A Residence of Hope and Healing
Established in 1980, The Beacon is a client-centered community that provides a safe and supportive living environment for adult women in central Iowa who have faced trauma and systemic inequity. These social factors often lead to substance use and involvement with the criminal justice system. The Beacon’s mission is to create a space where women can break this cycle and work toward more fulfilling, productive lives.
In February 2024, we expanded with the addition of The Beacon Village. This former motel has been transformed into 32 efficiency units, offering women the opportunity to regain autonomy while continuing their recovery journey.
Our Mission
Our mission at The Beacon is to create an environment that empowers women in crisis to achieve positive long-term change.
100%
Of Beacon Graduates secure stable housing, employment, and health insurance and maintain sobriety.
100%
Clients experiencing homelessness or the threat of homelessness before entering our program.
Demographics
Of Beacon Village residents have access to continued case management and support services for up to three years after completing the program, helping ensure long-term success.
97%
Clients report experiencing physical, mental health, or substance use conditions.*
85%
Clients are formerly incarcerated and face significant reentry barriers.
77%
Clients reporting domestic violence in their past*
74% White – 13% Black – 11% Latina – 2% Multiracial
*actual number likely much higher
The Client Experience
The Beacon serves adults who identify as women by providing housing and programming. Nearly all of our clients have experienced significant trauma and have a physical or mental disability, with half of our clients facing three or more diagnosed disabilities or mental illnesses.
While at The Beacon, clients participate in individual and group mental health counseling, substance use support groups, healthy relationships courses, case management, social activities, and house meetings. The case manager connects clients with community partners such as the Evelyn K. Davis Center for financial literacy and career development.
Clients are provided with culturally specific support for any marginalized groups to which they may belong. Most importantly, clients are treated with dignity and respect and provided an opportunity to experience family.
Our Staff
Amy Landrigan, MA, MCPC
Executive Director
Amy Landrigan, MA, MAPC, is a mission-driven nonprofit leader committed to creating pathways to stability, healing, and empowerment for women and vulnerable populations. With degrees in Gerontology and Psychology from Missouri State University and a Master’s in Nonprofit Leadership from Drury University, she brings a deep understanding of trauma-informed care, strategic leadership, and sustainable program development to her work. In addition to her nonprofit leadership experience, Amy is a Master Certified professional Coach specializing in mindset and implementation, helping individuals and organizations navigate change, build resilience, and achieve long-term success.
Amy’s career has been dedicated to supporting individuals navigating homelessness, substance use disorders, mental health challenges, and systemic barriers to stability. She has led programmatic and organizational growth initiatives that expand access to essential resources, increase financial sustainability, and strengthen community partnerships. Under her leadership, organizations have experienced significant increases in donations, community engagement, and program accessibility, ensuring more individuals receive the support they need.
Prior to The Beacon, Amy held key leadership roles at Central Iowa Shelter & Services, Goodwill of Central Iowa, Enactus USA, and Psychiatric Medical Care, where she guided teams through critical transitions, developed strategic funding models, and expanded service capacity to meet the evolving needs of the communities they served. She has extensive experience in financial oversight, grant development, donor engagement, and operational strategy, ensuring nonprofit organizations remain both mission-driven and financially resilient.
Amy is committed to fostering a culture of dignity, collaboration, and empowerment, both within her teams and in the broader community. She believes that strategic, trauma-informed leadership is essential to building equitable, sustainable solutions for those facing complex challenges.
As Executive Director of The Beacon, Amy is focused on strengthening the organization’s impact through innovative programming, sustainable funding strategies, and strong community partnerships. Her leadership prioritizes long-term stability, holistic support, and creating a safe, empowering space for women on their journey toward healing and independence.
Chantell Howard
Director of Operations & Properties
Chantell Howard is a dedicated housing professional with over 15 years of experience in property management, affordable housing, and supportive housing programs. Her career has been rooted in ensuring equitable access to safe, stable housing for individuals facing homelessness, mental health challenges, and systemic barriers to stability.
Chantell began her housing career in 2008 with Anawim Housing, managing Shelter Plus Care, a program providing housing for individuals with substance use disorders, mental health conditions, and HIV. Her passion for housing equity led her to earn her real estate license, deepening her expertise in property management and fair housing compliance. Over the years, she has worked extensively with tax credit properties, project-based vouchers, and supportive housing initiatives, always advocating for sustainable, client-centered solutions.
Before joining The Beacon, Chantell served as Director of Housing at Central Iowa Shelter & Services, where she oversaw 81 apartments, including housing for homeless veterans and low-income individuals. She also led a team of case managers and street outreach professionals across 15 counties, developing innovative homeless prevention strategies and securing long-term housing solutions for vulnerable populations.
