Young Women’s Leadership Alliance

The Young Women’s Leadership Alliance (YWLA) is open to any person who identifies as a woman in the greater Richmond region, is between the ages of 25 and 35, and embraces YWCA’s mission to eliminate racism and empower women.

As a women’s leadership program of YWCA Richmond, YWLA seeks to develop, strengthen, and sustain a diverse community of young women who are committed to creating a more equitable Richmond.  YWLA members engage in leadership development, which includes mentorship opportunities, dialogue and learning on topics about racial and gender justice, community building, and advocacy.  Our goal is to inspire the next generation of emerging leaders in greater Richmond to become change agents for equity, opportunity, and justice in our community.

Signature Events

Application

YWLA’s 2023 application is currently closed.

YWLA membership terms are two years, and new members start in July.  Applications for YWLA’s 2024-2025 membership will reopen in mid-January 2024.  In the meantime, if you are interested in learning more about YWLA, please email Nadia Gooray at ngooray@ywcarichmond.org.

Let me know when the YWLA application reopens

Current Members

  • Alyssa Schweck, YWLA President, Richmond Public Schools
  • Kelsey Croston, YWLA Past-President, Richmond Association of Realtors
  • Katie Moody, YWLA Vice-President, PlanRVA
  • Allison Dubinsky, YWLA Secretary, VCU Health
  • Liddy Ballard, Brady
  • Cristelle Brown, Capital Area Partnership Uplifting People, Inc
  • Kaitlin Cottle, Williams Mullen
  • Dedrain (Dede) Dennis, Virginia Commonwealth University
  • Paula Fallas, Lego
  • Ellie Grove, Virtuous
  • Stephany Holguin, WM
  • Rachel Johnson, Wolters Kluwer
  • Cassie Knight, Flaunt Creative
  • Ebony Lambert, Bellwether Education
  • Octavia Marsh, Henrico Area Mental Health and Development Services
  • Maggi Marshall, WTVR-CBS 6 News
  • Sara Messervey, The MARCS Agency
  • Maggie Paynter, Virtuous
  • Hayden Prelaz, Capital One
  • Aaisha Sanaullah, Sands Anderson PC
  • Emily Scott, Shamin Hotels
  • Shannon Shay, AMS
  • Sutisha Simluang, National Domestic Workers Alliance
  • Leah Stiegler, Woods Rogers Vandeventer Black PLC
  • Taylor Venter, Kimley-Horn Associates
  • Whitney Whalen, Hanover Cares
  • Emily Wolfteich, GovExec
  • Emma Zhang, Army
Young womens leadership alliance