Our vision is to create community around an ecological approach to health.
Founded in 2019, La Maida Project is a nonprofit organization addressing the mental health crisis by empowering organizations to adopt an ecological approach to healing that improves the mental health of their teams and those they serve.
Based on a proven clinical care model, we provide real-world projects and programs that help our partner organizations become mental-health supporting ecosystems.
Our HistoryCore Values
At La Maida Project, we are committed to a shared set of values (C.I.R.C.L.E.) that guide our decision-making, provide clarity in times of uncertainty, and ensure alignment with those we collaborate with. These values define how we operate both internally as a team and externally as service providers and partners. They serve as our guiding principles, shaping our actions and commitments in all that we do.
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COMMUNITY: We dedicate time to build strong connections and establish a felt sense of belonging through mutual care and teamwork.
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INTEGRITY: We act with authenticity and transparency, embracing our whole selves to foster a culture of trust in alignment with our values.
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RESPECT: We create inclusive spaces of mutual respect, holding ourselves accountable for our words and actions.
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CULTURE OF WELL-BEING: Our team flourishes within a culture of well-being that dedicates resources to nurture staff health and wellness, cultivating harmony and balance for our whole selves.
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LEARNING AND LEADERSHIP: We invest in the development of diverse staff leadership by encouraging continuous growth through learning opportunities, inspired by our individual curiosity and pursuit of purpose.
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ECOLOGICAL LENS: We recognize that the human experience is complex and individuals are deeply impacted by their relationships and environments. We make decisions that honor the interconnectedness and balance between individuals, communities, and ecosystems.
Meet the Team
Staff
Lynn Knox
Executive Director
Marlene Padron, MSW
Senior Manager of Programs
Karyna Duran
Development Manager
Support Team
Laurie Cousins
Program Facilitator
Kristin Dust, LMSW
Program Facilitator
Donette Lowe
Program Facilitator
Maya Maria Brown, MA
Program Facilitator
Erika Foldyna, MPH
Evaluation Consultant
Nia Padilla
Virtual Production Specialist
Marina Maskaykina
Graphic Designer
Luke Lee
Web Developer
Maddison Chaffin
Social Media Specialist
Anoki Casey
Content Creator
Board of Directors
Steven Klein
Board Chair
Mason Farmani
Vice Chair
Omid Naim, MD
Founder
Alexis Naim, LCSW
Founder
Thomas Armentrout-Wiswall
Treasurer
Drew Carey
Sarah Schultz
Jane Lipsitz
Jeff Huron
Founder’s Circle
We give special recognition to the members of La Maida Project’s Founder’s Circle for their commitment and investment in our mission.
Ryan Bingham
Drew Carey
CHAIR
Jennifer Garner
Hassie Harrison
Catherine Peterffy
CHAIR
Bill Reilly
Jenny Reilly
Anna Schafer
George Stephanopoulos
Blake Slatkin
Ali Wentworth
Matt Damon
Lucy Damon
Emily Blunt
John Krasinski
Interested in supporting our work by becoming a member of the Founder’s Circle? Reach out to our Executive Director at lynn@lamaida.org to learn more.
Engage With Us
Join the community of people who are rewriting the story of mental health and well-being with La Maida Project. Let’s work together to support each other through these uncertain times by securing our human nature and innate resilience.
Our History
Background
- La Maida Project’s cofounders – Omid Naim, MD, and Alexis Naim, LCSW – met at UCSF while working to improve youth mental health within the public health system. There, they witnessed first-hand the limitations of the dominant treatment model of mental health. Namely, they observed what data confirmed: after decades of investment in services and rising medication use, rates of mental illness and disability in children and youth were still rising.
- In the years that followed, they each built private practices, but their shared passion for public health, alongside the questions raised by their early collaborative work at UCSF, remained with them.
- Dr. Naim founded Hope Integrative Psychiatry & Psychotherapy, honing his ideas around how the “disease model” has been over-applied to mental health and what a new model should look like. Alexis continued teaching at UCSF in addition to growing her private practice.
