MISSION
The Stockton Younger Women’s Task Force (YWTF) is a movement by younger women to fight for social justice. Together we form a diverse and inclusive group of activists, organizers, allies, and professionals on the local and national level founded on the belief that we can work within and beyond the women’s movement to change the things that hold us back.
HISTORY
In 2004, Alison Stein sat down with her boss to talk about how young women needed a space for activism. Not only did Stein’s boss want to help, but as the chair of the National Council of Women’s Organizations (NCWO), she could. Within weeks, Stein found 25 other women leaders who wanted to join her. Together they became the National Coordinating Committee for the Younger Women’s Task Force.
The movement grew the following year when 130 women from 42 states came to Washington, D.C., to draft a younger women’s issues agenda. The group also established YWTF chapters across the country and officially commenced the work of the task force.
The Stockton Younger Women’s Task Force was formed in 2016, with eight charter members including Chapter Director, Zuleima Flores Abid. The group worked together to create a solid foundation for young women to connect, collaborate, and hold space for critical conversations about issues affecting women 18 through 39.
“Fill your life with women that empower you, that help you believe in your magic and aid them to believe in their own exceptional power and their incredible magic too. Women that believe in each other can survive anything. Women who believe in each other create armies that will win kingdoms and wars.”
-Nikita Gill
WHAT WE DO
WHO WE ARE
Chapter Director
ZULEIMA FLORES-ABID
Zuleima Flores-Abid is a passionate leader for the movement for gender and social justice in Stockton, California and the surrounding region. Previously, Zuleima worked as the Programs Manager at the National Alliance on Mental Illness California office where she worked to engage and mobilize diverse populations across California to break stigma surrounding mental health and become advocates and teachers for their families and their local communities.
In addition to her professional work, Zuleima is a dedicated community servant. In 2016, she founded the Stockton Younger Women’s Task Force (YWTF) with the vision to empower and uplift the diverse voices of young women, providing the tools and resources needed to take action on issues that are the most relevant to them. As the Chapter Director of the organization, she has worked to focus on shifting the paradigm for women’s rights, gender equality in education, healthcare, local government, and voter participation. With the keen vision to build solidarity and unity among community members, Zuleima, YWTF, OWL Movement and other local organizations collaborated to bring the first ever Women’s March to Stockton on January 19, 2019.
Director of Operations
JESSENIA PASTRAN
Jessenia Pastran is a college graduate from Saint Mary’s College of California with a Bachelor of Arts in Politics and a minor in Law and Society.
Having grown up in Stockton her entire life and having studied Politics at SMC, she realized how important it is to encourage more young women to become involved in politics, especially in her community. After interviewing chapter director, Zuleima Flores-Abid in 2019, she became interested in YWTF and wanted to find a way to become involved. As a recent college graduate back at home, she is more encouraged than ever to see more ways the women of Stockton could become involved.
As the Director of Operations for YWTF, she knows that this organization could lead to greater changes and opportunities for women to have their voices heard, which is why she is excited to be part of this mission.
Director of University & College Outreach
JULIA HILSENRATH
Bio coming soon!
Director of Finance & Fundraising
JAMIE CHAC
Bio coming soon!
Advisor
LEE BAKER KRALJEV
Lee Baker Kraljev is a reproductive justice advocate, community organizer, educator, and writer from the Central Valley of California who works through a lens of cultural humility and intersectionality.
As Program Manager for Planned Parenthood Mar Monte, Lee engages supporters in Planned Parenthood’s mission and builds community relationships. As an adivsor for the Younger Women’s Task Force, she works to address the issues that affect women in Stockton.
Lee has a Master’s Degree in Public Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Cultural Anthropology, both from USC. Her goal is to facilitate sustainable collaborations between nonprofits, public agencies, and community members concerned with reproductive justice.
Lee also serves as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for foster youth in San Joaquin County, supports local nonprofits with organizing, communications, and web design, and is a teaching assistant for Cultural Anthropology courses at a community college.
Advisor
JASMINE LEEK
Jasmine Leek is a reformed corporate sales manager passionate about community development and civic leadership. Upon returning to her hometown of Stockton in 2014, Jasmine leveraged her background in communications, sales, and customer relations in the finance and telecommunications industries to shift into more fulfilling community development roles.
In 2016, she founded Third City Coalition, a nonprofit organization designed to improve civic engagement and pride. Today, she serves as Managing Director of the organization, heading up a portfolio of projects related to urban sustainability and civic innovation, including the seven-week leadership development program Stockton Urban Revitalization Fellowship (SURF), the Nonprofit Collaborators of San Joaquin County, and as a partner on the City of Stockton’s Rise Stockton initiative.
A natural “super-connector,” Jasmine became involved with Stockton Younger Women’s Task Force (YWTF) at its inception, serving a full term as Director of Operations, then the Director of Policy, before moving into her current position as an advisor. Jasmine joined YWTF after seeing a need for greater gender diversity and equity among leaders in business, policy, and planning discussions taking place within the community.
JOIN THE TEAM
We are currently recruiting for passionate and dedicated individuals who want to help support and elevate the voices of our community. Opportunities to become a Board member are open – apply today!
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at
Email us at [email protected].
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