Mavis A. Creagh
Nominated by NAMI Mississippi
Member, NAMI Pine Belt (MS)
Listen to Mavis' Candidate Speech
Job Title or Position:
- Executive Director, R3SM, Inc. (Recover, Rebuild, Restore Southeast Mississippi)
NAMI Leadership Experience:
- NAMI Mississippi Board of Directors (Board Member, 4 years; State Conference Chair, 2 years; Affiliate Development Committee, 2 years)
- NAMI Pine Belt (Affiliate Leader; 4 years)
Additional NAMI Involvement:
- NAMI Basics, NAMI Family & Friends, NAMI In Our Own Voice, NAMI Advocacy, NAMIWalks
- NAMI Pine Belt Walk Committee (Chair, 2022; Member, 2021-2023)
Other Board Service:
- Disaster Leadership Team (Board Member, 2023)
- Mississippi Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster (Vice President, 2022-2023; Secretary, 2017-2021; Treasurer, 2020-2021)
- Women’s Business Owners of the Pine Belt (President, 2023; Vice President, 2022)
- Purple Heart Homes Pine Belt MS Chapter (President, 2020-2023)
- Pine Belt MS Veteran’s Task Force (Treasurer, 2019-2023)
Relationship to Mental Health:
- Individual with first-person experience of mental health illness; Family member or direct/front-line support of someone with a mental health illness; Non-profit Advocate; Community Engagement/Employer
Candidate Strengths Assessment
The candidate indicated they have experience in the following areas that will help NAMI achieve its mission and strategic goals:
- Advocacy, Business/Nonprofit Administration, Business/Nonprofit Leadership, Mental Health Service/Support, Philanthropy/Donor Cultivation, Program Research/Evaluation
Estimated years of experience in the above areas:
The candidate indicated they have connections and networks in the following areas:
- Corporate Responsibility, Human Resources/Personnel, Marketing/Public Relations, Military/Veterans, Philanthropy
Candidate Leadership Style
The candidate indicated the following descriptors represent their leadership style:
- Action-oriented, Consensus Builder, Innovator, Peacemaker, Process Thinker, 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
- Knowledge of the philanthropic community and track record with donor cultivation
- Experience with a variety of revenue models and financial oversight and management
I am passionate about providing resources and support for individuals living with mental illness along with those who are need support with mental health. Over time life can become overwhelming, hopeless, and at times even make some feel like it is not worth living. Organizations such as NAMI provide people with tangible structures, information, education, and most importantly support. Family members are able to receive assistance and not feel like they are all alone when providing care for loved ones living with mental illness. The programs provide real concern and care for those in need. The conversations and model of NAMI is phenomenal and impressive for someone who has lived through struggles with mental health and now I use my voice to advocate for others living with mental illness. It should no longer be a death sentence to have a diagnosis or seek help. But for many they suffer in silence and even may have been discouraged from receiving the help that they need when it comes to mental health. NAMI provides a vast array of resources and is active in advocating for forward change in legislation and overall culture of change. The phrase of "Mental Health 4 All" is why I want to be a part. I believe in the vision of NAMI and believe our work is changing lives and communities for the better!
I personally have helped advance the NAMI mission in my community by broadening the scope of people who are familiar with NAMI within the general community. There were people who knew about it before I became involved but the majority were in academia or practitioners. With my leadership and outreach NAMI and the resources that are provided have expanded within our community, state, and nationally.
I work well in coordination with other leaders to accomplish goals as evidenced by the work within disaster recovery, community outreach, fundraising, and connecting people to available resources. As a director of a nonprofit and in leadership for different nonprofit boards you are not able to solve large problems individually. It pushes you to work together and collectively come together to resolve issues and accomplish goals.