Staff

Chapter President
Lauren J. Yabut, LICSW

Lauren J. Yabut

Lauren J Yabut MSW LICSW, NASW member since 2014 and recipient of the 2017 Social Worker of the Year award in aging, is thrilled to begin her term as president of the NASW-RI chapter.  

Lauren has served the elderly and disabled populations of RI via the provision of stable housing, social services, assisted living, and long term care since 1999 at Charlesgate in Providence.  She has served as the administrator of Charlesgate Nursing Center and currently serves as the administrator of Charlesgate Senior Living Center.  She believes that provision of stable housing and quality health care services are the keys to maintaining success  in community living for marginalized and under-served populations.  

When not working, Lauren enjoys gardening, outdoor living and spending time with her husband of 24 years and their two teenage children.

Rebekah gewirtz portrait

Interim Executive Director

Rebekah Gewirtz, MPA 

Rebekah Gewirtz has been the executive director of the National Association of Social Workers, MA Chapter (NASW MA) since April 2017. Prior to this, she served for eight and half years as the director of government relations and political action at NASW MA. During that time, Rebekah was a leader in the campaign to raise the minimum wage and co-chair of the Campaign for our Communities, working with the support of nearly 100 organizations for a state revenue package that would be adequate and fair. She was a founder of the welfare coalition working for economic justice for the state’s lowest income families. Rebekah was also the lead on passage of significant social work practice legislation including legislation preventing non-compete clauses for social workers, legislation giving social workers section 12 authority, and legislation protecting social workers from frivolous lawsuits. In addition, Rebekah led NASW-MA’s political action work, endorsing and supporting progressive candidates throughout Massachusetts who share social work values and priorities.

Rebekah was raised in Providence, RI and went to the University of Rhode Island for her undergraduate degree. The daughter of the late social worker activist and professor at RIC School of Social Work, Nancy Gewirtz, Rebekah brings her passion for social justice with her to this interim role at the RI Chapter. Rebekah can be reached by email at: rgewirtz.naswma@socialworkers.org

Deputy Director
Angelita (Angie) Almeida

Angie has been with NASW-RI since November of 1991. She has served under three separate executive directors during her tenure.  In 2004, Angie received the Gilman-Wells Award on behalf of the Rhode Island Chapter for demonstrated excellence.