Podcast appearances and mentions of Alejandra Y Castillo

On this episode of the Maddy Report Valley Views Edition, Mark Keppler is joined by Ashley Swearengin, Executive Director - Central Valley Community Foundation and Lee Ann Eager, President - Fresno County Economic Development Corporation. He is also joined by Alejandra Y. Castillo, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development - U.S. Department of Commerce.

Alejandra Y. Castillo, former CEO of the YWCA USA, noted public leader, and alumna of the CHCI Public Policy Fellowship, shares powerful lessons of compassion learned from her Dominican American upbringing in Queens, her life-long passion for learning and advocacy on behalf of women and people of color, her thoughts on business and economic development for Latinos, and how her perspective as an Afro-Latina has inspired her vision for a more just and equitable future in a multiracial American democracy.

Catcalls of NYC is a grassroots initiative that uses public chalk art to raise awareness about gender-based street harassment. In this episode, host Alejandra Y. Castillo chats with founder of the movement, Sophie Sandberg, discusses the origins of the movement, the art of chalking, feminism, and taking the conversation about harassment internationally. The goal? To spur dialogue, provide a platform for story sharing, and promote cultural change. Follow CatCalls of NYC Instagram @catcallsofnyc to read powerful stories from brave individuals and to learn how to start a CatCalls movement in your city.

The Allstate Foundation's Moving Ahead Curriculum has made significant strides to serve survivors of GBV who need support when it comes to financial empowerment. In this special edition episode of Organize Your Butterflies, Host Alejandra Y. Castillo, CEO, YWCA USA chats with Madeline Gregory, Philanthropy Manager, the Allstate Foundation and Linda Ellis-Williams, Director of Programs, YWCA Central Virginia, on how this program is providing clear and measured results for survivors who so desperately need it during the most vulnerable moments in their lives. For more information on the Allstate Foundation's curriculum, check it out at https://allstatefoundation.org/what-we-do/end-domestic-violence/resources/. And be sure to follow along with YWCA Central Virginia's programming at https://www.ywcacva.org/what-we-are-doing/dvpp/!

Join expert guest, Dr. Joelle Simpson, Medical Director of Emergency Preparedness, Program Director of Emergency Medical Services for Children - D.C. Program, and Emergency Medicine Physician at Children's National Hospital, and host, Alejandra Y. Castillo, CEO of YWCA USA, as they explore how COVID-19 is affecting children, this back-to-school season, and communities of color. Listen in as the two discuss: how the virus displays in children; paying special attention to a child’s mental health during this particularly isolating time; how to be a responsible partner in your community; and how the virus is disproportionately impacting communities of color. Dr. Simpson also talks about her passion for healthcare, and her advice for aspiring women of color looking to break into the medical profession. For more information on Dr. Simpson, visit https://childrensnational.org/visit/find-a-provider/joelle-simpson and be sure to check out Children's National Hospital for more information on how they're keeping their community - and country - healthy through ground-breaking research, patient care, and partnering with their neighbors.

If we are to ever achieve a world where justice...just is, it’s essential that we start with the top of our justice system: the courtrooms themselves. And, a major barrier to justice within the court-system is the actual representation of judges on the bench. Join Russell Feingold, President of the American Constitution Society and former Senator of Wisconsin, and Alejandra Y. Castillo, CEO of YWCA USA, as they discuss the importance of law-accessibility, creating a pipeline for more diverse judges through law school recruitment, and the movement to reclaim the legal system for all people. For more information on the ACS, check out https://www.acslaw.org/, and be sure to follow Russell on Twitter @russfeingold!

