Meet the Wise Women Gathering Place Staff

Beverly Scow, Executive Director

Kwickseutaineuk Ah-kwa-mish First Nation of the Kwakwakawak Peoples from the territory now known as British Columbia, Canada

Beverly brings more than 24 years' experience with Wise Women Gathering Place’s programs and services as the Assistant Director. She is a founding member of the grassroots circle of women gathered around Alice Skenandore’s kitchen table learning about the cradle-to-grave nature of midwifery. Beverly was also integral in the birth of the Wise Women Gathering Place agency, developing and securing the funds for its well-known adult and youth programming.

Beverly's background includes apprenticing and practicing as a traditional lay midwife with Alice Skenandore in the Oneida and Green Bay areas. She is certified in Technology of Participation Facilitation Methods as a facilitator, a trainer of facilitators, and training others to become trainers. Beverly helped develop the Discovery Dating: It’s not just about dating!© healthy decision-making and relationship-building curriculum. She trains others to facilitate the Discovery Dating curriculum and facilitator trainers. Because of Beverly’s work in her home community in Vancouver, the University of British Columbia awarded her an honorary degree in NITEP, the Indigenous Teaching Education Program.

Beverly is passionate about serving Native Americans and others in the Greater Green Bay area, promoting Peace, Respect, and Belonging through skill building, sharing of resources, and caring support for the community. Her other passions include social justice, environmental issues, and raising diversity, equity, and inclusion in Green Bay’s private, public, and non-profit sectors.


Julia

Oneida Nation of Wisconsin Tribal Member

When Julia joined Wise Women Gathering Place in 2009, she brought more than 30 years of experience helping people. Julia’s experience included 15 years working at a local domestic violence (DV) shelter and a year the Menominee DV Shelter, 17 years with the Oneida Nation’s Social Services as an AODA Counselor and in other capacities, and many years at Great Lakes Inter Tribal Council helping native Elders and people with disabilities across the state.

Julia is a licensed AODA Counselor and holds the following certificates: Discovery Dating – It’s not just about dating!© Facilitator Certificate; Mending Broken Hearts Facilitator Certificate; Trauma Informed Care Facilitator Certificate, and Tribal Court Legal Advocate Certificate. Julia’s years working with WWGP include: coordinating and facilitating White Bison’s Mending Broken Hearts programs; facilitating the Sexual Assault Healing Groups; advocating for people harmed by domestic violence and sexual abuse; facilitating weekly Women’s Groups; coordinating WWGP’s New Hope Transitional Living Program; facilitating Discovery Dating in Oneida Nation schools; and volunteer coordination.

She now mentors other WWGP’s staff as a Staff Midwife and manages several of WWGP’s grants. She coordinates WWGP’s Safe Place Parking Program (SP3) implemented in June 2020 to provide a safe place for people to park at night. Helping people is a part of who she is, and Julia sees herself retiring here at WWGP!


Sam

Australian (non-tribal)

Sam has a Bachelor of Education and taught in Australia for approximately 10 years before returning to study for a Bachelor in Applied Science, Health Promotion & Prevention. Sam is in the process of gaining her Masters Degree in Community Mental Health and Counseling. Sam has specialized training and skills in responding to trauma. Previously, Sam has worked at the Mental Health Foundation of Australia as the Coordinator of Program Development, Crisis Intervention & Community Education & Prevention, with a focus on Suicide and Depression Awareness & Intervention. After immigrating to the United States, Sam worked as the Director of Family, Teen & Community Development for the YMCA in Green Bay, WI.  Sam additionally was employed at the Sexual Assault Center of Family Services as a legal advocate and as the Co- Project Manager of the Brown County SART Project. Over the past 20 years, Sam has provided assistance and resources to over 5000 sexual assault survivors. Sam has provided training to many responders to sensitive crimes, specifically sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse and stalking. Sam also works as an In Home Mental Health co-therapist working with children and adolescents who have mental health disorders and behavioral challenges. Sam enjoys working with individuals and families, and working collaboratively with community partners to increase community supports and resources for all. 


Brenda John, M.P.S., Communication & Outreach

Oneida Nation

Brenda has worked for her Nation's social services, a Nation's elected official, and other non-profits before joining Wise Women Gathering Place as an employee in 2017. She was fortunate to be one of the women sitting around founder Alice Skenandore's kitchen table, learning about the cradle-to-grave aspects of midwifery that included women's health, childbirth, parenting, relationships, and so much more. She volunteered for Wise Women Gathering Place throughout it's years since incorporating in 1998. She has a bachelor's degree in Human Development from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, a Masters in Strategic Public Relations from George Washington University, and a plethora of social work courses from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's master's program. She is trained in Technology of Participation Facilitation and is a Discovery Dating: It's not just about dating! (c) Faciltitator and Facilitator Trainer. She has lived a majority of her life on the Oneida Nation's Reservation in Wisconsin, has three beautiful grown children and four grandchildren (so far!) 


Breann

Oneida Nation of Wisconsin Tribal Member and Polish

Breann has joined the staff at Wise Women as a Child and Youth Program Specialist. Before Wise Women, Breann worked one-on-one with child who have Autism and with the elderly community. Breann has her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and is working towards her Master’s degree in Transnational Human Services Leadership. During the winter months, Breann also works at St. Johns Homeless Shelter as Support Staff. When Breann isn’t working, she enjoys spending time with her family and dog, Buster Brown. When the weather is nice, she enjoys spending weekends up north and going to the dog park. Breann is excited for her journey with Wise Women!


Danielle

Descendant of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin & Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians 

Danielle comes to us from West De Pere School District as the former Title 6 Home/School Liaison. She has an Associate’s degree in Elementary Education and a Bachelor’s degree in Integrative Leadership Studies.  For the past 13 years, Danielle has worked with Native American youth and families doing advocacy work. While she was at West De Pere she was very passionate about integrating American Indian Studies in the school curriculum as well as building cultural identity with her students. She also works with the Oneida Tribal Judicial System as a Guardian ad Litem in custody and placement disputes. For fun she likes to travel with her husband Mike, work on crafts, garden, paint and spend time with her loved ones.  She is very excited to join the Wise Women team and looks forward to helping the community in a different capacity.