- Together, they began to connect the dots as a larger story emerged. Our society has moved increasingly towards disconnection – from ourselves, from nature, from one another, and from a deeper sense of purpose and meaning. Meanwhile, psychiatry has become increasingly reductionist, narrowing its focus to brain chemistry and genetics without showing large-scale results. Ultimately, this led to a deeper realization: the crisis was not inside the kids, but in the way we are living.
HOPE Ecological Trauma-Informed Model
- Informed by a fellowship in Integrative Medicine, Dr. Naim began to reimagine mental health through an ecological lens, studying how trauma and stress shape behavior and how wisdom traditions understand trauma and its potential for healing. Dr. Naim came to see trauma not as pathology, but as a natural part of life, something we can grow from with self-agency when supported by community, culture, and a sense of purpose.
- Built from a synthesis of his experiences in public health and private practice at Hope Psychiatry, where patients actually healed and resolved long-standing conditions, Dr. Naim codified the HOPE Ecological Model and began training practitioners in it. The core proposal of the HOPE Model is that connection – and the strength of our connections, from the cellular to the community and societal levels – is what most determines health.
- The Hope Ecological Model treats people by:
- Teaching them a new story of mental health in which:
- Humans evolved such that some conditions – including lifestyle, deep community, and shared struggle – support human health and wellbeing, while others challenge it. Our society has moved us away from conditions and practices that support our health.
- The root cause of most mental health conditions is unresolved trauma, grief, or other difficult states, but these are not permanent. We have an innate capacity to heal completely when we are supported by the conditions we evolved to thrive in.
- We can optimize our innate capacity to heal when we put in place practices that restore our connection to these conditions – specifically by strengthening our connection to self, to meaningful community, and to the natural world.
- Leading a patient through their life story with this new framing in mind to discover in their trauma experiences a uniquely personal purpose.
- Guiding a patient to manifest their purpose through creative service to their communities.
- Teaching them a new story of mental health in which:
- In their private practices, Dr. Naim and Alexis found that treating people in ways consistent with this model meant patients actually got better, stopped needing regular therapy, and even ceased medication use, achieving full recovery.
- To scale these benefits and make them accessible to high-need populations, Dr. Naim and Alexis founded La Maida Project.
La Maida Project and its Ecological Approach
- Based on Hope’s model and informed by Dr. Omid Naim’s continual clinical work, La Maida Project launched an early phase of work with McKinley Children’s Center, a large child-welfare agency in Southern California. In that collaboration, the La Maida team discovered that mental health transformation for the high-risk youth McKinley served was only possible when McKinley’s entire culture of care shifted such that McKinley’s organizational culture became one that co-created resilience, purpose, and connection for its leadership, staff, and youth. The success at McKinley became a proof point for what La Maida Project’s Ecological Approach is.
- La Maida Project now deploys its Ecological Approach in order to scale improved mental health change through a renewal of communal and cultural values in public health organizations, communities, and large-scale systems.
- La Maida works through key domains to transform mental health:
- Organizational Transformation: By instituting culture change at the places people already engage – schools, work places, residential foster homes, and families – we rewrite the story of mental health at scale. Via work with these organizations, we help the leadership and their teams, and constituents:
- Learn an ecological approach to their mental health,
- Apply that approach to their lives, life stories, and roles in the organization, and
- Put into communal practice rituals and traditions that help community members connect to themselves, lead and support each other, and, ultimately, fulfill creative purpose in their jobs, learning, or other community roles.
- When we finish work with a given community, we leave behind and help sustain a new culture and practices that help people unlock their innate resiliency and potential to heal in and through community.
- Public Awareness: We further scale a new story of mental health through public awareness efforts, including podcasts, talks, workshops, and publications.
- Organizational Transformation: By instituting culture change at the places people already engage – schools, work places, residential foster homes, and families – we rewrite the story of mental health at scale. Via work with these organizations, we help the leadership and their teams, and constituents:
Lynn Knox
Executive Director
It was the discovery of exercise in early adulthood that brought discipline, movement, and self- confidence to my personal life. Once I experienced this shift, I knew that I needed to dedicate my life to assisting others in finding ways to live healthy and happy lives, as well. This initially manifested in launching and successfully growing my own personal training and wellness business in which I worked with clients ranging from professional and collegiate athletes to occupational therapy patients and everyone in between. With time, my personal practice grew, as did my professional offerings to include such modalities as yoga, meditation, and pranayama to supplement my client’s training routines and to provide a more holistic wellness practice.