The CEO of YWCA USA is continuing her organization’s 162 year legacy of being at the forefront of positive change. With a mission of eliminating racism and empowering women, the Y has met the challenges of the pandemic by providing childcare for health care workers, expanding its work with survivors of domestic violence and carrying on the Y tradition of constant innovation. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

This episode of Organize Your butterflies features a vibrant and educational conversation between Alejandra Y. Castillo, CEO, YWCA USA and Tiffany "The Budgetnista" Aliche. Tiffany is an expert financial educator and has helped thousands of women understand their finances, build wealth, and understand the fundamentals of financial wellness. In honor of Black Women's Equal Pay Day, we're grateful to have Tiffany's insight on The Black Tax and why it is harder for Back women to achieve financial equity. For more information on Tiffany, be sure to follow her @TheBudgetnista on all platforms, and check out her new book "Happy Birthday Mali More"!  

Balancing the demands of motherhood has never been easy. This is especially evident as moms and mom-like figures perform the ultimate balancing act during the COVID-19 crisis. America is witnessing the power of parenthood as women take control of their households to keep their families and communities safe. However, moms need resources and love too! Which is why Tanisha Hemphill founded “Black Mom Resource” as an online hub of advice, sisterhood, and celebration of the Black mom experience. Tanisha and Alejandra Y. Castillo, CEO, YWCA USA discuss the ways in which COVID-19 has presented extra challenges during this time and what moms can do to support and uplift one-another. Visit https://www.blackmomresource.com/ for more information and check out Tanisha's website https://www.tanishahemphill.com/!

This episode of Organize Your Butterflies explores how COVID-19 has affected low income communities across the country, and the ways in which community investment though (Community Development Financial Institutions) CDFIs is helping provide support during these challenging economic times. With their distinct niche as financial institutions with a mission driven bottom-line, CDFIs do so much more than just provide access to capital. Episode guest Maurice Jones, President of Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) chats with Alejandra Y. Castillo, CEO of YWCA USA about these important institutions, the significance of community investment, and the future of rebuilding commercial spaces in places where they’ve been historically overlooked. For more information on how LISC is helping out, be sure to check out their website and follow Maurice on Twitter @LISCMaurice!

This episode of Organize Your Butterflies features an exciting and refreshing conversation between Bryanna Wallace and Autumn Gupta, who are the founders of Justice in June, a digital compilation of resources making allyship a lifestyle habit, and Alejandra Y. Castillo, CEO of YWCA. As the world shifts to normalizing conversations surrounding anti-racism work and what allyship in practice looks like, Bryanna and Autumn have developed a platform in which individuals can take responsibility for learning ways to be intentional allies within this practice. The former college roommates and best-friends have been outspoken activists on social media and are leading the way for digital organizing and generational change. For more information on how to be a proactive ally, check out JusticeInJune.org And, be sure to follow them both on Instagram @autumngupta and @brybry1217! As we continue our conversation on allyship, YWCA USA recognizes the collective power of our national network of local associations committed to anti-racism work on the ground. YWCA Olympia, which practices a shared leadership model with Hillary Detamore, Chief Executive Officer at The Helm, made this commitment to centering racial justice work six years ago and hasn’t looked back since. As this episode’s spotlight, we are so proud of how they are challenging their local community of Olympia to think critically about racial disparities. For more information visit https://www.ywcaofolympia.org/.

This episode of Organize Your Butterflies features a dynamic conversation between Nikki Mitre, Acting Director Executive Director, Center for Native American Youth at the Aspen Institute, and Alejandra Y. Castillo, CEO, YWCA. The historical milestones of Native American women have shaped America’s history. Today, they continue to make strides - despite the challenging environment of this nation - especially within the global pandemic. Young women from tribes across the country have come together to use their collective power and influence to work on behalf of their communities. In Nikki’s role at the Center for Native American Youth, she is responsible for spearheading initiatives to promote leadership within the Native American population’s youth. Be sure to listen to find out how Native Youth are responding to COVID-19, recommitments to the outdoors, and leaning into culture and intergenerational strength. For more information on Nikki, be sure to check her out at https://www.cnay.org/bios/nikki-pitre/!

