Young Women Empowered (Y-WE)
Maria Elena Van Gaver is a dedicated Family Nurse Practitioner at Sea Mar Community Health Centers, serving since October 2019, initially as a resident and currently in a full-time role. With a commitment to youth empowerment, Maria has been a Volunteer Mentor and Program Nurse for Young Women Empowered since 2013, undertaking various responsibilities including mentoring and co-coordinating health events. Prior experience includes a position as a Critical Care Registered Nurse at the VA Puget Sound Health Care System from 2012 to 2019, and per diem nursing roles at HRN Services. Maria holds a Master of Science in Nursing Family Nurse Practitioner from Gonzaga University and a Bachelor of Science in Registered Nursing from Seattle University, alongside dual bachelor's degrees in Spanish Language and Literature and Cell Biology from the University of Washington.
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Young Women Empowered (Y-WE)
Y-WE cultivates the power of diverse young women and gender expansive youth to be creative leaders and courageous changemakers through transformative programs within a collaborative community of belonging. We envision a society rooted in social justice, where all young women live their truth, achieve their dreams, and change our world. Y-WE’s mentorship and empowerment programs serve diverse young women, ages 13-26, and adult women mentors in the greater Seattle area. Each year, our programs directly serve 700+ girls and women and benefit 2,000+ community members. Of current Y-WE youth, 70% are first or second generation immigrants, 85% are of color and 90% are from low-income backgrounds. Y-WE is majority women-of-color-led, and we excel at creating meaningful engagement through culturally relevant programs supported by committed mentors. Our programs foster leadership development as young women explore education, community, health and self-care, career, creative arts, culture, social change and the environment. We cultivate courage in community as we work together to transform our culture.