Pathways to Hope: Our Speakers

Martise Colston is a highly driven individual who works as an ASL instructor and Certified Deaf Interpreter. He is an Accessibility & Inclusion Consultant and works in the field of ASL Music Interpreting/Translation as a representative for DEAFinitely Dope. Martise prides himself on providing a platform that educates deaf and hearing people of all ages on how to make the ASL learning experience more appealing and enjoyable. His mission is to break down barriers, make communication more accessible, and increase cultural understanding. His activities include teaching, hosting workshops and online classes, and public speaking. He is a loving father and a proud husband!
 

Doug Beach is the parent of an adult son living with a mental health diagnosis.  He is the Board President of NAMI San Antonio, a NAMI Family to Family Instructor and leads a Family Support Group for families impacted by a mental illness.  In 2016, Doug helped launch Pathways to Hope, a conference for mental health professionals, social workers, educators, law enforcement, family members and people living with a mental health diagnosis.  Doug has helped chair the Steering Committee for the Bridges to Care San Antonio initiative in conjunction with the COSA Dept. of Human Services.

Dawn Brown is the Director of Cross-Cultural Innovation and Engagement for the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Dawn leads a team focused on expanding mental health education and suicide prevention into underrepresented, underserved, and faith communities; and the implementation of JEDI-CLAS principles and practices across the agency and their 650 chapters. She is a mental health advocate, a DEI trainer and an international speaker on a mission to eradicate disparities and create mental health friendly, stigma free places of work, worship, and community. In addition to her role with NAMI, she is the vice president of DBSA’s State Board of Directors, a member of Kaiser Permanente’s National Suicide Prevention Learning Collaborative, and member of the Suicide Prevention Task Force for the City of Milpitas




Erika Kendrick

Erika J. Kendrick is a bestselling author, a national speaker, and a mental fitness expert. After battling her brain pain, Erika founded Mental Fitness For Life where she launched her latest Mental Fitness book tour, “Who Moved My Happy?” with its accompanying workbook by the same title. Erika also works tirelessly for social and racial justice in mental health, lobbying at state capitals with the National Alliance on Mental Illness annually and speaking out on disparities and inequities on podcasts and television segments. She spends a great deal of time working with police departments, sheriff departments, and first responders by working to decriminalize the mentally ill. Erika has toured with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) and is a speaker with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) where she has been inducted into their Hall of Fame

Nakita Fox

Nakita is a retired Army veteran of 23 years, where she served as a transporter and a vocalist. She’s earned a Master’s Degree in Organizational Development and Leadership from the University of the Incarnate Word.  She is also an active member in her community and church. Nakita is currently employed by AACOG (Alamo Area Council of Governments) as a Care Specialist. Her most recent accomplishment is the completion of her Mental Health Peer Support Certification through VIA Hope, located in Austin Texas. She is planning to pursue a second master’s degree in Social Work in pursuit of an LCSW and launch an endeavor as an entrepreneur, using her creative skills and talents to bring awareness to the effects of trauma on children and their mental health and wellness. Nakita is a native of Newport News, Virginia but now resides in San Antonio Texas

Andy Gray

Dr. Andy is an Educator, Pastor, Clinical Pastoral Counselor, and Lead Therapist with Rapha Cohort. Dr. Andy is a graduate of Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and earned his PhD from Royal Priesthood Academy. Dr. Andy has advanced certifications in Crisis and Abuse Therapy and Integrated Marriage & Family Therapy Through the National Association of Christian Counselors. Dr. Andy was a Texas Licensed Paramedic for 20+ years and as a result is sensitive to the plight of First Responders and has worked with first responders in crisis since 2013. Dr. Andy is a Bridges-to-Care Wellness Champion and Mental Health Coach. Dr. Andy is a member of the National Association of Christian Counselors and the American Association of Christian Counselors. Dr. Andy and his wife Jennifer have 3 children and live in San Antonio, Texas.




Carolyn White

Pastor Carolyn Bailey-White not only ministers within the community of San Antonio, but also abroad. With her husband Pastor Stephen White, they have Foreign Missions Outreach assignments in Central America and Africa. She is founder of the “Daughters of Zelophehad,”a Women’s Fellowship for the disenfranchised women in Kenya and Liberia. In Honduras, Pastor Carolyn and Pastor Stephen have a ministry that provides school uniforms to children, breaking the cycle of poverty through education. Pastor Carolyn has also previously worked with CASA as a Child Advocate for Neglected and Abused Children in the Family Court system in San Antonio. Most recently Pastor Carolyn was Certified as a Mental Health First Responder through NAMI/Bridges to Care. She is currently working on her certification to become a Faith-Based Mental Health Coach. Pastor Carolyn, by profession and education, holds degrees and certifications in Human Resource Management and Clinical Laboratory, was a licensed Health and Life Insurance Agent, and has held several leadership positions in the respective fields. She is also a Military Veteran

Billy Lavender

Billy Lavender is married to his high school sweetheart Renia Lavender for 33 years and they have 2 awesome children, Brittnee and Brandon. Billy moved to San Antonio from his hometown of Muscle Shoals, AL in September of 1989, with an Associates in Applied Technology. He has served in the US Air Force 4 years & Air National Guard 8 years. He has worked with AT&T 21 years as a Systems Technician with the Digital Electronics Group. Billy was introduced to the Bridges to Care program through the Rapha Cohort and has since completed training/certification as a Mental Health/First Aid Companion, also completed the Mental Health Coach training.The mental health training has been a life changing experience that has given him the opportunity to apply the training in helping family, friends and co-workers and those that he encounters in his day to day. He is grateful for the chance to be a part of such a move of God and looking forward to seeing lives changed.

Sunita Punjabi

Dr. Sunita Punjabi, PhD abd, has completed her master’s in counseling from UTSA specializing in neuro and biofeedback. She is continuing her doctoral studies at the University of Chicago Professional School of Psychology. Licensed with the State of Texas as a Professional Antonio, Dr. Sunita Punjabi is known as the “Brain Coach”. She leverages evidence-based programs and assessments (brain mapping- qEEG, psychological assessments, cognitive performance evaluations) to optimize and extend brain performance. The results are increased brain resilience and regeneration for people of all ages and conditions. Dr. Sunita uses computers and brain based coaching programs to stimulate, train and enhance the brain with the goal of improving the quality of life for her clients. For the client, daily activities of life become meaningful and motivating, rather than living a life that is a reaction to circumstances. Dr. Punjabi is currently working for and publishing with the Body Brain Institute. Her recent study has demonstrated a correlational relationship between life purpose, resilience, and life engagement. Sunita was born in Bombay India and raised in America. She leverages her Eastern principles with modern day neuroscience.