In 2019, I shifted to the non-profit sector out of the desire to make a larger positive impact on the health of individuals by expanding my reach outside of my local community. My NPO journey started in the food education space, working as a Director of Development. After one short year, I was given an amazing opportunity to help an aligned partner organization reinvent its programs and delivery and scale internationally.
My role as Chief Development and Partnerships Officer at that academic organization included strategic planning, budgeting, diversification and growth of the donor portfolio, forming and nurturing international partnerships, and assisting with the streamlining of processes and program standardization. These initiatives resulted in a much larger reach and therefore more impactful engagements and outcomes with those we served.
In addition, I represented the organization on major stages, presenting at events such as the 2023 Fifth International Conference on Climate Change in Vancouver, BC, the 2023 Massachusetts Council on Aging Fall Conference, and the 2024 Green Schools Conference in Santa Fe, NM. These opportunities allowed me to speak to the science behind the impacts of positive lifestyle changes on society members of all ages.
One of my favorite parts of non-profit management is working with our ecosystem of constituents. Ensuring that our staff feels empowered in their work and gain a sense of fulfillment from it and that all those who give their time and talents to our mission feel heard, valued, and confident in their role. This is paramount to our success and that of those we serve.
I am honored to bring my years of experience and leadership skillset to my role as Executive Director at La Maida Project. Leading this amazing team of individuals to help us all address the growing mental health crisis aligns perfectly with my values and personal mission to make the world a happier and healthier place. It is an honor and a privilege.
Lynn and her husband call Florida home and they can often be found traveling and enjoying the outdoors together! She finds inspiration and healing in nature, whether it involves bombing down mountain bike trails, hiking to seek amazing views, or riding the waves of the Mother Ocean. Movement is her favorite modality.
Laurie Cousins
Program Facilitator
I am a trauma-informed mindfulness teacher, integrative somatic practitioner, and nonviolent parent educator. I have extensive education and training through the mindful centers of UCLA & UCSD and teach their signature evidence-based programs including Mindful Awareness Practices and Mindful Self-Compassion.
Mentored by Susan Kaiser Greenland, author of The Mindful Child, I am a founding teacher of the International Inner Kids Collaborative and enjoy teaching online and in schools throughout Los Angeles. I focuses on treating the cyclical root causes, and building resiliency and self-love through trauma-sensitive mindfulness and somatic-centered healing from my training at the Trauma Resource Institute.
I believe that deep healing is experienced in our connection with nature and have the honor of working with the wolves and wolfdogs at the Wolf Connection as one of the lead facilitators of their human empowerment programs that serve at-risk groups.
Along with my professional consulting and speaking, I have a private practice that works with clients both in Los Angeles and virtually from all over the country. I draw from my love of nature, ancient wisdom traditions, therapeutic healing modalities, personal life experience, and the inspiration of my two children to guide in helping youth, adults, and families overcome adversity, embrace their innate resiliency, and cultivate joyful connections and purpose.
Marina Maskaykina
Graphic Designer
I am a graphic designer and digital marketer driven by a passion for making a positive impact in the world. For the past six years, I have helped international nonprofits bring their missions to life through imaginative designs. I’ve always loved art for its ability to convey deeper meaning, and I’ve always been fascinated by the human experience — that’s why I got my degree in Psychology and Studio Art. Visual communication is everything to me, and I enjoy using it every day to help organizations showcase their work. In my spare time, you can find me in my craft room obsessing over a new hobby, or hanging out with my cats, Peanut and Banjo.
