Women Making a Difference

Vanessa Pabón-Hernandez, recently named CEO of the Women’s Fund of Western MA, is a seasoned nonprofit leader with over 25 years devoted to community service. Renowned for her resilience, adept resource management, strategic coalition building, and effective coaching, Vanessa champions gender and racial equity in our region.

From entrepreneurial beginnings to advocating for marginalized communities, Vanessa’s journey has been rooted in community activism, raising awareness for social issues, addressing systemic racism, and leveraging storytelling for social change. She co-founded TOLD (Telling our Legacies Digitally), pioneering the first community-based digital storytelling center in a predominantly Latinx neighborhood as a grassroots organizing strategy. At New England Public Media, she envisioned and led initiatives like the Latino Youth Media Institute that diversified the workforce, and the award-winning bilingual television series Presencia, amplifying the power of community voices.

Beyond her professional roles, Vanessa actively volunteers on various boards and has earned recognition such as the “Unsung Heroine” award from the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women and being named to BusinessWest’s “40 Under 40.” She’s featured in the exhibit “Voices of Resilience: The Intersection of Women on the Move” and was the grand marshal for the Springfield Puerto Rican Parade.

In her downtime, Vanessa treasures spontaneous adventures with her husband, and cherishes moments with her daughter and grandson.

Tanisha Arena is a black woman in community leadership as the Executive Director of ARISE for Social Justice – occupying the world’s messiest intersection, the space where race, gender, culture, identity, politics, and the law all collide. She has a passion for social justice and transparent, authentic leadership. She was appointed to the Commission on the Status of Women by the MA Caucus of Women Legislators in November 2021. She is the host of the award-winning podcast, Unapologetic, bringing the hard truths of our social issues to the forefront. She is a guest commentator on Vaya Con Munoz, a weekly radio show airing on 101.5 WHMP that focuses on local and national political issues. She is also a consultant for Growing A New Heart, training on Holding Space: holding affinity, anti-racism, self-education, support groups and on Dialogues Across Differences of social location, including race and ethnicity.

Tanisha has deep roots in the field of anti-violence work. Prior to that, Tanisha worked in the private sector, during which time she was a mentor at True Colors, a support and advocacy organization for sexual minority youth in Hartford, CT. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Central Connecticut State University and a Master’s Degree in Non Profit Management from Bay Path University and recently completed a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Certificate Program through the University of South Florida. She is a published author, public speaker, and freelance writer.

Attorney Elizabeth Dineen serves as Chief Executive Officer of the YWCA of Western Massachusetts, ranked as the fifth-largest YWCA in the United States. Throughout her career, she has been a strong advocate for women and children. For 27 years, she served as an Assistant District Attorney in Hampden County Massachusetts. During her tenure, her caseload primarily focused on prosecuting adult sexual assaults, domestic violence, physical and sexual child abuse and child homicide cases. She transitioned from the District Attorney’s Office to Bay Path University, where she served as the chair of the Criminal Justice Department and taught in the Honors Program. Liz has also served on a number of national, state and local boards, and received a numerous honors in recognition of service to her community.

At he WYCA, Liz has developed a stable workforce of 160 employees, prioritizing the leadership development of supervisory staff to effectively lead twenty-two residential and community programs at multiple locations in Holyoke, Northampton, Springfield, and Westfield. “I am most proud of the management team here – they are knocking it out of the park. They all have past lived experiences overcoming challenges. Now, they are working hard, developing skills, and becoming the future of nonprofit leadership serving those in need. They provide tactical support and are also an inspiration to those we serve.”

Dineen is a strong relationship builder and strategic leader, with a vision for long-term operational efficiency and excellence. Under her leadership, the agency has secured $26.1 million in new grant funding since she joined the YW in 2016.

She earned her JD from Western New England College School of Law and her BA from Elms College.

Dr. Grace Makari-Judson is Professor Emeritus, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School-Baystate. She is a breast cancer specialist and has previously served as Medical Director of the Cancer Center and Division Chief, Hematology-Oncology, at Baystate Health.

Dr Makari-Judson came to Baystate 36 years ago. After graduating from Harvard University then Cornell University Medical College, she completed her specialty training at the New York Hospital and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. An enthusiastic educator, she became Hematology-Oncology Fellowship Program Director shortly after her arrival at Baystate, a position she held for 20 years.
Fall of 2023 marked the 30^th Rays of Hope Walk and her 30^th year in partnership with Rays of Hope. First as Medical Director of the Comprehensive Breast Center, and then Chair of the Baystate Health Breast Network, she made it her mission to enhance breast cancer treatment and research in the region. Although retired from clinical practice, she continues to serve as Co-Director of the Rays of Hope Center for Breast Cancer Research promoting advocacy driven research.

She served on the Baystate Health Board of Trustees 2009-2018.  She has served on the Bay Path University Board of Trustees since 2013 and currently serves as Chair of the Learner Success Committee promoting educational avenues and careers in the health sciences especially for women.

She has been repeatedly named to “Best Doctors in America”, “Leading Physicians of the World-Top Oncologist” and listed by Castle Connolly in “Exceptional Women in Medicine”.

On a personal note, she is married to Peter Judson, MD and has four children and five grandchildren.

Elizabeth Wills-O’Gilvie, board member and interim director of Gardening the Community (GTC). is a food policy activist and produce farmer and has made it her mission to address hunger and a shortage of fresh foods in western Massachusetts. While developing 40 Acres Farm as a cooperatively-managed venture, Liz serves as the director of the Springfield Food Policy Council.  She is also a member of the Advisory Boards of the Massachusetts Food System Collaborative, Massachusetts Farm to School, and a member of the Union of Concerned Scientists Transformative Farm Bill Campaign Committee.  Supported by Liz’s leadership, the Springfield Food Policy Council serves as a partner, advisor and driving force behind efforts to build a healthier food system in Springfield and Hampden County.

Liz is skilled in resource identification & matching, partnership development, community engagement, legislative advocacy, public speaking, and program development. She is also a member of the national organization Good Food for All, Northeast Farmers of Color and a member of the inaugural class of Community Development Fellows at Harvard University Divinity School

A later-in-life farmer, Liz believes the land called her home so that she could feed her family and community.  She is deeply grateful for the support of others who are helping her to manifest the dreams of her ancestors.  She says that in BIPOC communities “when we feed ourselves, everybody eats”.