Our guides in the Work...Sharing what they know; teaching and leading by example.

Please contact WOCLN at 413-545-1670 to be referred to the individuals listed here unless contact information has been provided.

Irene Abramms
Counseling, individual/couples
25 years experience helping people think "outside the box". Irene works with diverse populations to find creative, workable solutions to thorny life problems. She brings an immigrant woman's perspective as well as a holistic healing approach to counseling.

Yaldira Felix-Brown
Counseling/Mentoring, Individuals
A self-described Black Puerto Rican woman. Yaldira holds an MSW and is available to support young adult women in a variety of ways: phone conversations, home-cooked meals, more directed counseling and advising. She is particularly knowledgeable about Caribbean women's issues.

Alexandra Deschamps

Dr. Alexandra Deschamps is currently an Assistant Professor in the Women's Studies Department at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. The focus of her research is twofold: First, Caribbean and International Women's Development Initiative and; second, scholarship in teaching empowerment pedagogy. Dr. Deschamps received both her Master's and Doctorate degrees at UMass. Her Doctorate concentrated on International Education with a focus on gender development. In her former life, Alex served as the Assistant Secretary of State and Trade, Industry and Tourism for the Commonwealth of Dominica. Her lifelong and current interests concentrate on the lives of Women of Color with an emphasis on Black Women's identity, power, strengths, leadership styles as well as the importance of mentoring among Women of Color.
Afd@wost.umass.edu

Isabel Espinal
Librarian and poet/writer
Available as a Mentor, Career Counseling, and as a Local Resource.

Jennifer Etienne
Jennifer Etienne, originally from Brooklyn, New York but grew up in Boston graduated from the University of Massachusetts with a Bachelors of Arts in Psychology. Jennifer is currently attending Springield College. She will be receiving her Master in Social Work in May of 2002. She has been in counselor advocate at the Everywoman's Center Rape Crisis Hotline for the past three years. Jennifer has also been working for Big Brothers/ Big Sisters as a case manager for the past three years. Currently, she is a clinician in Springfield at a secure facility for girls.
jetienne@chd.org

Magdalena Gómez
Magdalena G—mez was 2001 Massachusetts Cultural Council's Playwriting Grant recipient. Magdalena has worked as an artist in schools and the non-profit sector, training youth, social justice workers and educators since 1976 both locally and nationally. Magdalena is currently on the faculty of SmART Schools, based in the Educational Development Center, Inc. in Newton, Massachusetts, which provides arts/academic integration programs for over 500 schools internationally. She is also currently on the faculty of the Women of Color Leadership Network at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She is the former Playwright in Residence of the nationally acclaimed Enchanted Circle Theater, where she was also a company member for twelve years. Read more...
lesgopro@javanet.com

Renee Mendez
Counselor
ram379@aol.com

Terri Nash, MS, CPM
Terri is a licensed homebirth midwife who practices with River Valley Midwives in Amherst, MA. She teaches childbirth classes and well women's health. Terri also has a private practice in subtle energy and meditation. Her love is to explore the meaning and depth of healing. She practices the art of living in New Salem, MA.
TCNash@hotmail.com

Ester Orellana
Ester lives in Amhert. She is a Mapuche indian native of Chile. She started learning craft at early age ( knitting, embroidering, sewing and later beading). She hashave been involved with the Native community in the valley, for the past 2 years teaching beading to Native American students at the Josephine White Eagle Cultural Center.

Dr. Sonia Correa Pope
Program Director/TRIO Programs
spope@hcc.umass.edu

Dr. Patricia Romney
Personal or executive coaching.
promney@romneyassociates.com

Pamela Vaid
Pamela Vaid has enjoyed a career in banking that has spanned over 15 years. She is currently the Branch Manger and Consumer Loan Officer for The Bank of Western Massachusetts. Before joining The Bank of Western Massachusetts, Pamela work for both the Heritage Bank and Baybank. In her role of Branch Manger for the Holyoke Branch, Pamela is responsible for all branch operations: Human Resources, Auditing and Security, and Staff Supervision. In this is capacity, ensures that the working environment is organized, efficient and well maintained for bank employees as well as clients. As the Consumer Loan Officer, Pamela makes important decisions about matters that effect people's everyday lives: auto loans, home-equity loans, and personal loans. She also evaluated leading proposals for small businesses interested in loans of up to $50, 000. Thus, Pamela is responsible for a significant portion of the bank's overall profitability. Pamela is family-centered when away from work.
vaid4u@aol.com