Leadership Team
Shayna Rutman
Founder/CEO
Chapter Coordinator of San Diego Branch
Shayna’s story with the foundation of Purses For A Purpose started alongside her dad, Keith. At 17, he showed her a Facebook flyer that said "Have an extra purse? Don't sell it, give it to a homeless woman". From thereon, they discussed ideas and tactics in which Purses For A Purpose came to light. Purses for a Purpose was born under the core belief that all women have value in society and to raise awareness about the ever-growing homeless crisis. I started spreading the word on social media about our project's needs for purses and travel-sized toiletries, and to our astonishment, we received a lot of donations and praise!
Shayna built this organization from scratch in her bedroom, utilizing social media and in-person marketing to her advantage, cultivating the opportunity to finally distribute the fully stocked purses. The first organization we distributed to was the Street Boutique, the homeless advocacy division of Think Dignity in San Diego, and thereon began traveling with them around North County San Diego every other month during high school before moving to the nation's capital for university.
Shayna holds her Masters of Public Administration & Bachelors of Arts in Political Science from American University where she also introduced Purses too. On top of her schoolwork, social life, club leadership & involvement, she was networking Purses for a stable partnership, where she discovered Community Family Life Services. During her 6 year course of distributions, she has learned, and continues to learn, so much from these women about their experiences navigating the ever-growing homeless crisis.
So many volunteers have brought this organization where it is today, and Shayna is forever grateful for the time, energy, and passion past & present purely voluntary team members have put into Purses.
Karla Zalapa
Graphic Designer / Social Media Coordinator
Karla is an undergraduate student at the University of California, Berkeley, pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Media Studies with a concentration in Digital Studies. With years of experience in creative fields, she is committed to applying her talents to create content that furthers Purses’ mission to help homeless women across the globe.
Purses For A Purpose has allowed me to connect with so many wonderful individuals and to truly witness how my volunteering impacts women in our nation and beyond. As the new Social Media and Graphics Coordinator from 2026 onwards, I am excited to contribute to this organization’s growth, recognition, and community!
Chidera Uzoejinwa
Grant Director
Uzoejinwa Chidera is a final-year undergraduate with a growing record in organizational development and nonprofit support. She has worked with diverse organizations, helping them to strategically position themselves for sustainability and growth. Her contributions have supported teams in accessing grants, aligning with accelerator programs, and building structures that amplify their impact.
At Purses for Purpose, I bring this same dedication, expertise, and passion for social impact. My focus is on helping the organization strategically position itself for local and international grants, partnerships, and fellowships, while also strengthening its capacity to deliver measurable change. Beyond contribution, I am equally committed to continuous learning, expanding my knowledge, collaborating with visionary individuals, and building a strong network of changemakers.
My goal is that through my efforts and collective teamwork, Purses for Purpose will not only scale to greater heights but also create lasting transformations in the communities we serve
Dejah (Puddin) Travis
Secretary
Puddin is the owner of a Sweet Treats Business called "Puddin's Sweets", which was started in her sophomore year of college in 2021. Puddin grew up in Joliet, Illinois and has obtained her bachelor's degree in communications, with a minor in criminology, law, and society.
Puddin is ecstatic to begin working as secretary and helping those in need!