This episode of Organize Your Butterflies features a vibrant and thought provoking conversation between Alejandra Y. Castillo, CEO, YWCA and Peggy Nagae, Senior Consultant at White Men as Full Diversity Partners and the co-chair of the Diversity Task Force for the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association. Topics discussed include: the profound legacy of the AAPI community in the United States, the significance of COVID-19 and exclusionary narratives centered in racism, and how women’s leadership styles are the most successful in times of crisis. Together we can build a better, more just, and fair world! For more information on Peggy and her work, check out wmfdp.com.

Join Nisha Patel, who is an Independent Consultant working with individual donors and community foundations on the philanthropic side, and has an affiliation as a Senior Fellow at the Social Policy Institute at Washington University in St. Louis and Alejandra Y. Castillo, CEO of YWCA USA as they discuss the massive impact that COVID-19 is having on the nonprofit sector, and what the response, recovery, and re-imagination of the sector looks like as we begin to re-open. They also discuss the ways in which philanthropy is building new paradigms, the importance of trust building within philanthropy, and how reimagining what the philanthropic sector looks like is the only option forward. To learn more about Nisha and her philanthropic endeavors, check out her website: nishapatel.org!

Congresswoman Veronica Escobar is a woman of firsts - she was one of the first Latina Congresswoman to serve in the U.S. Senate, serving the 16th district of Texas, and she is the first Congresswoman to be on Organize Your Butterflies. In this conversation with Alejandra Y. Castillo, CEO of YWCA USA, they discuss the ways in which hatred has permeated America, how this country is having a reckoning moment when it comes to race, and the importance of accurate representation of justice-oriented values. Further, we are pleased to release this episode on Mom's Equal Pay Day and highlight the pay-gap women experience in the workforce. Together in shared values, Congresswoman Escobar and YWCA are working to create a more just world. For more information on Congresswoman Escobar, follow her on Twitter @RepEscobar!

Join Alejandra Y. Castillo, CEO, YWCA USA and Dr. Annice E. Fisher, CEO and founder of The BEE FREE Woman and Developing Capacity Coaching, LLC in this lively conversation where they discuss tapping into the power of your full potential, following the calling of your spirit, and operating from a place of love and trust. Additionally, they discuss Annice’s new book, “The Power Within Me: The Road Back Home to the Real You,” and how she worked through the writing process from start to finish as she overcame obstacles to deliver the best version of herself possible. You can read more about Annice and “The Power Within Me” by visiting her website found here, and for even more inspiration, following her on Twitter!

As small-business owners continue to weather the coronavirus pandemic, many innovators are creating unique strategies to survive in this current economic environment. Nima Merchant is the Sr. Associate Director of Strategic Planning and Partnerships at the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Chicago, and this episode’s guest. Nima and OYB host Alejandra Y. Castillo discusses how the Polsky Center is engaging the greater Chicago community throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, how businesses can remain sustainable, and forge strategic partnerships to weather this health. Click here to follow along with the happenings at the Polsky Center as they continue to be hub and beacon for the Chicago entrepreneurial community!

Proclaimed as “an architect of great ideas” by host and YWCA USA CEO, Alejandra Y. Castillo, Melissa Bradley, co-founder of Ureeka – a platform designed to grow small businesses by providing unprecedented access to a collaborative community and other resources, joins us as our featured guest on this week’s episode of Organize Your Butterflies. As small businesses work to restructure and remain sustainable during and after COVID-19, Melissa is working hard to ensure that communities can be served at scale now and for many years to come! You can follow Melissa’s journey on Twitter @bradleyml and Ureeka @ureekacommunity. This week’s spotlight is on YWCA Delaware! CEO Stephanie Staats discusses all the ways YWCA Delaware is staying active in their community and working to improve the resources available to women and family in this small but mighty state. Make sure to follow along on Twitter and Instagram. 

