Executive Council for the Young Women’s Initiative
A Collective Force for Gender & Racial Equity
The Executive Council for the Young Women’s Initiative brings together cross-sector leaders from government, business, higher education, philanthropy, nonprofits, and Minnesota communities to advance young women’s economic success through the Young Women’s Initiative of Minnesota (YWI MN).
About the Executive Council
Together, we are employing a collective impact model, convening cross-sector leaders to value, resource, and follow the leadership of young women.
The Executive Council for the Young Women’s Initiative is deepening understanding of gender and racial inequities and solutions in Minnesota to catalyze resources, and act within organizations to increase young women on the pathway to STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) jobs, and middle- and high-wage occupations by 20%. Through our practices and policies, we can be part of creating a stronger state for all young women, their families, and their communities. Our state’s future prosperity is interwoven, and Minnesota will benefit when young women pushed to the margins get exactly what they need to thrive.
The Executive Council for the Young Women’s Initiative is committed to leading by example, holding ourselves and our institutions accountable, disrupting the status quo, dismantling barriers, and advocating for gender and racial equity. By listening to and investing in Black, Indigenous, and young women of color and young women experiencing additional disparities, we will drive social change and economic opportunities for young women in Minnesota.
Meet the Executive Council
Gaye Adams Massey
CEO, YWCA St. Paul
Dr. Adriana Alejandro Osorio
Philanthropy Advisor, UNICEF USA
Melanie Benjamin
Chief Executive, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe
Laura Bishop
CEO and Founder, Purpose Strategies LLC
Tish Bolger
CEO, Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valleys
Shelley Buck
Vice President, Prairie Island Indian Community Tribal Council
Kara Carlisle
Vice President of Program, McKnight Foundation
Cathy Chavers
Tribal Chairwoman, Bois Forte Band of Chippewa / President, Minnesota Chippewa Tribe
Dr. Annesa Cheek
President, St. Cloud Technical and Community College
Rebecca Crooks-Stratton
Secretary/Treasurer at Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux
Phillipe Cunningham
Former Minneapolis City Council
Joyce Ester
President, Normandale Community College
Irene Fernando
Hennepin County Commissioner
Joan Gabel
President, University of Minnesota
Steve Grove
Commissioner, DEED, State of Minnesota
Mitra Jalali Nelson
Saint Paul City Council
Dr. Eric Jolly
CEO, St. Paul and Minnesota Foundation
Lorna LaGue
President, White Earth Tribal and Community College
Emily Larson
Mayor of Duluth
Julie Maday
Chief Financial Officer, Independent Pet Partners
Nicole Matthews
Executive Director, Minnesota Indian Women’s Sexual Assault Coalition
Monica Meyer
Former Executive Director, OutFront Minnesota
Representative Rena Moran
Minnesota State Representative for District 65A
JoMarie Morris
Nonprofit Consulting and Immigration Attorney
Wendy Nelson
Chairwoman of the Carlson Family Foundation
Kim Norton
Mayor of Rochester
Dennis Olson
Commissioner, Higher Education, State of Minnesota
Tuleah Palmer
President, Blandin Foundation
Anita Patel
Vice President of Grantmaking, Bush Foundation
Ana M. Pérez de Pérez
Executive Director, discapacitados abriéndose caminos
Paul Pribbenow
President, Augsburg University
Maria Regan Gonzalez
Mayor of Richfield / Systems Director of Equity Initiative for M Health Fairview
Dr. Suzanne Rivera
President, Macalester College
Denise Rutherford
Former Senior Vice President, 3M Corporate Affairs
Sarah Stoesz
President and CEO, Planned Parenthood North Central States
Traci Tapani
Co-President, Wyoming Machine
Senator Patricia Torres Ray
Minnesota State Senator for District 63
Patti Tototzintle
Executive Director, Esperanza United
Dr. Padmini Udupa
Principal, Longfellow Alternative High School
Houston White
Founder, Houston White Men’s Room and Community Leader
Executive Council Pledge
By creating inclusive, equitable workplace policies and culture, Council members are shifting systems from within and directly investing in the success of young women. Through curated trainings, Council members accelerate their learning and share their wisdom and expertise to advance gender and racial equity.
Each Council member agrees to a personal pledge and an action plan for systems change through lived commitments to training, policy evaluation, and investing in young women and gender-expansive youth.
- Actively Listen & Learn
- Shift Systems
- Create Pathways
Executive Council Toolkit
Download our Council resources, guides, reports, and more!