YWCA Monterey County Staff

In an effort to provide the most effective team to implement our mission, we have chosen these YWCA Monterey County staff members.

Administrative

Christine Duncan, Chief Executive Officer

Christine has been involved with the YWCA movement for most of her life. Growing up in Scotland, she attended classes at her local YWCA. For some five years she was CEO of the YWCA Elmira in upstate New York. After this she worked in drug and alcohol services in Scotland and wrote the national policy Family Inclusive Practice for supporting families impacted by substance abuse. Christine draws heavily on her clinical skills gained during her MSW studies in Syracuse, New York. For the past eleven years, Christine has been a member of YWCA World Services Council and represented the YWCA on an overseas visit. She is delighted to be back in California near her daughter and friends. She is particularly keen to get to know more about both Salinas and Monterey County. She is accepting invitations from anyone interested in hearing about the amazing work of YWCA Monterey County staff.

August Rivera, Development Director

Outreach, Prevention, Policy, and Advocacy

Zusett Godinez, Intake Specialist

Zusett recently joined YWCA of Monterey County in February 2021 as our Intake Specialist. She is a first-generation college graduate from California State University, Monterey Bay.  She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Human Development and Family studies. Zusett comes from an immigrant family and upon her move to Salinas, she knew that she wanted to give back to the community. She enjoys working with families and children. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, being outside in nature, and likes to travel.

Evelyn Tapia, YEA Facilitator

Evelyn Tapia is a first-generation alumna from UC Santa Cruz. She recently graduated with a BA in Sociology. Evelyn now serves as the YEA facilitator at the YWCA of Monterey County. Before joining the YWCA, she spent time in the education sector tutoring and mentoring low-income and at-risk youth. She has taken part in research focusing on the effects of living in a mixed-status household. Most recently she has researched the negative health and financial consequences of COVID-19 amongst the agricultural population in Salinas, CA. During her free time, she enjoys spending time outdoors, dipping into a new set of radical books.

Legal Advocacy Staff

Socorro Ruiz, Legal Advocacy Case Manager

Domestic Violence Shelter Services Staff

Jayme Luna, Interim Shelter Services Manager

Jayme Luna is an Alumna of California State University, Monterey Bay with a Master’s of Social Work and a bachelor’s in psychology, and a minor in social work. She has previous experience providing case management to individuals who have been displaced and assisting children needing learning assistance as a program manager at a learning center. Jayme was an MSW intern who provided therapeutic services to children, teens, and adults in the counseling department before being hired. She provides therapy in the clinical department as an Associate Social Worker and is part of the Domestic Violence Response Team.

Veronica Ramirez, Interim Shelter Services Manager

Veronica is a first-generation alumna from Cal State University, Monterey Bay with a degree in Collaborative Health and Human Services with a concentration in Social Work and is a current Master of Social Work student at CSUMB. Veronica joined our team as an intern with the YWCA MC’s counseling department providing therapy services to victims of domestic violence before taking on her role as the Lead Domestic Violence Advocate at the confidential Domestic Violence Shelter Program. She enjoys working with families and children in her community. On her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends.

Elaine McCleaf, Multi-Agency Coordinator

Elaine was born and raised in Pennsylvania, and received her Bachelor of Arts in Social Work, from Millersville University, Millersville, Pa. She started her social work career as a juvenile counselor at Children’s Home of York, and then as a CPS worker for York County Children and Youth Services. Subsequently moved to San Diego and worked as a caseworker for San Diego Regional Center and moved on to Oceanside Police Department as an investigative assistant and performed child abuse forensic interviews. Elaine obtained her Juris Doctorate degree from the University evening division while working at Oceanside PD. Her first attorney position was with the Imperial County District Attorney’s and she came to the Monterey District Attorney’s Office in 1994 where she was in the Domestic Violence Unit from October 1995 – January 2016, Child & Adult Sexual Assault Unit from 2016-2021, Animal Cruelty Prosecutor 2029-2-21. Throughout her career, she has worked closely with the DA’s Victim of Crime Unit, community advocacy agencies, the probation department, and local law enforcement. Regularly trained police officers, probation officers, 911 dispatchers, victim advocates, social workers, and medical and educational personnel on the topic of domestic violence. Elaine lives in PG with her two dogs Ella & Annie, her daughter lives in San Diego and her two stepsons live in Monterey. After 30 years as a prosecutor, she looks forward to becoming a member of the YWCA’s staff and once again trying to improve the lives of DV survivors in the Monterey County community.

Lupe Birruete, Domestic Violence Advocate

Lifelong resident of Monterey County with a BA in Criminology with a Minor in Social Welfare. Lupe has worked as an advocate for children and adults with the challenge of domestic violence for 17 years. Lupe is also a Transdisciplinary Infant Family and Early Childhood Mental Health Practitioner, endorsed by the California Center for Infant-Family and Early Childhood Mental Health.

Beatriz Martinez, PT DV Advocate (Housing Department)

Hello, my name is Beatriz Martinez. I graduated from UC Merced in 2020 with a bachelor’s in Psychology. I began working for the YWCA immediately after my graduation. I was born and raised in Salinas, CA. I attended North Salinas High School, where I completed over 200 hours of community service. Giving back made me realize this is something I wanted to keep doing as a career. I feel passionate about empowering and helping others. Working at the YWCA allows me to use my interpersonal skills to answer crisis calls and meet the needs of clients at the shelter. In my free time, I like to hike, bake and spend time with my family.

Marie Gallegos, PT DV Advocate (Housing Department)

Marie is a lifelong resident of Monterey county. She has previous experience in the medical field as a medical assistant and has a passion for helping others in need. She is currently pursuing her degree in nursing and has enjoyed growing and learning with the YWCA.

Mental Health Counseling Services

Ana Vazquez, Clinical Supervisor, LMFT

Ana is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. As the Direct Services Manager Ana oversees the programs that deal directly with clients, supporting victims of domestic violence, human trafficking, and other crimes. She works with children, adults, couples, and families. Ana received her Masters in counselling psychology with a focus on mental health and counseling skills to work with the Latino/Hispanic community from John F. Kennedy University.  Having been with the YWCA Monterey County for over 10 years, she has become recognized as a key figure in local human service delivery.

Angelica Zamora, AFT, Therapist, King City

Angelica is a Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist. In collaboration with the Monterey County District Attorney’s Victims’ Services Unit, she works with residents of South Monterey County who are victims of human trafficking, sexual assault and domestic violence. She offers therapeutic support, positive regard and compassion to families, couples, children and individuals. Using an integrative approach to address the immediate needs of clients, including coping skills, self-esteem development, goal setting, and the development of concrete treatment plans, Angelica is appreciative of the ability to co-locate with peer professionals.