As Director of Operations & Properties at The Beacon, Chantell is committed to creating sustainable housing opportunities, streamlining operations, and ensuring a strong foundation for the organization’s growth. She brings expertise in real estate management, compliance, and program development, ensuring The Beacon continues to provide safe, stable, and dignified housing for women in crisis.
Marlena Hemphill
Lead Case Manager
Marlena’s journey embodies resilience, determination, and hope. A graduate of The Beacon, she has overcome significant challenges, including incarceration, and now dedicates her life to empowering women who are facing similar struggles. With three years of experience at The Beacon, Marlena began as a Resident Assistant and now serves as a Case Manager. In her role, she provides unwavering support, guidance, and encouragement to the women she works with, drawing from her own lived experiences to offer empathy and understanding.
Marlena takes pride in celebrating the small victories of her clients, knowing how much courage it takes to overcome barriers. She has achieved remarkable personal milestones, including paying off $13,000 in debt, earning an early discharge from parole, raising her credit score to 746, and purchasing her first home. This June, she will celebrate five years of sobriety.
Marlena is passionate about her work at The Beacon because she can relate to the women’s journeys and finds joy in seeing them grow into strong, successful individuals. Outside of work, she enjoys fishing, camping, attending hockey games, and shopping at thrift stores. Born and raised in Des Moines, Marlena is committed to using her experiences to inspire and empower others.
Nadia La Fontant
Case Manager
Nadia was born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa, and obtained her Bachelor of Science in Child, Adult, and Family Studies from Iowa State University in 2013. She has an extensive career in victim services, disability advocacy, and community activism with a specialization in marginalized communities including incarcerated survivors of violence. Nadia is passionate about raising the voices of underrepresented communities and providing comprehensive, holistic care to the residents of The Beacon. She is intentional about providing individualized services that gives power to their identities and lived experiences. When she is not working, she enjoys reading, spending time outdoors hiking or camping, playing video games, attending concerts, and traveling.
Latisha WIlliams
Case Manager
Born and raised in Iowa, Latisha Williams is a passionate advocate for women navigating recovery, reentry, and self-sufficiency. A graduate of The Beacon program in 2022, she brings both lived experience and professional expertise to her role as a Case Manager, helping women overcome barriers and build stable, independent futures.
Latisha serves on the Board of Courageous Fire LLC, supporting survivors of domestic abuse and sexual assault as they rebuild their lives. She has worked closely with individuals in Iowa’s county jails and prisons through a community recovery center, helping them access recovery resources before reentering society. Her work has included reentry resource navigation, second-chance employment connections, rental advocacy and appeals, and medical transportation assistance, ensuring that women have the support they need to take their next steps.
Her passion lies in empowering women to reclaim their lives by respecting their individual journeys and honoring their choices for growth. She embraces multiple pathways to recovery, recognizing that healing is deeply personal and takes many forms. Latisha finds joy in walking alongside women as they navigate obstacles, rediscover their strength, and take ownership of their future. She believes in the power of stability, dignity, and opportunity, and is dedicated to making sure every woman she serves has access to the resources and support she needs to thrive.
Yvette Sutton
Resident Assistant
Yvette has an impressive and varied background including teaching, corporate banking, and professional basketball. She is also an accomplished artist, who was even contacted by Magic Johnson to complete a piece. (You can see her work at Mainframe Studios or @wisdomof7.) Yvette keeps the office laughing and has enjoyed supporting the clients at The Beacon for several years.
Liz Legg
Resident Assistant
Liz grew up in Winterset with interest in helping those in need, such as elderly people and those with intellectual disabilities. As a graduate of the Beacon, she would like people in recovery to see life is beautiful, fun, and full of amazing opportunities. In her free time, Liz enjoys music, hiking, and long road trips.
Our Partner Organization
Full Circle Recovery Community Center
Peer-based Substance Use Recovery Support
Anawim Housing and The Beacon partnered to establish a new non-profit organization that will expand pathways to recovery for people affected by substance use: Full Circle Recovery Community Center. Through peer-based recovery support services, Full Circle utilizes evidence-based practices, public education, and policy advocacy to achieve its mission in both Des Moines and Council Bluffs. Full Circle Recovery Community Center offers emotional, informational, and practical support for individuals and families who are affected by substance use and works in collaboration with services offered by The Beacon.
Board of Directors 2024-2025
Member since July 2018
Working to make sure that all people, but especially women, know that they matter, that they are important and that they are supported is part of building a strong community. The work we are doing at The Beacon is giving women in need the second chance they deserve to overcome what’s happened to them and empower them to choose what happens from here.
Shannon Sobek, JD
Board President
Senior Acquisitions Consultant
Principal Financial Group
Member since November 2022
I am a firm believer that each individual has unique abilities; gifts that can be used to impact our communities in a positive way. In life, we are often faced with challenges that may inhibit our ability to see our potential for impact and our utility. When we face those challenges head-on and overcome them, we move towards reaching our potential as leaders and Beacons of Light for others. The Beacon, to me, represents a light guiding women in our community through the challenges they face as they move toward becoming strong contributors to our society.
