2024 Annual Meeting Announcements

December 6, 2024

The YWCA Southeastern Massachusetts held its 2024 annual meeting on December 5, 2024 at Waypoint Event Center in New Bedford. Thank you to everyone who attended and supported us throughout 2024. You can view all images from the event in the gallery below.

Annual Report
The 2024 Annual Report can be viewed on our publications page.

New Strategic Plan
Our strategic plan for January 1st, 2025 – December 31st, 2027 was announced and can be viewed here.

Year in Review
Watch our 2024 Year in Review video here

Board Updates

4 of our valued board members will be leaving us. Many thanks to Emily Iskandar (January 1, 2023-December 31, 2024), Leslie Poulin (January 1, 2022-December 31, 2024), Nathalie Conception ( January 1, 2021-December 31, 2024), and Marlene Cerritos-Rivas (January 1, 2023-December 31, 2024). Thank you so much for your dedication, support, and the incredible contributions made during your time on our Board of Directors. We will miss you!

In 2025, we will be welcoming 4 new members to our Board of Directors, Mia Correia, Genesis Galan, Jamie Fortes, and Vivian Smith-Barnes.

Mia Correia, K-12 Curriculum, Data and Assessment Manager for World Languages at New Bedford Public Schools

Mia is a dedicated educator and district administrator with a deep commitment to supporting diverse communities through education. Currently serving as the K-12 Curriculum, Data, and Assessment Manager for World Languages at New Bedford Public Schools, she brings over a decade of experience in fostering inclusive, multicultural learning environments. Mia holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and is passionate about empowering students and educators through curriculum development, professional growth, and great global citizenship. A long-time advocate for equity in education, she actively volunteers on various educational boards and committees, striving to create positive change in her community.

Genesis Galan, Director of Community Impact, PACE

Genesis is the Director of Community Impact at PACE, where she leads the agency’s strategic planning and fosters partnerships to address barriers related to poverty and low income, particularly for marginalized communities. As a first-generation American with roots in the Dominican Republic, Genesis is deeply committed to advocating for racial equity and empowering women of color. Born and raised in New Bedford, MA, Genesis has a personal understanding of the challenges facing underrepresented communities. She is an active volunteer with organizations dedicated to advancing education and social justice, including serving as a tutor at Our Sisters’ School and as a board member for The New Bedford Light. With a background in human services, she holds a double major in English and Psychology from Bridgewater State University and is currently pursuing her Master of Social Work at Boston University. Genesis is passionate about increasing opportunities for all community members, particularly youth and Spanish-speaking individuals, and she is dedicated to fostering a more inclusive and just society.

Jamie Fortes, Realtor and Real Estate Investor

Jamie has over 15 years of experience serving the community where she has both lived and worked. Currently, she is a full-time Realtor and real estate investor, leveraging her extensive background in human services to enhance her real estate career. Jamie’s journey began after she graduated from UMass Dartmouth with a degree in Psychology. Jamie commenced her professional journey in 2007, working in non-profit and state positions, focusing on at-risk youth and their families. Her primary mission has always been to advocate for and support her clients, helping them strengthen their independence, connect with their community, and empower their innate abilities. One of Jamie’s proudest accomplishments includes her role as a Resource Specialist, where she provided community re-entry services for rehabilitated juveniles. Additionally, as a social worker, she empowered young mothers to strive for their greatest potential, inspiring them to build better futures for themselves and their children. Jamie is passionate about the mission of the YWCA and is deeply committed to upholding the organization’s values. She believes in the importance of setting goals and is dedicated to the work required to maintain the YWCA’s standards and impact.

Vivian Smith-Barnes, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Strategy Director, Child and Family Services

Vivian (Queen Viv) is originally from Bronx, New York, raised in Boston, MA. She holds a B.A. in Sociology, minored in Religious Studies, Criminal Justice, and Creative Writing. She also received her master’s degree in counseling & psychology. Queen Viv has mentored young people in the community for over thirty years, served as an In-Home-Therapist for ten, she is a Certified Reiki Master/Teacher and has written 5 books. She has also written, co-produced, and co-directed 6 plays using Hip Hop Culture to promote social justice. Queen Viv is currently on a quest to coach individuals who have a desire to tell their life stories. She is working on her 2nd collaboration book project providing an opportunity for Black men and women to share their stories on various experiences that led to personal growth.
Queen Viv is a Soul Realignment Practitioner and is currently serving as Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategy Director for a well-established behavioral health agency in the Massachusetts area. Queen Viv’s philosophy about healing is rooted in introspection and self-mastery. She says, “We come here to reflect divine love and in doing so we learn that pain is a necessary component of that process. She adds that healing is a personal choice, a journey involving many interconnected pieces and that everyone has the power to heal themselves.” Queen Viv has discovered a way to integrate the healing arts and writing with mental health education to support individuals with everlasting growth and transformation.