Dr. Ariana Curtis is the first-ever Curator of the Latinx Studies program at the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture and this episode’s guest on our Stand Against Racism mini-series for Organize Your Butterflies. Dr. Curtis and host Alejandra Y. Castillo, YWCA USA CEO, chat about Dr. Curtis’ role centering the Afro-Latinx experience in her collections, what Afro-Latinx representation looks like in the historically white museum community, and finding new ways to make museum collections accessible – especially in this new era of social distancing. To find out more about Ariana’s work and current projects, be sure to follow her on Twitter and Instagram!

On this episode of “Organize Your Butterflies,” take a trip to America's heartland with this week's guest, Mayor of Topeka, Michelle de la Isla. In conversation with YWCA USA CEO Alejandra Y. Castillo, the two cover topics such as the importance of rural communities, civic engagement at the local level, and the Mayor's campaign to represent the 2nd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. This week's spotlight is on YWCA Northeast Kansas where they are led by CEO Kathleen Marker and are working to change the way that survivors of gender-based violence access care in their community.

Stop waiting on your life to begin! Episode 34 of Organize Your Butterflies focuses on how women can excel in shaping their futures now rather than later. Host Alejandra Y. Castillo is joined by Cecilia Muñoz, the VP of Public Interest Technology and Local Initiatives at New America and the Author of the forthcoming book, “More than Ready: Be Strong and Be You…and other lessons for women of color on the rise.” They discuss how women of color often are not perceived as “ready” in the eyes of mainstream America, and how this misconception often leads to compensating by working really hard, as well as other strategies to cope with internal self-doubt. Join them as they gear up for the excellent moment of now! For more insight and how to purchase “More than Ready”, follow Cecilia on Twitter @cecmunoz. This episode’s spotlight is on YWCA Greenwich, where they are led by CEO Mary Lee Kiernan. At YWCA Greenwich, they are part of the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence and approaching the topic of gender with humility, respect, and inclusivity, no matter where someone is at in their journey. Follow along with their journey on Twitter @YWCA_Greenwich.

Due to the speed of innovation, business industries are constantly changing. To keep up, smart entrepreneurs need to understand how efficient internal operations should be aligned with up-to-date data and research. LaKisha Greenwade, the Founder and CEO of Wearable Tech Ventures, gives key advice about how impact data helps to grow businesses of all sizes and leads to financial success. During this vibrant conversation between host Alejandra Y. Castillo, YWCA USA CEO and LaKisha chat about how data keeps businesses relevant and informed, as well as what the landscape for wearable technologies looks like in the future.

Growing up in a low-income community in Hartford, CT, this week’s Organize Your Butterflies guest was inspired to build a better future for her community locally and nationally. Today, Virginia Kase is the CEO of the League of Women Voters, and believes that growing up without resources has taught her to work creatively to find solutions. In this discussion, Host Alejandra Y. Castillo and Virginia delve into how the past 100 years of women’s work has been a down-payment on the future, and how important it is that every person (regardless of background) has the ability, the right, and the opportunity to participate in the shaping of this country. Episode 30’s Spotlight is on YWCA Northern New Jersey (formerly, YWCA Bergen County), where they are fearlessly led by CEO Helen Archontou. Helen has worked tirelessly to ensure that the needs of the greater community are recognized and encompassed with this name change. At YWCA Northern New Jersey, they know that consistency is the best way to achieve the “synergy of greatness” and strive to accomplish this every day. For her hard work, Helen has been named as one of New Jersey’s Most Powerful Women on Senator Loretta Weinberg’s 2019 Women Power List. Congratulations Helen! For more on YWCA Northern NJ, follow along on Twitter @ywcannj and follow Helen @ywcannj_ceo!

Join YWCA USA CEO Alejandra Y. Castillo and Carolyn Flowers, a long-serving YWCA World Service Council member, in this episode of Organize Your Butterflies. Listen as they discuss the importance of giving back to both local and global communities. This episode’s Association spotlight features YWCA Berkeley/Oakland. Executive Director Jenny DeRuntz chats with YWCA USA Communications Associate Sophia Clarke on the association’s long standing relationship with the University of California, Berkeley, and how they are working with college students to mobilize their community through voluntarism and mentorship.

