Entering the Women’s Hearth is often the first step a woman in crisis takes toward safety and stability. Through a unique service model designed around building community and fostering trusting relationships, the Hearth engages and assists many of the most marginalized women in Spokane in accessing resources, finding housing and gaining a sense of belonging through on-going participation at this vibrant drop-in center. Join Susan Tyler-Babkirk and Ariel Fitzgerald as they share how Transitions’ organizational mission and values provide the foundation that informs this critical work in our community.

Since 2012, Susan has been the Program Director of Transitions’ Women’s Hearth, a drop-in center for women in downtown Spokane. Prior to serving in this role, Susan was the Volunteer Coordinator for 5 years and founded the Legal Preparedness Project to help women with exceptionally high barriers access pro bono legal assistance. A large part of her career was spent in public service in the legal field as a paralegal, family law facilitator and mediator for the Prosecuting Attorney’s office and paralegal with Adult Protective Services. She holds a M.A. in Organizational Leadership. from G.U, a B.A. in Political Science from the U of W and professional certificates in Paralegal Studies and Mediation. Susan is a lifelong Unitarian Universalist and in her free time, together with her husband of 35 years, Susan enjoys family time with her 2 children and their partners, gardening or home improvement projects, reading and traveling.

Ariel Fitzgerald is assistant to the Manager of Daily Operations at Transitions Women’s Hearth. She has had the honor of working at Transitions for 3 years, and loves bringing her varied work history, creativity and Unitarian Universalist values to the rich fabric that creates the Hearth. Ariel is a 3rd generation UU, who spent her childhood attending the UU Church of Long Beach, Orange Coast UU Church, and UU owned camp de Benneville Pines. As a third generation UU and the daughter of a Director of Religious Education she grew up living and learning from our principles and purposes and knew she needed to find a career that supported them.

In addition to working at the Hearth Ariel and her sister Libby own an online yarn store and are enjoying the adventure of running a new (to them) business. In her shrinking free time Ariel loves to hang out with her pets and myriad of plants while making art.