Alexis Naim, LCSW
Founder
From as early as I can remember, I’ve been interested in stories of struggle and survival. As an adolescent, I devoured autobiographies and wrote short stories that borrowed from themes of self-actualization, purpose, and the quest for happiness and freedom. This interest led me to UC Berkeley and a semester at Oxford University where I studied Virginia Woolf (among others) and what she called “life, truth, spirit. . . the essential thing.” It was in the realm of narrative and consciousness that uncovered one of my greatest passions – the human relationship with ourselves and the collective stories we tell. It became crystal clear to me that I wanted to work with people in the service of creating an inner life of well-being and authenticity. After completing my Masters, I pursued post graduate training in psychodynamic psychotherapy, which is the study of the unconscious and how we come to bring all that we know and feel into conscious awareness. Soon after, I started my private practice and have been seeing individuals,
couples, and families ever since, working with the core values of interconnectedness, mindful awareness, and struggle as it transforms into purpose, meaning, and health. In addition to my private practice, I was proud to serve as a founding clinician at the University of California, San Francisco, in the Intensive Family Therapy Program of the Department of Psychiatry. After years of working at UCSF, I relocated to Los Angeles with my husband and we launched La Maida Institute, an integrative care center focused on promoting wholeness as a foundation for health. As we continue as a team dedicated to rewriting the story, I’m honored to bring my curiosity, insight, and professional experience to nurture and grow La Maida Project.
Alexis is the mother of two, and with her husband Omid, can be found laughing and creating memorable adventures with their kids on road trips as well as in the backyard.
Omid Naim, MD
Founder
I was born in Tehran, Iran, just before the Iranian Revolution in 1978. This early childhood experience of societal terror and chaos shaped my appreciation for how unresolved trauma and grief have lifelong effects on individuals, families, and the community. Through the lens of my own family and community I came to witness firsthand how unacknowledged trauma can be neglected as the root cause of mental illness and other chronic health conditions in our society. Although I didn’t know it then, this would become the foundation of my professional life.
After completing medical school at the University of Southern California and residency training in General Adult and Child Psychiatry at USC, I began working in community mental health with high risk youth. Even though I was a classically trained Western psychiatrist, I could see that there was a need for more holistic, spiritual, and community-based approaches to health due to the limitations of the medical model. Witnessing patients with the extensive histories of abuse and neglect becoming more and more medicated – while trauma was as a root cause was ignored, and their disabilities worsened – I knew the system needed to change. This fueled my passion to find new ways to approach how we care for people and led me to further my education in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona as a Bravewell Scholar under Dr. Andrew Weil.
This time spent training in Integrative Medicine laid the foundation for creating a new model for mental health which evolved into the Hope Integrative Psychiatry Clinic. At Hope, we focused on empowering our clients to tap into their capacity to heal and recover naturally and elevating our deep needs for meaning, community, and belonging as the cornerstones for emotional well-being. This practice informed an entirely new integrative model for health and led to what would become La Maida Institute.
With the help of my wife, Alexis, and the team of dedicated professionals who made La Maida Institute grow, we were able to continue our private practice and develop the ecological approach with the support of a new communal model. Things were coming together in a profound way and we began to see that what we were really talking about was a paradigm shift in how society views health and well-being and how, through the formation of La Maida Project, we could truly make a meaningful impact. And the story keeps getting better and better!
Omid and Alexis are parents of two children. He enjoys exploring and adventuring with his family as well as connecting with others to uncover the deeper truths of life.
Marjorie O’Hanley
Managing Director
My professional career has always been motivated by advocacy – for our oceans, for our earth, and for the inhabitants that occupy this planet. I began my career working at OceanX. My work there was in production of documentary films about the world’s oceans and the importance of protecting these complex ecosystems. Some of my projects included Oceans: Our Blue Planet, BBC’s Blue Planet II Series, and the documentary film Before the Flood.
In 2018 I moved to Los Angeles to pursue a master’s degree in communications with a focus in non-profit advocacy at University of Southern California. I was seeking to broaden my skill set in communicating messages and amplifying missions of the
non-profits that work hard to impact change. Since 2018 I have been working as a Philanthropic Consultant, specializing in project management, marketing and communications, fundraising, and research.
I believe there is an urgent need to promote human connections to each other, and to the natural world. My background in managing complex teams and projects and expertise in marketing for non-profit organizations positions me to be a valuable member of the La Maida Project team as we work to scale, expand our reach, and broaden our impact. I am thrilled to be a part of this team!
Marlene Padron, MSW
Senior Manager of Programs & Curriculum
I am a bilingual, 1st generation Mexican-American (she/her), who works at the intersection of mental health and social justice within the United States and Canada. With an academic background in social work, I have a deep commitment to working with historically underserved and marginalized communities. My career has largely been in the public health sector, working in advocacy roles within nonprofit organizations aimed at elevating and empowering underrepresented groups of humans. The approaches I bring to my work include: human-centered, strengths-based, anti-racist, trauma-informed, mindfulness, and narrative building.
