A champion for women and children, January Contreras is the founder and former CEO of the Arizona Legal Women and Youth Services (ALWAYS). She has dedicated her career to serving others. January is a former Deputy County Attorney, Assistant Attorney General and Advisor to Governor Janet Napolitano. In 2009, she joined the Obama Administration where she was a designee to the White House Council on Women and Girls and led creation of the Council on Combating Violence Against Women to strengthen protections for immigrant victims of crime, especially battered immigrant women. She returned to Arizona inspired to represent people left behind in the justice system and launched ALWAYS to provide lifesaving and life changing legal services to vulnerable children and young adults. January has been recognized for her positive impact on the lives of others with honors including the YWCA Tribute to Leadership Award, Mujer Luminaria Award, Arizona List Leadership Award, the Arizona American Jewish Committee’s Judge Learned Hand Public Service Award, and the State Bar of Arizona Legal Aid Attorney of the Year.