In this episode of “Organize Your Butterflies,” YWCA USA CEO Alejandra Y. Castillo chats with Celinda Lake, CEO, Lake Research Partners, and Catherine Beane, Vice President of Public Policy and Advocacy, YWCA USA about the YWomenVote survey findings and implications for the 2020 election. They discuss the importance of data driven knowledge leading into the 2020 election cycle, trends on the macro landscape such as prioritizing issues for women such as: climate change, gun violence and mass shootings, and gender-based discrimination. YWomenVote is a national survey of women in the United States that explores their economic, health, gender-based violence, workplace equity, and racial justice concerns and priorities.  YWomenVote frames a clear women’s agenda for the next Congress and presidential administration and will guide YWCA’s largest-ever civic engagement initiative to deliver on women’s enthusiasm for change. For more information, be sure to follow Celinda Lake on Twitter @celindalake and Catherine Beane @CathVBeane! YWCA Greater Miami-Dade is spotlighted on this episode of Organize Your Butterflies. Alejandra chats with YWCA Greater Miami-Dade CEO Kerry Ann Royes. They discuss how YWCA Greater Miami-Dade is investing in the lives of the women and girls that they serve and how she works to ensure that their business model is positioned for long-term sustainability and accessibility. For those looking to get involved, there is always an opportunity to donate your time, talent, or treasure! To stay in the loop on all things YWCA Greater Miami-Dade be sure to follow them on Twitter @YWCAMIAMI. For more updates on all YWCA happenings, follow @YWCAUSA on all social media platforms!

In the latest episode of “Organize Your Butterflies,” YWCA USA CEO Alejandra Y. Castillo chats with Cecile Richards, a co-founder of Supermajority, a New York Times bestselling author for her book Make Trouble, and the former President of Planned Parenthood Federation of America and Planned Parenthood Action Fund. Cecile began her career as a labor organizer prior to starting her own grassroots organization and later served as Deputy Chief of Staff to House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi. In 2011 and 2012, she was named one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World. She is a frequent speaker and commentator on politics and progressive issues. She and her husband, Kirk Adams, have three children and live in New York City and Maine. Richards discusses how her parents inspired her to pursue a life of service to and on behalf of others and how Supermajority came to fruition to be a movement where women can mobilize on the moment and take-action on important issues. Additional topics include how there is a commonality among women across the United States, how women are supporting women, and what taking action in communities actually looks like in practice. For more information, please visit supermajority.com and follow them on Twitter @supermajority and Instagram @supermajority, and follow Cecile on Twitter @CecileRichards and on Instagram @cecilerichards. YWCA Hartford Region is spotlighted on this episode of Organize Your Butterflies. Alejandra chats with YWCA Hartford Region CEO Adrienne Cochrane on the great work that they’re doing to provide resources for their community, and all the ways that you can help support!  To stay up to date on what’s happening at YWCA Hartford Region, be sure to follow them on Instagram @ywcahartford. For more updates on all YWCA happenings, follow us on Twitter @YWCAUSA and on Instagram @ywcausa!

Racial justice education on a macro-level requires grappling with questions such as “what is racism” and “why is racism so difficult to eradicate?” In this candid and reflective conversation, Organize Your Butterflies host, Alejandra Y. Castillo, and Donte Hilliard, Director of Mission Impact at YWCA USA and President of the newly launched YWCA University, discuss Hilliard’s calling to the nonprofit sector, YWCA’s work to eliminate racism, and their focus on intersectionality long before it was trendy, as well as how YWCA invests in people who do the work required to bring justice and equality to all women, girls, and people of color.