Some of my first childhood memories involve translating information from English into Spanish for my newly immigrated Mexican parents. I assumed this role in adult conversations with institutions such as the bank, school officials, medical providers, etc, and found myself getting pulled out of elementary school classes to provide this service for other humans experiencing language barriers with the systems they engage in. This unique position shaped how I viewed my role within my family, communities, and society. I found myself providing a voice, and information to those lacking access due to the larger systems and cultural norms.
I grew up with an inherent curiosity, and moral compass that frequently had me questioning the “why” behind those systems, norms, and disparities. After finishing an undergraduate degree at the University of Michigan, focusing on Psychology and Sociology, I moved to Philadelphia, PA to pursue a Masters in Social Work degree. I continued my work within the public health sector in Austin, and then moved to Southern California where I continue to do high impact, social justice work.
I believe that art, community, the collective experience of storytelling and sharing vulnerably provide a profound container for healing and connection. As a facilitator, I’ve held space for humans exploring mental wellness and connectivity using art, film, movement, somatic grounding, and psychoeducation. I believe that mental health and wellness are non-linear, uniquely personal, and shift in accordance with our life circumstances.
In my free time I practice cooking my grandma’s traditional Mexican recipes, walk dogs, work at a local farmers market, and play volleyball.
Nia Padilla
Virtual Production Specialist
Being Puerto Rican and growing up in NYC, I’ve always had a deep commitment to empowering marginalized communities. I’ve worked extensively in politics around social justice causes, and I’m passionate about creating positive change. My work has ranged from teaching early childhood how to garden to helping elect pro choice candidates win elections. I’m passionate about human connection and making order out of chaos. Outside of work, I love to sing and dance, enjoy live music, and am a true food enthusiast. Time in nature is my happy place and I believe there’s so much we can learn from the natural world.
Katherine Scarpitta
Development Associate
I am a dedicated nonprofit professional with a desire to help people tell their stories. I love spreading the good news that an organization is accomplishing and making connections along the way.
Always intrigued by people’s stories, and possessing a keen desire to appreciate and understand different life experiences, I graduated from Boston University with a BA in Cultural Anthropology in 2014. I moved to New York and began my professional career managing grants and contracts for one of Long Island’s most comprehensive social services organizations. After honing my grant writing skills at Educational Alliance, I relocated with my spouse to Washington State in early 2023 and I am looking forward to establishing a life and a community on the West Coast.
I am so excited to be a part of La Maida’s mission to transform modern conceptions and practices of mental healthcare. At a time in my life when I am exploring what makes a community and why these interpersonal connections are so crucial to wellness, I am thrilled to be able to drive the work of our team forward by growing La Madia’s support network.
When I am not at work, you can find me exploring the various parks of Eastern Washington or curled up with my chihuahua and a good book.
Jon Rowe
Program Manager
A dedicated advocate for social justice and mental health, I am guided by principles of harm reduction, self determination, and housing first. My professional journey took a circuitous route through various service and retail jobs before finding purpose and direction working for a mental health and supportive housing non-profit in New York City. I spent a decade in NYC working to reduce the stigma and othering around mental health concerns, including five years leading Health and Wellness programming, focusing on food justice and expanding access to personal and community wellness resources.
I endeavored to change the perception that practicing self care and taking care of our wellness was something only people with money can do, but that through skill sharing and the exchange of stories and ideas we can all learn practical ways to improve our daily lives. But I was born and raised in southern California, so the siren calls of family and year-round warm weather brought me back to California and finding a role at La Maida Project.
When not at work you can find me watching live music, going for a run, biking to go see a movie, collecting more books than I can read, trying to learn how to play the bass, going out to see live dance and theater, taking my dog Cosmo for a walk, or exploring the world with my beautiful wife, Laura.
Karyna Duran
Development Manager
I am a seasoned professional with 14 years of experience in development, fundraising, and non-profit governance. My journey to La Maida Project is shaped by a decade-long career in the development department of a geotechnical engineering firm. After making the bold decision to leave the corporate world to fulfill my passion of opening the path to a more harmonious future by advocating for our ocean, our planet, and all living beings, I began working as the Director of Philanthropy for a startup marine conservation non-profit organization.
