Our Board of Directors

Interim Chair

Georgina has been working in the youth violence prevention and reduction field for over 14 years. In her current role as Senior Policing Fellow at Evident Change, she is a member of a Monitoring Team working closely with the California DOJ, the courts, the community, and law enforcement. Her experience in this field ranges from local, national, and international arenas. She worked as a Senior Crime and Violence Advisor for Creative Associates International, based out of Washington, D.C. with an emphasis on juvenile justice reform, violence prevention, and family and community engagement, with an emphasis in the Latin America & Caribbean (LAC) region. Prior to Creative, Georgina had the honor of working as a political appointee in President Obama’s Department of Justice. She served as a Senior Policy Advisor at the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) with a focus on youth violence prevention efforts and reducing and eliminating race and ethnic disparities. Georgina served as the policy lead on the National Forum for Youth Violence Prevention, a White House initiative that brought diverse federal agencies to partner with local jurisdictions that create comprehensive, strategic city-wide plans to prevent and reduce youth violence by implementing prevention, intervention, enforcement, and reentry strategies. Prior to joining OJJDP, she served as the Community Safety Director and Senior Deputy City Attorney/City Prosecutor for the City of Salinas, California. As Community Safety Director, Georgina led the effort to develop and implement a strategic work plan that incorporates evidence-based strategies for gang prevention, intervention, suppression, and re-entry. In October 2011, Georgina was invited by U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to be a member of his National Task Force on Children Exposed to Violence. Ms. McDowell earned her bachelor’s degree in History and Political Science from Santa Clara University and her Juris Doctor from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, California. She is admitted to the California State Bar. Georgina is also a proud mom to two happy, active, and creative toddlers and wife to a wonderful man who recently retired from military service after 23 years. She likes hiking, eating good food with friends and family, and watching Peppa Pig with her kids.

Board Member

Carol Kimbrough is an accomplished professional California Native with diverse expertise. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences and a Master of Arts in Psychology from Chapman University. Carol is an experienced college instructor, academic leader, and clinical supervisor. She is also a licensed psychotherapist and a registered veterinary technician with a special interest in veterinary medicine and the human-animal bond. At Hartnell College, Carol held positions as a tenured full-time psychology instructor, clinical supervisor, and coordinator of the Alcohol and Drug Counseling Program. She also served as the director and instructor of the Veterinary Technology Program. Additionally, she had a private practice as a psychotherapist. Throughout her career, Carol has received various awards and recognitions for her contributions, including the Erica Harden Foundation Teaching Excellence Award and the President's Award for Outstanding Instructional Methods from Hartnell College. In addition to her professional roles, Carol is actively engaged in various boards, committees, and professional memberships, demonstrating her dedication to serving her community and advancing her fields of expertise.

Carol Kimbrough has found that her varied experiences have helped broaden her perspectives as an instructor and a mental health provider. Having encountered many individuals in the counseling room who have experienced significant trauma since childhood, and felt betrayed by those from whom they should have received love and support, Carol is proud to serve on the YWCA Board and to support the work that the YWCA-MC does for the women in the community.

Secretary

Jennifer Wood grew up just outside of Toronto Canada, and after getting her bachelor’s degree at the University of Toronto, went straight into working in the nonprofit world. Before she became a professional, she volunteered at various nonprofits in her hometown and Toronto. She worked at the National Ballet of Canada, World Wildlife Fund, and ultimately at her alma mater as part of a team that raised a record-breaking $1 billion for their comprehensive campaign. Jennifer decided to leave the cold Canadian winters and moved to California in 2000 to lead the annual fund at UC Santa Cruz. From there she went on to become part of the newly created Silicon Valley Community Foundation in Mountain View. She has been in California for 22 years now and has enjoyed working for Montage Health in major gift fundraising for the past 12 years. Jennifer served on the Board of the local Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) for six years, two of them as President. She cares deeply about the impact nonprofits have on their communities and is excited to be part of the YWCA board. Her hobbies include bird watching, hiking, sightseeing, and looking for the perfect chocolate chip cookie.

Treasurer