This episode of Organize Your Butterflies features a conversation between YWCA USA CEO Alejandra Y. Castillo and Lizette Williams, Head of Cultural Engagement and Experiences, McDonald’s USA. The discussion centers on the launch of the YWCA Women’s Empowerment Program powered by McDonald’s Black and Positively Golden movement. This exciting venture is designed to help women of color overcome barriers to starting, growing, and sustaining businesses while providing them with educational tools to increase their knowledge and confidence as entrepreneurs. These programs will be held at select YWCA Associations throughout the country. YWCA South Hampton Roads is this episode’s featured spotlight, and Alejandra talks with CEO Dr. Mary Kate Andris about the excellent work that they do to assist survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Of particular note is a shout out to the Norfolk Family Justice Center and how YWCA South Hampton Roads is providing free emergency counseling to survivors as a resource within this exceptional facility.

We talk this week with Emma Akpan about how certain Black religious institutions expect Black women to conform to white supremacist ideals -- especially when it comes to sexuality, motherhood and family structures. She explores it in her recent essay, "I’ve Lost Faith in the Way the Black Church Polices Women’s Bodies." And October 14-18 was the YWCA's Week Without Violence -- part of a global movement within the organization to end gender-based violence. YWCA CEO Alejandra Y. Castillo joins us to explain that work.

This episode of Organize Your Butterflies is hosted by Alejandra Y. Castillo and features special expert guests Rob Valente and Dorian Karp. Rob and Dorian have built careers helping women, advocating for gun safety legislation, and working to end domestic violence. In this episode, they discuss the linkages between domestic violence and gun ownership, commonsense gun laws, and what resources are available to keep women safe and survivors healing. YWCA Pierce County and CEO Miriam Barnett is this episode’s featured spotlight. Barnett discusses the importance of beauty within the healing process, and how YWCA Pierce County provides idyllic settings for survivors to heal.

This episode of Organize Your Butterflies is hosted by YWCA CEO Alejandra Y. Castillo and features expert guest Kiersten Stewart. The episode explores the in-depth ways that survivors of domestic and sexual violence can heal after trauma, and what trauma informed care looks like in practice. In this candid conversation, Castillo and Steward discuss the importance of trauma-based care at many levels and how to support someone who has disclosed that they are a survivor.

This episode of Organize Your Butterflies is hosted by YWCA CEO Alejandra Y. Castillo and features expert guest Kim Pentico discussing the realities of economic abuse, and how this often “invisible” abuse method is so prominent domestic violence cases. The podcast discusses how to identify economic abuse, what to do if you are in an economically abusive situation, and resources for survivors. YWCA Evanston/North Shore and Financial Education Specialist Fabiola Alfonso is this episode’s featured spotlight. Alfonso discusses the unique challenges that survivors of economic abuse feature, and how YWCA Evanston/North Shore is making it possible for these women to learn and grow both their knowledge and wallets.

This introductory special episode of Organize Your Butterflies features YWCA CEO Alejandra Y. Castillo and expert guest Rosie Hidalgo discussing the realities of domestic violence and its deep entrenchment in American society. Rosie’s experience as a member of, and years of working within the Latin community, provides a deeper lens into the culture of machismo and how it is intrinsic to Domestic Violence. This episode explores the dangers of victim shaming, and the benefits of peer education and community activism. YWCA Utah and CEO Anne Burkholder is this episodes featured spotlight. Burkholder discusses the YWCA Utah “campus” and how it provides a comprehensive place for survivors to seek safety and access essential resources after trauma.

This episode of Organize Your Butterflies features a conversation between YWCA USA CEO Alejandra Y. Castillo and Melanie Campbell, President and CEO of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation and convener of the Black Women’s Roundtable Public Policy Network. Discussion topics include the role of Black women in the 2020 election, forming coalitions between different groups of marginalized women, and what inspires her as a leader to keep on advocating for change. YWCA of Central Alabama is this episode’s featured spotlight, and Alejandra talks with CEO Dr. LaRhonda Magras on her first 30 days in this position, what motivates her, and what she’s looking forward to as she begins her role leading this distinct association for women and girls. Dr. Magras joins YWCA of Central Alabama from sister association YWCA Nashville and Middle Tennessee where she served as the Senior Vice President of Program Operations.

