Coentro Appointed Programs VP
Posted by Sylvia Ferrell-Jones on Wed, Dec 14, 2011 @ 03:23 PM
BOSTON- YWCA Boston announced today the appointment of Yolanda Coentro as Vice President for Programs. Serving on the senior management team, Coentro will oversee the successful implementation of the organization’s expanded program mix and strategic plan.
“We are not your mother’s YWCA,” says YW Boston President & CEO Sylvia Ferrell-Jones, “And Yolanda is not your everyday program leader. With a plan to systemically improve racial, gender and social disparities in public education, public health and public safety, we needed a seasoned executive, like Yolanda, with proven leadership in these areas. We are delighted to have someone of her caliber and commitment join our senior team.
”Coentro was most recently a program director with the Home for Little Wanderers where she oversaw its largest program area, more than 80 staff and a budget of $4.7 million. An LICSW, Coentro serves on the statewide health disparities council for children’s behavioral health, has overseen the development of program measurement and evaluation efforts, and has served as a consulting clinician to Carney Hospital and Boston Medical Center. She is a certified trainer in violence prevention and coalition building and is an alum of Boston University’s Non-Profit Management and Leadership Program for which she now serves as an advisor and mentor.
Previously, Coentro staffed Cutting EJ, a Somerville-based economic justice and anti-racism organization. She holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Boston College.
America’s first YWCA, YW Boston is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. In the next three years, YWCA Boston will incrementally and measurably reduce systemic racial and gender disparities and improve social cohesion in Boston neighborhoods where health, educational and safety inequities are most significant. In recent years, the organization acquired the Boston Center for Community and Justice’s well-regarded LeadBoston and Youth Leadership Initiative programs and youth and adult dialogues programs from City Wide Dialogues on Boston’s Ethnic and Racial Diversity. Those programs join the YW’s long-running, evidence-based women’s and girl’s health literacy programs.
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