Prior to that I studied at the University of California Santa Barbara where I cultivated a deep appreciation for knowledge and vision.
As a first generation Mexican-American from a large entrepreneurial family I learned early on the value of dreams and the importance of pursuing them. My personal journey has served as a catalyst for my involvement with various non-profit organizations, where I discovered my innate empathy had a broader purpose – contributing to the transformative impact in the realm of mental health and holistic wellness by restoring connections to self, community, purpose, and the natural world.
Beyond my professional endeavors, you’ll often find me beneath the waves indulging my love for the ocean as a part-time mermaid though scuba diving. I also enjoy teaching my rescue dog, Kara, new tricks in exchange for her favorite treats!
Jasmyn Broadnax
Communications Manager
I’ve always known I wanted to be part of something bigger than myself—something that gives back and helps others feel seen, heard, and valued. Growing up in Detroit, I witnessed firsthand how untreated trauma, limited access to care, and systemic neglect impacted families, friends, and entire neighborhoods. These experiences shaped my commitment to advocate for vulnerable communities and to use communication as a tool for truth, connection, and healing.
My professional journey began in faith-based spaces and expanded into youth homelessness—work that deepened my understanding of how mental health, addiction, and housing instability are all connected. That path led me to La Maida Project, where I now serve as Communications Manager, using my voice and skills to help tell our story, drive awareness, and make real impact. I’m especially passionate about taking complex, often sensitive topics and translating them in ways that resonate deeply with people—because everyone deserves to feel understood.
I hold a B.S. in Communications (2023) and a Master of Arts in Public Relations from Full Sail University (2025). My work is rooted in the core values that guide my life: integrity, compassion, and authenticity.
Outside of work, I love faith-based events, anything involving the beach, and unwinding with a great documentary. I’m also a proud adoptive mother to a beautiful son who keeps me on my toes and inspires me daily. Becoming a parent through adoption has deepened my personal connection to the work I do—and to the importance of building a more supportive, inclusive world for all families.
To me, wellness is holistic—it’s not just physical health, but emotional grounding, spiritual connection, and the ability to show up as your full self in every space you enter.
Luke Lee
Web Developer
I am an enthusiastic web developer and designer with a passion for creating unique digital experiences. With over 10 years of dedicated experience in the industry, I’ve continuously sharpened my skills and stayed ahead of the latest trends in web technology. Having worked in both freelance and agency settings, I understand the nuances of different project environments and client needs. This experience has honed my skills in collaboration, problem-solving, and creative thinking. My goal is to deliver an exceptional web experience for the La Maida Project team and community. When I’m not coding or pushing pixels, you’ll find me exploring the latest in technology, or perhaps diving into a new creative project that challenges me in exciting ways.
Olivia Christian
Social Media Specialist
I am a writer and freelance digital marketer living in Los Angeles, CA. Since diving into the marketing world in 2017, I have worked with 20+ brands to elevate their content. With an eye for beauty, precision, and a commitment to advancing individual missions, I create smart and incisive material that disrupts mindless scrolling. When I’m not ideating digital content, you can find me writing comedic screenplays, watching reality television shows, and hanging out with my 17 pound maine coon cat.
Erika Foldyna, MPH
Evaluation Consultant
Care has been the central theme of my career, uniting diverse experiences in direct care, care coordination, training, facilitation, and health promotion research and program evaluation. Both during and after earning my Master’s in Public Health from the University of Washington, I worked with an organization dedicated to improving the health and well-being of unionized home care workers. There, I designed, managed, and evaluated programs promoting peer social support, plant-based nutrition, diabetes prevention, and mindfulness, and conducted research about other critical topics related to the caregiving workforce including financial wellness, career advancement, retirement disparities, enhancing equity through data collection, and measuring the prevalence of harassment, abuse, and discrimination.