Quin Riser, MBA, CLU, ChFC
Board Vice President
Financial Advisor/Director of Business Development
Echelon Wealth Strategies
Member since March 2021
I am proud to be involved with The Beacon because it offers trauma-informed care to its residents. The Beacon strives to help clients get to the root of the issues they’re facing, rather than stick a band-aid on it and walk away.
Whitney Judkins, JD
Board Secretary
Partner/Attorney
Timmer & Judkins, PLLC
Member since July 2020
The Beacon gives women in my community the support they need to achieve their goals and build a life they are excited about. Being just a small part of their success brings me a ridiculous amount of joy.
Katie Caggiano, MPA
Board Treasurer
Budget Analyst 3
Iowa Dept. of Health & Human Services
Member since April 2019
The more I have learned about the systemic origins that lead to the cycles of trauma in women’s lives, the more I have become passionate about creating change. The Beacon is an organization that is focused on the entire scope of how to create hope and long lasting change for women in our community, and I am proud to be a part of it.
Emily Berrier, MBA
Associate Vice President
Nationwide Insurance
Member since July 2018
Working to make sure that all people, but especially women, know that they matter, that they are important and that they are supported is part of building a strong community. The work we are doing at The Beacon is giving women in need the second chance they deserve to overcome what’s happened to them and empower them to choose what happens from here.
Sara Wille, SHRM-CP
Human Resources Director
Federal Home Loan Bank
Member since March 2021
There are no limits on trying, falling, and getting back up. Being on The Beacon Board affords me the opportunity to promote Resilience in the capacity of women.
Dr. Kennesha Woods
Fresh Start Supervisor/Speaker
Dept. of Corrections/Live Resilient
Member since July 2020
I am involved with The Beacon because of its mission of supporting women in crisis as they make positive changes to their lives. These women matter and are so worthy, and they have something to contribute to society - giving them the trauma-informed care and support they need is good for not just them but also for our community!
Kim Babberl
Senior Director, Solution Consulting
Mede Analytics
Member since July 2024
I am honored to be part of The Beacon, where we work together to empower women in our community to overcome challenges and create lasting, positive change in their lives. The Beacon's mission resonates with my values, and I am dedicated to supporting the transformational work being done to help women overcome trauma, access vital resources, and build a brighter future.
Marie Procyk
Senior Project Manager
State of Iowa
Member since July 2022
I am passionate about The Beacon because it gives women hope, confidence and resources to help them become the best version of themselves. It gives them ability to dream again and empowers them to be leaders in the community.
Biri Vilmael, MBA
National Sales Director Executive
CNA Insurance
Member since July 2023
The Beacon offers so much more than support - it provides real, lasting community and countless opportunities for healing and growth for its clients. I am proud to serve on the Board and I look forward to working collaboratively towards providing a safe and empowering environment for women to reclaim their strength and independence.
Meredith Cooney, JD
Assistant Attorney General
Iowa Attorney General's Office
Member since July 2023
The Beacon doesn’t just empower women; it has a ripple effect that transforms families and communities. I am truly honored and humbled to serve on the board for an organization that embodies the potential for profound positive change.
Nina New
Vice President of Operations
The Stelter Company
Member since July 2023
I want to help ensure that all woman know they matter and help them see all the positive ways they can impact our communities. Being involved with The Beacon allows me the opportunity to provide encouragement and support at a critical time in the lives of the women we serve.
Christa Kuennen, CPA FLMI
VP Controller
Wellmark, Inc.
Member since July 2023
The Beacon provides an aspirational opportunity to effect change. It fills my heart to work with this board to support the Beacon’s mission and see the positive impacts of healthier individuals, happier families, and stronger communities.
Andrea Brunk, PMP
Portfolio & Project Consultant
Tailored Project Consulting
Member since October 2023
The Beacon provides an aspirational opportunity to effect change. It fills my heart to work with this board to support the Beacon’s mission and see the positive impacts of healthier individuals, happier families, and stronger communities.
Tracy Gryp
Program Manager
Full Circle Recovery Community Center
Member since 2023
I am a firm believer that each individual has unique abilities; gifts that can be used to impact our communities in a positive way. In life, we are often faced with challenges that may inhibit our ability to see our potential for impact and our utility. When we face those challenges head-on and overcome them, we move towards reaching our potential as leaders and Beacons of Light for others. The Beacon, to me, represents a light guiding women in our community through the challenges they face as they move toward becoming strong contributors to our society.
We practice intentional diversity by increasing access to The Beacon for members of marginalized communities wanting to experience involvement as staff, Board, volunteers, or clients. We believe that we are a stronger, more effective team because of our diversity and will do the work to uncover and remedy any experiences or systems that disadvantage someone because of their race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability or veteran status.