We Are A Team
Our team is committed to ensuring women and children experiencing homelessness have the tools and resources necessary to achieve their dreams. Please click on staff members’ names to learn more about them and their work with Women’s Empowerment! Need to speak with a staff member but you are not sure who to reach out to? Simply call 916-669-2307 or email support@womens-empowerment.org and someone will help!
Meet Our Staff
Earl Bean’s passion is helping strengthen his community, and he says one of his greatest talents is supporting others as they navigate their life journeys. Having worked at Women’s Empowerment since 2013, Earl has been inspired by the transformations he has witnessed as women graduate from the program. He enjoys ensuring that everyone at the office is safe, and that our program operates smoothly.
When he is not at Women’s Empowerment, Earl loves spending time outdoors fishing, barbequing, visiting parks, and playing dominoes with his friends and family.
Iasia Holmes joined the Women’s Empowerment team in February 2023. She has been working in the real estate and housing industry since 2010 and was a property manager for Affordable, TCAC, and low-income supportive housing from 2016 to 2020. Since 2021, she has worked as a housing specialist in non-profit organizations. Iasia graduated from college in 2009 and worked in the medical field from 2009 to 2017. She has been studying psychology and neuroscience since 2019. Iasia is a certified Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) specialist since 2017 and a licensed real estate agent since 2014. With her adept knowledge of the housing market, compassion, active listening skills, and innovation, she brings valuable contributions to the Women’s Empowerment team.
With over two decades of experience as an Administrative Assistant and HR Coordinator, La Trell brings a wealth of insight to every project she undertakes. Throughout her career, she’s cultivated a deep understanding of organizational dynamics and the importance of fostering a positive work environment.
Beyond La Trell’s professional endeavors, she is deeply passionate about self-care and well-being and firmly believes that prioritizing our own mental and physical health is essential for both personal fulfillment and professional success. This passion extends beyond myself as she actively promotes self-care practices within the workplace, aiming to create a culture of balance and resilience.
In addition to her commitment to self-care, she is dedicated to giving back to the community. Whether through volunteering or simply lending a helping hand, she finds immense fulfillment in contributing to the betterment of society.
Driven by a desire to support others and make a meaningful impact, La Trell approaches every aspect of my work with enthusiasm, integrity, and a commitment to excellence. She is thrilled to continue this journey of growth and service, both professionally and personally.
Melinda (Mindy) Cooper is passionate about children and helping families in need. Mindy has been in the childcare field for nearly 20 years and completed her early childhood development classes at Consumes River College. As the Childcare Coordinator she provides trauma-informed care, facilitates developmental assessments through partnerships with organizations like the Sacramento County Office of Education, and provides individual play plans to help each child reach their developmental milestones. A part of her responsibilities in this role includes; helping our student mothers and their children with their everyday needs. She supplies diapers, wipes, clothes, and toys of all sizes, and colors for the children we serve, and assists with any housing needs such as beds, bedding, and household supplies. Her love for children is the epitome of her life, as she has 5 children of her own, and as an advocate for underserved youth, in 2020 she became a foster mother. Forming rapport with the mothers of the program can be substantially rewarding. The bonds she shares with their children are important to ensure the mothers and their children are comfortable, safe, supported, and healthy while in our care here at Women’s Empowerment.
Rachelle Fernandez was born and raised in Sacramento and from a young age always wanted to help people. After studying fine arts in high school and college, she obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Relations. Rachelle later became an Americorps VISTA member doing a year of service for America. There she began working with countless nonprofits. After spending years with nonprofits, Rachelle wanted to do more to help children and decided to go back to school to study Early Childhood Education. She spent a year working for Women’s Empowerment in the Child Development Center and has now transitioned to an administrative assistant role to better use her skills to help WE.
Sam Maciel started working for Women’s Empowerment in March of 2023. She has her BA in American Studies and an AA in Political Science. She is newer to the Sacramento area after moving from the central valley within the last couple of years. Originally born to immigrant parents she and her siblings are the first gen and are the first to go to college and graduate. Throughout her life and career, she is a person who strives to uplift, support, and encourage people.
She brings with her a background in community outreach and advocacy to WE that originated back when she was a senior in high school. Several of her projects focused on providing resources and education to her community about Mental Health, Domestic Violence, and similar subjects. Sam also served on her school district’s Mental Health Board as the student representative for her high school. At her local community college, she served as her branch’s Active Minds member, providing mental health resources to students, and organizing volunteer events and fundraising drives. One of her favorite projects was working with Send’s Silence Packing and the local news.
