Kayla Jones, an NDSU graduate student from St. Louis, earned the Youth Advocacy award during the 50th annual YWCA Cass Clay Women of the Year ceremony.
NDSU graduate student Kayla Jones was honored with a top award during the 50th annual YWCA Cass Clay Women of the Year program held April 24.
The event honored 41 women from Cass and Clay Counties whose lives, talents and passions have shaped the community. The evening culminated in the announcement of the 2023 YWCA Women of the Year recipients in 12 individual categories and one business category.
Jones received the award in the category “Youth Advocacy.” Jones was recognized for her involvement in the community, including participation in NDSU’s Black Student Association, the NDSU Crisis Task Force Team and her involvement in panels including Talk Back to Racism and Including U. Jones also currently serves on the President’s Council for Diversity, Inclusion and Respect.
Jones is a co-founder of Ora Lee’s Heart, a non-profit that provides academic tutoring and mentoring to school-age children. She also developed and leads the North Dakota Human Rights Coalition’s diversity, equity and inclusion training.
“To win a YWCA Women of the Year award means so much to me. The YWCA does so many incredible things for our community and to be recognized by them is truly an honor,” said Jones, a graduate student in educational leadership from St. Louis, Missouri. Jones also earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from NDSU. “It is hard to stop and really think about the work I do or the impact I could have in this community. Oftentimes, it feels like there is no time to stop. So, to be able to sit down and think about how my work really is meaningful is truly a breath of fresh air. Being recognized alongside so many incredible women only inspires me to continue to do what I am doing and work that much harder. I feel like I gained more energy that I cannot wait to put into my work!”
YWCA Cass Clay’s emergency shelter provides safety for more than 1,300 women and children each year. In addition to operating the largest emergency shelter for women and children in North Dakota and northwest Minnesota, YWCA Cass Clay provides 72 units of safe and affordable supportive housing to assist women and families in gaining stability and independence. Other key YWCA programs focus on homeless prevention and racial justice.
Photo credit Britta the Photographer.
