA Columbus’ Bright Futures program, we will now be offering shorter Racial Equity 101 workshops in school classrooms, community groups, and more, in addition to our more robust program! Contact Navya Nalla at nnalla@ywcacolumbus.org to learn more and empower your group with racial literacy. 

  • If you know anyone who would be a good fit for the following roles, please refer them to HR! 

    • Family Center Director 

    • Site Director (YKP)  

    • Part-time Program Assistant (YKP) 

    As a reminder, employees who refer candidates for vacant roles are eligible for a $500 bonus (if the candidate is hired and upon completion of their probationary period). For additional information about these positions, please refer to ywcacolumbus.org/jobs or Indeed.  

Save the Date

  • Join the People’s Justice Project on Thursday, Jan. 9, at Two Dollar Headquarters for a timely Community Conversation about non-carceral programs and organizing in Columbus. Given the state’s recent passage of HB 315, which includes a dangerous provision that will allow state and local governments to charge people requesting bodycam footage and other records, these opportunities to come together in a safe space are critical. 

  • Besa’s MLK Day of Service program, in partnership with Ohio Humanities, will include meaningful volunteer opportunities at YWCA Columbus, as well as a thoughtful conversation celebrating the unsung role of women in the Civil Rights Movement. Click the link to sign up! 

  • The National Day of Racial Healing is a time to contemplate our shared values and create the blueprint together for #HowWeHeal from the effects of racism. Launched in 2017, it is an opportunity to bring ALL people together and inspire collective action to build common ground for a more just and equitable world. YWCA Columbus will host listening circle(s) to observe this day of healing – stay tuned for more details! 

  • For 40 years, YWCA Columbus has proudly celebrated extraordinary leaders who embody the essence of women’s empowerment, honoring the courage, compassion, and dedication of those driving meaningful change in our Columbus community and beyond. This year’s luncheon will be at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in the Battelle Grand Ballroom on Wednesday, April 2, 2025. 

Please help lift up Alexa Molitor, Tasha Battise, and Carmen Chukes for their work on YWCA’s holiday program. They made sure all YWCA residents received gifts this holiday season, which would not have been possible without their dedication – and it was certainly no small task. Thanks also to everyone in Women’s Residency & at the Family Center who helped collect wish lists and distribute gifts! Your work helped spread some holiday magic and joy this season to all the folks we serve.  

YWCA Columbus in the News

As reported in the Columbus Dispatch, leaders of Columbus' shelter system, including YWCA Columbus, are asking the City of Columbus, Franklin County Commissioners and local private investors to come up with $46.5 million in 2025 to respond to the region’s growing homelessness problem and to provide more sustainable annual funding. 

YWCA Kids Place was recognized as Columbus' #1 afterschool program at the CBUS Top Picks Community Choice Awards Gala in December. Thank you for voting for us, Columbus! 

We celebrated our 2024 class of the Kathy Duffy Espy Leadership for Social Change programin December. Congratulations! 

COSI stopped by the YWCA Family Center in December to do some experiments with the kids and pass out learning lunchboxes for more science fun in the future. 

YWCA Columbus recently received a grant from Bank of America that will empower YWCA to further our mission of eliminating racism and empowering women. This partnership will strengthen our work in social justice, housing, and youth development, building a brighter, more equitable future for our community. 

Thank you for joining us at the ever-fun and ever-festive YWCA Columbus Holiday Staff Party! Check out the photo gallery from the event here.

Looking for the last issue of YWConnect? Read YWConnect November - December 2024 here.