Nominated by NAMI Georgia
Member, NAMI Rockdale & Newton Counties GA
Listen to Dr. Izzard's Candidate Speech

Job Title or Position:

• Licensed Professional Counselor, Adjunct Counselor Educator

NAMI Leadership Experience:

• NAMI Georgia Board of Directors (Board Member, 2020-present)
• NAMI Rockdale & Newton Counties GA (Leadership Team, 2020-2022)

Additional NAMI Involvement:

• NAMI Ending the Silence, NAMI Connection Recovery Support Group, NAMI Smarts for Advocacy, NAMI Advocacy, NAMI Speakers Bureau, NAMIWalks 
• NAMI Georgia Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee
• NAMI HBCU, Moderator, Mental Health Expert Panelist: Clark Atlanta University and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (2021-present)
• NAMI Louisiana presenter/coordinator expertise for 3 events in 2023 

Other Board Service: 

• Clubhouse Atlanta Board of Directors (Board Member, June 2022-present)

Public Service:

• Georgia Department of Behavioral Health Advisory Council (November 2021-present)

Relationship to Mental Health:

• Family member or direct/front-line support of someone with a mental health illness; Provider/mental health practitioner/employee in the field

Candidate Strengths Assessment

The candidate indicated they have experience in the following areas that will help NAMI achieve its mission and strategic goals:

• Adult Education, Advocacy, Business/Nonprofit Administration, Business/Nonprofit Leadership, Criminal Justice, Mental Health Service/Support, Program Research/Evaluation, Research/Academia

• Adult Education - 10 years
• Advocacy - 8 years
• Business/Nonprofit Administration - 8 years
• Business/Nonprofit Leadership - 8 years
• Criminal Justice - 2 years
• Mental Health Service/Support - 18 years
• Program Research/Evaluation - 2 years
• Research/Academia - 11 years

The candidate indicated they have connections and networks in the following areas:

• Criminal Justice, Entertainment/Film/Television/The Arts, Marketing/Public Relations, Military/Veterans, Philanthropy, Politics/Elected Officials, Social Media

Additional information about the connections and networks:

• Tri-Care Military Counselor, Georgia Department of Community Supervision Connection, Local News Station Connections
• Former Georgia State House of Representative’s Candidate, Mental Health Panelist at Georgia Legislative Black Caucus Conference 2022
• Planning committee member, The Council on Alcohol and Drugs and Voices of Prevention Suicide Prevention Day at the Capitol 2023, Coordinated Marketing and Public Relations for African American Male Symposium for past 4 years.

Candidate Leadership Style

The candidate indicated the following descriptors represent their leadership style:

• Action-oriented, Data Driven, Decisive, Innovator, Outcome-oriented, Process Thinker, Risk Taker, Team Player

Candidate Narrative

The candidate indicated that they possess these specific strengths and attributes that the NAMI Board has identified as high priority for the 2023-2024 Board: 

• Diversity of age, race, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, language, experience, and national geography
• Criminal Justice

I strongly believe in the NAMI National mission and believe with my diverse leadership experience I can assist in providing governance for the national organization in the areas of Diversity, Criminal Justice, and Donor support. I have supported the NAMI mission in my community by diligently advocating for individuals with mental health conditions at the federal and state legislative levels; and advocating for individuals with mental health conditions to remain out of the criminal legal system. My experience as a Mental Health Counselor in the Georgia Prison System set a great knowledge base. I have volunteered with local Stepping Up Initiative events, Georgia Department of Community Supervision training events, and the Familiar Faces project with the Justice Center of State Governments. I have spearheaded awareness about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to support underserved communities and college student mental health at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). As a founding member of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee for (NAMI Georgia); I coordinated and moderated the first virtual Courageous Conversations amid COVID panel series focused on BIPOC communities, Diversity, and Mental Health collaborating with more than thirty Georgia Community Stakeholders. I coordinated and hosted NAMI Georgia's first ever African American Male Mental Health Symposium focused on Mental Health Restoration, Racial Equity, and Social Justice. In Board service I have recently assisted in planning and participating in two successful fundraiser events to encourage donor support. I also thrive with an extensive track record in developing community partnerships and collaborative efforts.

I personally have helped advance the NAMI mission in my community by diligently advocating for individuals with mental health conditions at the federal and state legislative levels; advocating for individuals with mental health conditions to remain out of the criminal legal system and spreading awareness about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to support underserved communities and college student mental health at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). I have served as a Founding member, Advocacy leader, Program Trainer, and engaged in multiple outreach events with my local NAMI affiliate NAMI Rockdale & Newton Counties GA. I have participated as a panelist, moderator, and virtual greeter, for events hosted by NAMI National’s HBCU initiative. 

I work well in coordination with other leaders to accomplish goals as evidenced by serving as a board of director, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee member, Program leader, Advocacy leader and Community Leader. I developed NAMI Georgia's first Counselor Support Group in partnership as a Counselor Leader in April 2020 just as the COVID pandemic began. I have continued to spearhead this historic and much needed group as a NAMI Georgia program leader. I received NAMI Georgia's 2021 Outstanding Leader Award at our state conference in October 2021 for my exemplary and innovative program leadership.

• Read Dr. Izzard's nomination letter
• Read the responses the nominator provided to questions posed to all candidates and their nominators
• Read Dr. Izzard's CV