Meet Ellie – Women’s History Month 2024
Women’s History Month (WHM) was first celebrated on a national level in 1982 as “Women’s History Week.” In 1987, Congress designated the month of March as Women’s History Month and it has been continued through presidential proclamations ever since. Learn more at womenshistorymonth.gov.
This March, we want to celebrate a few of our amazing staff members who are actively creating our history every day!
Meet Ellie!
Ellis is a Mobile Housing Advocate and has been with the agency for over 10 years! She started as a Relief Shelter Advocate, moved into full-time advocacy, and then became one of the first full-time Mobile Housing Advocates!
What first drew you to YWCA Spokane?
I knew nothing about the YWCA, one of my coworkers at the time drew my attention to a job posting for a shelter advocate position and I was excited to learn about the organization and to work with/learn about a new population that I had not worked with in the past!
What do you wish more people knew about YWCA Spokane?
All the different trauma-informed services we offer free of charge!
What is your favorite part of your role?
Connecting with survivors at, often, their most vulnerable and desperate times of need for assistance, guidance, and support. The ultimate reward is when a household secures housing! While we continue to work together there is a lot of processing and growth that can happen once a survivor feels safe in their own space.
Describe your favorite meal.
Anything I don’t have to cook lol Growing up, family dinners were the best, when you get to taste family recipes that have been around for generations. More recently I’ve been inspired to be more explorative and try many of the different restaurants we have!
If you were a cookie, what type would you be?
Maybe an Oreo…but like strawberry shortcake flavored lol OR my favorite, peanut butter chocolate chip!
If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?
To identify natural plants and ingredients in order to heal various ailments. Or how to fly a plane.
What is something you learned in the last week?
That there are certain skills and knowledge that only grow and strengthen with experience, but there are also other skills and knowledge that can always be expanded, reviewed and refined to make them stronger!
What are 3 words to describe YWCA Spokane?
Compassion, empowerment, integrity
Name a show or movie you recently watched and loved.
I’m a big fan of Chicago Fire, The Good Doctor, Naked and Afraid 🙂
If you magically had tomorrow off, what would you do?
Take a nap and get a pedicure!
About Mobile Housing Advocacy
YWCA Spokane’s Mobile Housing Advocates meet clients in the community or at our main office, as needed. They provide assistance to survivors experiencing housing barriers such as homelessness, risk of eviction, unstable housing, and unsafe housing. Our team takes a holistic approach to supporting someone’s ability to stay safely housed. Survivors can connect with a Mobile Housing Advocate through our Monday walk-in hours (9:00am – 11:15am) at our main location (930 N Monroe St).
Learn more about Housing Advocacy >
Read All of Our 2024 Women’s History Month Features
By: Jemma Riedel-Johnson