As a consultant, I leverage these experiences to specialize in mixed-methods research and evaluation, designing and implementing comprehensive frameworks that blend qualitative and quantitative methodologies to support community organizations. Through multi-stakeholder collaborations, developing effective tools, and interpreting complex findings, I aim to deliver actionable, strategic recommendations that drive meaningful impact. While my focus has expanded over time, my work remains dedicated to advocating for the social, emotional, and physical well-being of all types of care providers and the communities they serve.
Erika lives, works, and creates home on the traditional lands of the Puyallup Tribe in Tacoma, WA where she is enjoying the challenges and joys of new parenthood with her partner and their crew of furry companions.”
Kristin Dust, LMSW
Program Facilitator
With over 20 years of experience in mental health, education, training, and administration, I bring a comprehensive background and a deep commitment to supporting children, families, and professionals. I hold a BA in Psychology, a Master’s in Social Work with a concentration in children and youth, and a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) designation, along with a Permanent School Social Worker certification in New York State and a Pupil Personnel Services Credential in California. Throughout my career, I have developed expertise in trauma-informed care, social-emotional learning, and creating safe, supportive environments for students to thrive both academically and emotionally.
Beginning my career as a clinician in a residential treatment center, I cultivated a strong foundation in trauma-focused care, which has influenced my work in educational settings in New York and California. I have been an advocate for social-emotional learning and the importance of creating trauma-informed environments for both students and staff. My experience implementing the School Climate Transformation Grant has allowed me to support students’ academic, behavioral, and socio-emotional needs through Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) frameworks, empowering schools to foster positive, sustainable cultures. I am passionate about helping organizations build mindful workspaces where staff feel supported, valued, and equipped to make a meaningful impact.”
Maya Maria Brown, MA
Program Facilitator
My passion and strength lie at the intersection of mental health, social justice, and the performing arts. I believe in the transformative power of connection, and I use creativity and embodied practices to support healing and empowerment across diverse communities.
I hold a BA in Theater and Peace & Justice Studies from Tufts University, and an MA in Counseling Psychology: Drama Therapy from the California Institute of Integral Studies. Over the past decade, I’ve facilitated trauma-informed workshops, support groups, and community dialogues on workplace mental health, inclusion, violence prevention and healing, cultural understanding, and relational health.
In addition to running my facilitation consultancy and working as a performing artist, my professional background includes serving as a Drama Therapist at the Liberation Institute in San Francisco; a Mental Health Expert at two tech start-ups focused on relationship health; the Program Director at an arts-based mental health nonprofit; and the Associate Director of the S.H.E. College Fund, supporting young women in Kenya as they pursue higher education.
As an actor, director, playwright, musician, and dancer, creativity is woven into every group I lead. I draw from Forum Theater, Psychodrama, the Integrative Five-Phase Model, Role Theory, and Playback Theater to create active, encouraging, and engaging spaces where participants can connect more deeply with themselves and each other.
Donette Lowe
Program Facilitator
I am a trauma-informed educator, clinical herbalist, and facilitator with a focus on holistic approaches to mental wellness. With a BS in Psychology from Howard University and certifications in Clinical Herbalism and Plant Medicine from Land of Verse, I bring over a decade of experience supporting individuals and communities through natural healing modalities and educational programming. My practice emphasizes the importance of addressing barriers to health and fostering individual resilience and empowerment.
I have extensive experience facilitating workshops and programs integrating mindfulness, somatic practices, and healing-centered approaches. I have worked with various organizations to support diverse communities, including those who are BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and neurodivergent. My approach to mental health is rooted in understanding the interconnections between personal experiences and larger social influences.
I believe that sustainable mental wellness is supported by a balanced connection to nature, community, and personal well-being. My facilitation style promotes a safe and supportive environment where participants can access their healing potential and strengthen their ability to cope with life’s challenges. Drawing from my background in community engagement and my lived experiences as a Black, queer practitioner, I guide individuals and groups in developing skills for emotional regulation, resilience, and creating meaningful connections to support long-term well-being and transformation.
Anoki Casey
Content Creator
San Diego-based Graphic Artist and Online Media Maker, specializing in identity, outreach, and social storytelling for community-focused small businesses, non-profits, and organizations. With 30 years of experience in design and marketing, my ongoing goal is to quickly provide effective materials and user-focused concepts that will creatively tell my clients’ stories that activate their audience to improve themselves, their community, and their world.