Hope Starts With Us

Episode Audio Episode Video Asset Gallery Alicia Levi Alicia Levi currently serves as President and CEO of Reading Is Fundamental (RIF), the nation’s leading children’s literacy organization. Since taking the helm in 2016, Alicia has transformed RIF through a bold and innovative vision—leveraging technology, expanding strategic partnerships, and launching forward-thinking programs to ensure every child […]

Episode Audio Episode Video Asset Gallery Mechelle Negrete Mechelle Negrete (she/her) is the Manager of American Indian Community Outreach for NAMI’s Cross-Cultural Innovation and Engagement team. Mechelle’s academic and professional work spans museum operations, language documentation, and public health projects. With 10 years of experience in the non-profit environment, coupled with her cultural background as […]

Episode Audio Episode Video Asset Gallery Jennifer Snow, MPA Social: @namiadvocacy Jennifer Snow is National Director of Government Relations and Policy for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization.Jennifer is responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of NAMI’s overall federal agenda to advance public policies that support […]

Episode Audio Episode Video Asset Gallery Dr. Sheldon A. Jacobs Dr. Sheldon A. Jacobs has worked extensively with individuals experiencing difficulties with various life transitions, juvenile probationers, severely emotionally disturbed children, chemical dependency populations, college students, first responders, professional athletes (most recently the Las Vegas Raiders), and individuals experiencing mild to severe mental health challenges. […]

Episode Audio Episode Video Asset Gallery Erin Raftery Ryan Erin Raftery Ryan is the CEO of NAMI West Los Angeles and comes from a family of military and first responders. She is married to an Army veteran and brings a multidisciplinary approach to leadership, blending expertise in nonprofit management, politics, and entertainment. A former NCAA […]

Episode Audio Episode Video Asset Gallery Juan Acosta (he/him) Juan Acosta is a first-generation Mexican immigrant who grew up in Woodland, California. He is a Mental Health and LGBTQ+ Activist, Content Creator, and Public Speaker. He began his advocacy work locally at age 13. At 21, Juan drafted a historic LGBTQ+ proclamation for his hometown […]

Episode Audio Episode Video Asset Gallery Christian Bentley Director of Evangelization and Discipleship, Saint Joseph Catholic Church, Alexandria, Virginia Mission Outreach, Development and Evangelization, Saint Joseph Society of the Sacred Heart Washington, D.C. Christian Bentley of Alexandria, Virginia, is a Certified Mental Health First Aid provider and Peer Support Advocate, committed to blending his faith […]

Episode Audio Episode Video Asset Gallery Kate Kennedy-Lynch Kate Kennedy-Lynch spent the first decade of her career in event production in New York City. On the heels of her own experience with a serious postpartum mental health condition after the birth of her first child, Kate pivoted her focus to supporting the mental health movement. […]

Episode Audio Episode Video Asset Gallery Dr. Sidney Hankerson Dr. Sidney Hankerson is Associate Professor and Vice Chair in the Department of Psychiatry at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. His research is focused on reducing racial mental health treatment disparities by partnering with sports clubs, faith-based, and other community-based organizations. He is […]

Episode Audio Episode Video Asset Gallery Srihitha Dasari Srihitha Dasari (she/her) is a passionate 20-year-old health equity advocate from Georgia, studying Brain and Cognitive Sciences and Anthropology at MIT. Her journey into advocacy is shaped by personal experiences with anxiety and body image challenges, as well as a commitment to supporting communities where mental health […]