When transitioning to Sacramento after college, Sam discovered Women’s Empowerment and connected to their mission statement. She is constantly learning, educating, and expanding her mind. She is excited to be a part of WE and to implement new volunteer opportunities to support and empower the women of Sacramento.
Meet Sigrunn Nydal: Born and raised in Bergen, Norway, Sigrunn embarked on a transformative journey to the US at 19. Since then, she has become a prominent leader in HR and Operations, bringing over 20 years of experience from retail (and nonprofit sectors). Her career highlights include impactful roles at CVS Health, Walmart, and Office Depot, where she honed her skills in business growth, process optimization, and team building.
Outside the professional realm, Sigrunn’s enthusiasm for life shines through. Whether she’s conquering hiking trails, navigating the waters in a kayak, biking with finesse, or enjoying quality time with her spirited puppy, Semillion, and two adorable grandkids.
At Women’s Empowerment, Sigrunn is dedicated to fostering a dynamic and inclusive work culture. Her transparent leadership style, combined with her BA in Communications from San Jose State University and a background in advertising, underscores her commitment to excellence. Whether she’s strategizing in the boardroom or exploring the great outdoors.
With over 20 years of employment and motivation experience, Terri
is dedicated to connecting individuals with meaningful employment opportunities.
As an Employment Specialist, she strives to bridge the gap between employers
and job seekers, leveraging a combination of industry knowledge and networking
skills, and has a passion for helping others succeed. Terri also enjoys the
empowerment side of her position, inspiring individuals to unlock their full
potential, embrace change, and pursue their dreams with confidence. Through
engaging talks and workshops, she empowers souls to overcome obstacles, set
ambitious goals, and take actionable steps towards personal and professional
growth.
In addition to her professional endeavors, Terri founded multiple personal
businesses dedicated to promoting holistic wellness and self-care practices. She
advocates for mental, emotional, and physical well-being, encouraging
individuals to prioritize self-care as a pathway to personal fulfillment and success.
Terri created WE Connect which was a series of workshops created to provide
students and graduates an additional space to connect with the sisterhood of
support. Classes included vision boards, generational wealth building,
entrepreneurship, and book writing, to name a few. Moreover, Terri is deeply
committed to building generational wealth and financial literacy within
communities. She believes in empowering individuals to make informed financial
decisions, invest wisely, and creating a legacy of prosperity for future
generations. With a proven track record of guiding clients through the job search
process, providing tailored career counseling, resume writing assistance,
interview preparation, and job placement services, Terri believes in fostering
long-term relationships with both clients and employers, ensuring that each
placement is a mutually beneficial match. Terri is driven by a commitment to
excellence and a deep understanding of the ever-evolving job market. Whether
it’s navigating career transitions, exploring new opportunities, or overcoming
employment barriers, she is dedicated to empowering individuals to achieve their
professional and personal goals.
Outside of work, she enjoys converting meat dishes into healthier vegan plates,
creating inspiring content for her followers on various social media platforms and
giving back to the community, connecting and partnering with local businesses
and her Glam Squad hosting “GLO UP” tours, which provide prom makeovers for low-income students, treasure-hunting at local thrift stores for classic pieces, and giving back to the community through other volunteer work and mentoring programs.
Tracie joined the team in July 2019. She always felt it was important to serve her community and while living in San Francisco, spent all of her free time volunteering with the homeless community. She found this so rewarding that she decided she wanted to do this full-time and moved to Sacramento in search of a nonprofit that would align with her goals and values. When she found Women’s Empowerment, she knew she found her home. She started out as a volunteer in the WE – Lending Library and as a career mentor. After a short few months volunteering she saw an opportunity for a Social Enterprise Manager and given her management experience and love of working with these women she knew this would be the perfect fit. She applied and got the position, and now has the privilege of working with WE graduates to help create the Get a Job Kit, a social enterprise that helps job seekers across the country find employment. Tracie served as the Social Enterprise Manager for four years before stepping into her current role as Program Director.
Yevette has dedicated her life to making an impact for unhoused families through social service. Born and raised in Vallejo, California, Yevette studied Early Childhood Education at Solano Community College. Since 2004, Yevette has been on a mission to uplift and support underserved communities, starting her career by providing essential assistance to homeless women and children at Loaves and Fishes. She also worked as an on-site residential property manager for Volunteers of America, ensuring stable housing for homeless families, and later as shelter support staff at First Steps Communities.