team

executive team 

Leslie Bevan, Executive Director
Leslie is an experienced non-profit executive and previous manager of Mercy Corps Northwest’s Women’s Business Center, a program that helps increase personal and financial empowerment of low-income women. She has a PhD in Human Physiology and has served as the Associate Dean and Director of Research Development for the School of Nursing at Oregon Health & Science University. Leslie was also the Executive Director of Living Yoga, a non-profit organization that brings yoga into prisons and public drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers as a tool for personal change.

development team

Tracy Madsen, Development Consultant
Tracy is a seasoned fundraiser who began her career at age six, when she sold Girl Scout cookies. Tracy has developed and honed her skills with many organizations and causes since. Most recently she was the development director at Alzheimer’s Association, and prior to that she was at the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon Foundation. Tracy has been a volunteer for a wide variety of organizations including her children’s schools, Impact NW, Albertina Kerr, Raphael House, B.U.L.L. Session and American Diabetes Association. Her nonprofit experience includes fund raising, event production and communications.

Rebecca Alexander, Foundation and Corporate Relations Program Manager

Rebecca is a skilled fundraiser with three years of experience soliciting gifts for community-based non-profits. She possesses excellent writing and researching skills. Her previous experience includes grant writing, foundation research, and direct sales. Rebecca is committed to eliminating racism, empowering women, and the self-determination of all people. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in History and American Ethnic Studies from Willamette University.

youth services

Janette Kunkel, Program Manager, Youth Services
Janette has an avid passion for camping and its impact on people of all ages. Janette grew up in a camping culture, working at summer camps and taking her first job out of college as a year-round program director. She has 15 years of experience working with camps in the non-profit sector.  Janette has a Bachelor of Arts from Concordia University-Portland in Elementary Education and a minor in Social Science.

domestic violence services

Patricia Martin, Program Manager, Domestic Violence Services
Patricia started her career at the YWCA as a domestic violence services volunteer and children’s program coordinator leaving behind a lucrative career in retail management to pursue her life long passion of working with and empowering survivors of domestic violence.  Patricia is currently studying to become a life coach to further assist the women and families of the YWCA.

senior services

Carrie Parks, Program Manager, Senior Services
Carrie Parks is a highly knowledgeable social services professional with more than 30 years of experience spanning senior services and mental health services in Oregon and Washington. Her portfolio includes working with refugees, disaster victims, homeless people, military families and veterans. Carrie is excited to be a part of the YWCA team and enthusiastic to meet the needs of seniors in the Gresham (and surrounding) area.

social change

Choya Adkison-Stevens, Program Coordinator, Social Change
Choya has worked with people who are marginalized for over 12 years. Her experiences with systemic inequities inspired her interest in community education and systems level advocacy toward bold goals of social change. She has a BA in American Studies and Family Studies from Marlboro College, and has facilitated social change education with nonprofit organizations, state employees and the broader community.