Meet the Team
The Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Assault (IowaCASA) is a vibrant organization working to unite people and organizations to promote a society free from sexual violence and to meet the diverse needs of survivors. IowaCASA is a progressive organization, and works toward goals that will improve the well-being of survivors in many aspects of their lives. We support disenfranchised groups and actively work on anti-racist initiatives. IowaCASA is a small, statewide non-profit organization that provides a friendly, fast-paced work environment.
Josh Opperman
Staff Attorney
He/him/his
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Josh graduated from William Penn University in Oskaloosa with a degree in Business Management and then obtained his Juris Doctor from Drake University Law School in 2015. He previously worked in contact center management, consulting, and human resources, and has practiced law in a variety of settings primarily in the areas of employment, family law, landlord/tenant, domestic violence, criminal law, and estate and probate. Additionally, Josh has taught classes in human resources topics, law, and information systems as an adjunct instructor at local universities and has served on a number of non-profit boards.
Sonci Kingery
Staff Attorney
She/her/hers
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Sonci assists survivors with navigating the administrative process in secondary and post-secondary educational settings, as well as certain civil legal processes. Sonci graduated from Wartburg College in 2007 with majors in psychology and sociology and a minor in Woman’s Studies. She graduated from Drake University Law School in 2012. She served as IowaCASA’s Rural SART coordinator in 2015 before spending time at a private practice in West Des Moines. Her areas of practice included family law (dissolutions, establishment of paternity, child support and visitation), residential landlord/tenant, consumer rights, employment, and guardianships.
resource
sharing
project
The Resource Sharing Project is part of a national movement of sexual violence-related services and resources. Led by the Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Assault, the Resource Sharing Project was created to help sexual assault coalitions across the country access the resources they need in order to thrive as they work to support survivors and end sexual assault.
LaShae Lopez
Rural Technical Assistance Coordinator for the Resource Sharing Project
She/her/hers
515-401-8984
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LaShae Lopez is driven by her passion to promote healing and accountability and center the needs of communities that have been pushed to the margins. She began her work as a crisis responder in Flagstaff, Arizona, and has been committed to advocating for survivors and anti-violence work since then. LaShae has experience in direct sexual and domestic violence advocacy and providing training and technical assistance for sexual violence services, responses, advocacy, and prevention. LaShae is happiest when reading a new book, dancing, playing mini-golf, and being an active member of her adopted community.
Norio Umezu Hall
Publications Coordinator
for the Resource Sharing Project
He/him/his
515-505-2729
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Norio loves finding resilience and wisdom in the written word. As publications specialist, he gets to combine three loves: the anti-violence movement, systems change, and art. Before coming to Iowa, he worked with low-income LGBTQ survivors of color. He’s worked at the statewide coalition level in Iowa for almost three years now. When he isn’t writing or reading, he can be found learning about culturally based healing and community organizing.
Board of Directors
Dawn Collins, President
Edward Jones
Yoshida Thomas
Way Pointe
yoshidaf8@gmail.com​​
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Kristin Clayton, Treasurer
Oakridge Neighborhood
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Anasia C. Sturdivant
LSW, Community Member
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Shalisa Gladney
Ujima, NCVAW
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Alissa Spidell
University of Northern Iowa
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Jonathan Grieder
Community Member​
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Amy Bingaman
Broadlawns Medical Center
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Pierce Zanders
Sammons Financial, Community Member
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