When you look at the life of Jesus, one thing is unmistakably clear: He loved, valued, and uplifted women. In a time when society often pushed them to the margins, Jesus brought them to the center. He spoke with them, healed them, defended them, and invited them into His mission. From Mary Magdalene to the woman at the well, His love broke barriers and changed lives.
At Young Life, we carry that same passion. We believe every woman is treasured and bares the image of God. As we honor International Women’s Day this March 8th, we celebrate the way Jesus elevates and empowers women—and how we, as a community, can do the same. We were delighted to embrace this opportunity to celebrate the women around our region who are doing the work of Christ in the way they love and lead in their unique roles.
Young Life staff in the region were invited to nominate women in their communities that deserve to be recognized. Congratulations to the 2025 WGLR Women of the Year!
Kristen Brown was nominated by Ryan White for being an incredible educator at West Ottawa High School. “Kristen spends her time with English Language Learners in the West Ottawa school district and consistently goes above and beyond in her efforts to give them every possible opportunity to succeed both in and out of the classroom.”
Juddy Cho, 1st Grade Teacher at Living Stones Academy, was nominated by Staci Devries. “Juddy Cho is my son’s 1st grade teacher and she embodies servant love. She is a woman of prayer, quick to encourage and gentle with instruction. She shared the beauty of her Korean heritage by spending many hours planning a very special Lunar New Year celebration. 감사합니다 Ms. Cho!”
Dominque Collins was nominated by Lateefah Gofoe for her hospitality and for how her bright light shifts the atmosphere. She is a treasure in our community both in her roles with Kent County Prevention Coalition & as Living Stones Academy, Volunteer Coordinator. Lateefah writes, “I have observed Dominque’s work from afar; she leads a movement of volunteers that support Living Stones Academy (K-6 Christian school) and the KCPC Youth Summit. She mobilizes people in our community to support the healthy habits and aspirations of GR’s future leaders. I admire her deep faith as evidenced in conversation and in passing. She’s an amazing woman. She is the front desk person for Godfrey-Lee schools also, so she is the first person that greets you when you visit.”
Becky Ferreira was nominated by Melissa Bouma for being a humble Jesus follower, mentor and lover of people. “Becky’s heart is for ALL people, especially the marginalized. She quietly serves; making meals for WyldLife leaders, pours into her co-workers at the local coffee shop and faithfully leads a prayer group for our schools. When she speaks, listen! There is often profound wisdom on her tongue.”
Anne Gembis was nominated by Ryan White for her exemplary leadership in her role as Band Teacher at Jenison Junior High. “For over twenty years, Anne has been an encouraging presence at Jenison Junior High. She brings passion and excitement to her classroom and constantly finds ways to cheer kids on. Grateful for you, Anne!”
Sam Kirk was nominated by Chris Theule for being dynamic in her role as Secretary at Holland Middle School. “Sam is the gatekeeper for all kids and adults coming in and out of Holland Middle School. What I see Sam doing on a daily basis is caring for people, especially the kids. Her heart for middle school kids overflows into her interactions with them all day long.”
Latesha Lipscomb, JD was nominated by Lateefah Gofoe. In Lateefah’s words, “Latesha has worked tirelessly to build up the community from a grassroots level, from the Heartside Neighborhood (with the City of Grand Rapids), to the Boston Square Neighborhood (Director of Engagement with Amplify GR), to her current role as a Community Engagement Specialist with Progressive Companies (weareprogressive.com). She is a champion of purpose-built community, speaking at national conferences and pioneering student enrichment for residents of 49507 via the Outschool.org partnership. I’ve been familiar with her work for years. Latesha’s boots have remained on the ground for children and families in Grand Rapids, and it is an honor and inspiration to watch her work.”
ChaVon McMurray was also nominated by Lateefah Gofoe. ChaVon has held various positions within Grand Rapids Public Schools and is a community titan. Lateefah shares, “ChaVon stands in the large shoes of her late beloved father (who had a street named for him posthomously in GR in 2023). She has worked for GRPS for over 10 years and I’ve seen her invest in middle and high school girls in many school communities. She currently gives leadership to the Girls of Color Summit at GVSU each spring and wrote a grant to fund Praise in the Park events during the summer at Rosa Parks Circle. She is a 30-something powerhouse who should be recognized for her deep commitment to inner-city youth. When ChaVon started hosting Praise in the Park events since COVID, I really started to pay attention. She is creative and a bold pioneer in the space of unapologetic millennial faith formation and community. She is the best of the best in our community and deserves to be celebrated!”
Sara VanDoornik was nominated by Steph Midkiff for being generous with her time and love for others throughout Holland’s community. “From teaching Sunday school at our church for many years, to lovingly caring for our family after we had a baby with home cooked meals and spending quality time with our older children, to caring for refugee families in our community… she uses her time and her retirement to shine a bright light in our world!”
As we wrap up our Women of the Year post, we’re filled with gratitude for the inspiring submissions from around our region. Their thoughtful nominations have helped shine a light on the remarkable women making a difference in the world. We hope these stories of faithfulness, kindness, and strength inspire you and bring a sense of hope as we celebrate the good news unfolding around us.
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