In this week’s episode of “Organize Your Butterflies,” YWCA USA CEO Alejandra Y. Castillo sits down with Shan Foster, Vice President of External Affairs and AMEND Together at YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee. In this episode, they discuss the AMEND Together conference held in Nashville earlier this week. This was the first national conference on violence against women and healthy masculinity, hosted by YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee with support from YWCA USA. They also take a look at ways to engage men and boys to change the culture that supports violence.

In the latest episode of “Organize Your Butterflies,” YWCA USA CEO Alejandra Y. Castillo sits down with Erin Vilardi, Founder and Director of VoteRunLead. In this episode, released in conjunction with VoteRunLead’s fifth anniversary celebration, they discuss the untapped potential of women and how VoteRunLead provides the tools and motivation for potential political candidates to step up and lead their communities. They also look ahead to 2020, discuss potential candidates and alumnae, and five ways that men too can support the movement. 

This week we continue our special series on women’s entrepreneurship. YWCA USA CEO Alejandra Y. Castillo is joined by Donielle Eldridge, Founder and CEO of Her Momentum. They discuss finding the right partners to spur collaboration for revenue growth. This episode will also help listeners execute their mission and develop a pathway to long-term profits by learning about resource partners in various industries. Donielle found that throughout her career she would look around the room to see if the leaders looked like her, and the answer was usually no. As a woman of color in the historically male-dominated field of consulting, this was no surprise. Like most professional women of color she learned to progress in spite of the status quo. But, after years of climbing the corporate ladder and experiencing the challenges of intersectionality, she eventually decided it was time to disrupt the status quo and launch Her Momentum. With a mission to cultivate a career brand for women of color to shape their own narratives, create opportunity, celebrate excellence, and leverage their collective power. www.hermomentum.com

In the latest episode of “Organize Your Butterflies,” YWCA USA CEO Alejandra Y. Castillo sits down with Mari Carmen Aponte, a public servant, lawyer, former Ambassador, mentor, and humanitarian. They discuss trust, respect, empathy, the value of inclusion, and much more. YWCA USA CEO Alejandra Y. Castillo sits down with Debbie Pope, President and CEO of YWCA Boulder County, as well to talk about the grant that YWCA received from Google to support girls in STEM E3. YWCA’s STEM E3 (Education, Employment and Entrepreneurship) program works with young women and girls in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). YWCA STEM E3 curriculum helps young women and girls of color build the confidence and skills required for future careers in computer science and artificial intelligence.

YWCA USA CEO Alejandra Y. Castillo sits down for an engaging conversation with Mónica Ramirez, who is the Gender Justice Campaigns Director for the National Domestic Workers Alliance and President of Justice for Migrant Women. During this interview, they discuss the fight to end gender-based violence and promote gender justice. Mónica shares her story and legacy as the daughter and granddaughter or migrant farmworkers, who taught her that every person has value and is important. She shares her determination to uplift communities and build power, how she ended up creating her dream job, and her belief that by focusing on what is right … we can build the world of our dreams.

On today’s episode, our guest is Alejandra Y. Castillo, who has over two decades of experiences working on behalf of communities of color and women in particular. This bold New Yorker is the (CEO) of the YWCA USA, which is one of the "oldest and largest multicultural organizations promoting solutions to enhance the lives of women, girls and families. Alejandra Y. Castillo has an impressive background. She has worked for two US presidents, five presidential campaigns and has received numerous awards and recognition including being named one of the “Top 100 Influential Latinos in the U.S.” During our conversation, we talk about her unconventional journey into motherhood, her commitment to empowering our communities and her love of flamingo dancing.  For more information about Alejandra, go to reachmama.com.   

Alejandra Y. Castillo, national director of the Minority Business Development Agency at the U.S. Department of Commerce, examines whether or not the United States will continue to be globally competitive in an ever-changing economic and technological landscape.