Lindsey Underway – Photo Credit above photo
Liz Mendez-Shannon, MSW, PhD
Dr. Liz Mendez-Shannon joined the Sewall family as the newest Vice President of Programs overseeing programming operations, strategies and team development. Recently she worked with Iowa State University as Project Director of Diversity and Inclusion designing programming and mentoring for students, faculty and staff with an emphasis on Hispanic, Latinx communities and other underrepresented populations.
Before Iowa State, she served as an associate professor in social work at Metropolitan State University of Denver, Colorado. Her areas of specialization include community organizing, leadership development, cross-cultural partnering and clinical practice specializing in trauma. Dr. Liz shares that a life-changing time was serving as a first responder during 9/11 in New York: “Sometimes you don’t know how much you can do until you try.” This was true for her when she developed creative therapy for kiddos while New York recovered from the disaster. She also successfully received grants in support of community initiatives.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology (1990) and a master’s degree in social work (1996), both from Hunter College, New York; and a doctorate in social work (2010) from the University of Iowa. To keep mind, body and spirit balance, she meditates. Dr. Liz enjoys karaoke and dancing salsa. Sewall is excited to welcome Liz to the team!
Claudia and Christopher, Holiday Drive Volunteers
The 2018 Holiday Drive
On December 1, 2018, Sewall held the 4th annual Holiday Drive for children ages 3-9. Many wonderful donors and volunteers came together and gave 156 children (68 girls and 88 boys) the joy of opening a brand new toy over the holidays. There was a supply of used clothes, books, and toys available for kids and families, and a gift wrapping station as well. A big thank you goes out to the volunteers and the donors who made the holiday drive possible.
Thank You! Holiday Drive Donors: Debra Baker, Caboodle Gifts, Coda Coffee, Mollie Crow (Holiday Drive Chair), Jack and Mary McClurg, Adam Torgerson, Toys for Tots, and Target for providing a discount on toys for the drive.
Upcoming Events and Notices
Schedule a tour to see your impact firsthand! Come to a Discover Sewall’s Mission Tour and check out our historic headquarters building at 940 Fillmore Street and see our mission in action.
The next tour on 3/14/19 @ 10:00amhttps://www.sewall.org/event/discover-sewalls-mission-tour-march/