Lizeth Walsh
Lizeth Walsh is a community-focused leader and Mentor Coordinator at Safe Yakima Valley, where she has spent the past year leading a school-based mentorship program serving students across the Yakima Valley. In this role, she works closely with schools, mentors, and youth to support prevention efforts, promote healthy decision-making, and build positive connections that help young people avoid risky pathways. Lizeth is actively engaged in local schools, regularly visiting students and mentors to ensure programs are impactful, supportive, and responsive to community needs.
Before transitioning into the nonprofit sector, Lizeth built a strong foundation in the legal field, with several years of experience working in both public service and private practice. Her background includes roles with the Yakima County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and multiple law firms, where she supported cases involving criminal law, personal injury, family law, and administrative matters. This legal experience sharpened her skills in advocacy, organization, and client-centered problem solving—tools she now applies to her work in community and youth development.
Deeply committed to equity, empowerment, and service, Lizeth also serves as President of the YWCA, where she advances the organization’s mission of eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting justice and dignity for all. Her professional philosophy centers on mentorship, prevention, and meaningful relationship-building, guided by values of family, compassion, and community impact. Fluent in Spanish, Lizeth brings cultural competence and a collaborative spirit to all aspects of her work, striving to create lasting, positive change for children and families throughout the Yakima Valley.
• YWCA USA
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the incredible women in my life—especially my mother and the women who serve on the YWCA board—whose leadership, strength, and guidance have continually inspired me. I am also deeply grateful for my husband, who has been my greatest supporter and an unwavering source of encouragement throughout my journey.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received is to never give up on what I believe in and what I truly want to do.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering the industry is to be fearless in trying new things and to pursue what you truly love. Build a strong support network, stay resilient, and don’t allow anyone—or anything—to stand in the way of your dreams and goals.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenges in my field right now are securing sustainable funding to ensure programs can continue to operate, and finding individuals who share the same level of passion and commitment to the mission.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me in both my work and personal life are quality time, family, and caring for others. I am especially drawn to people and work that are focused on making a meaningful difference in the world.