Our vision is to create community around an ecological model of 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.
HOW LA MAIDA PROJECT BEGANMeet the team behind La Maida Project.
Kelly Benshoof, MPH
Executive Director
Olivia Christian
Social Media Manager
Laurie Cousins
Program Facilitator
Karyna Duran
Development Manager
Luke Lee
Web Developer
Kelly Liu
Executive Coordinator
Marina Maskaykina
Graphic Designer
Nia Padilla
Virtual Production Manager
Marlene Padron, MSW
Senior Manager of Programs
Board of Directors
Thomas Armentrout-Wiswall
Treasurer
Drew Carey
Mason Farmani
Secretary
Jennifer Garner
Steven Klein
Board Chair
Jane Lipsitz
Alexis Naim, LCSW
Founder
Omid Naim, MD
Founder
Sarah Schultz
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
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.
How La Maida Project Began
From 2006 – 2012, Dr. Naim worked with high-risk youth in facilities in Northern California where he observed patients with multiple diagnoses and medications, however, little to no acknowledgement of trauma and stress with respect to symptoms and behaviors. Most importantly, Dr. Naim recognized that the kids were not getting better, which led him to the stark realization that there was something really wrong with the way care was delivered.
In those days, trauma was often talked about in terms of a “capital T,” meaning the horrors of war, rape, abuse, and other acute events. Since that time and thanks to dedicated work by doctors, scientists, and researchers, the culture around trauma and toxic stress has changed. This was bolstered by landmark studies such as ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) which documented that early adversity leads to increased risk of negative health and social outcomes through the course of an individual’s life. The study asserts that, “Repeated trauma and stress leads to long-term changes in the structure and functioning of the developing brain, metabolic, immune, and neuroendocrine responses, and even the way DNA is read and transcribed. This is known as the toxic stress response.”
Dr. Naim’s work with patients was evolving as he focused on how an individual’s symptoms made sense in relation to the real-life circumstances they were living in rather than a common reductionist view relying on heavy medication, symptom management, and a limited chance of healing. Through this lens came the clarity around a simple but profound idea that our sickness is rooted in “a problem with the way we are living.” This statement points to the fact that problems in mental health cannot be reduced to the individual, our genes or our family of origin; rather it is the progressive changes in the way we are living as a society that has led to a diminishment in the conditions that bring out our innate resilience.
With this new understanding, Dr. Naim shifted his work with patients, blending traditional Western medical knowledge with a new ecological approach to wholeness as health. The results were profound – young people, who were normally prescribed one or more medications and/or antipsychotics, were starting to get off of the medication and heal through their own resilience. After years of being told their suffering was intrinsic to who they were, patients began to see that healing was possible and attainable. For both Dr. Naim and the young people he worked with, this changed everything.
Alexis Naim was teaching at UCSF when she met Dr. Naim. As they were both working as mental health professionals, they discovered that they shared the view that people, who had invested their hope and trust in the medical system, were not getting better. They agreed that the root of the problem with the traditional approach was that the best that patients could hope for was symptom management with no real expectation to heal. Realizing that their paths shared this common bond, Alexis contributed to Dr. Naim’s growing model by integrating her knowledge of the deep value of community, and honoring the centrality of relationships for individuals to be resilient and whole.
Dr. Naim decided to leave the public health system to design a new model based in integrative medicine, where he continued to study the family and individual through an ecological lens – how trauma informs behavior, and how wisdom traditions of the world can inform the way we heal. What emerged from this exploration was the crucial role that the breakdown in community has played in the rise of mental illness in the West, and how community leads the way back to health. To prove these ideas, Dr. and Alexis Naim formed La Maida Institute, where the ecological approach became refined and showcased what would become the full expression of the La Maida Project model.
Kelly Benshoof joined La Maida Institute as the executive director and brought with her the understanding that people thrive when they co-create a system of shared values and practices focused on health, purpose, and meaning. Kelly’s contribution to the ecological approach to care, made it clear that the model could benefit organizations as well as individuals.
The success at La Maida Institute led to an invitation to work with the staff at McKinley Children’s Center, a child welfare agency spread over three counties in Southern California with a short-term residential therapeutic facility for male youth aged 6-17, non-public schools, outpatient mental health services, and foster care and adoption services.
While working with the leadership at McKinley, the team realized that in order for this new ecological approach to healing to be effective – the whole system had to change. Beyond just helping the children of McKinley, the transformation in the form of culture change at the organizational level was paramount. Meaning everyone involved in the organization would co-create a trauma-informed, resilient environment for optimal health. The team knew that if this “blueprint” approach to organizational health was successful, the potential for sharing the La Maida Project model could have a broad impact.
Kelly Benshoof
Executive Director
One of my biggest passions is to create meaningful impact in our world and contribute to changing the conversation about what it means to be healthy. My work life has evolved in the health and wellness space, and I’ve been blessed to learn and grow while sharing the knowledge of integrative approaches to health at an organizational level, and supporting the creation of meaningful and sustainable values and practices. Each experience has led me to a broader vision of what it means to be healthy. Lessons learned working in advocacy, public relations, public affairs, and corporate communications have been invaluable as they shaped the way I see the health of an organization through the lens of its mission. Some of my professional experiences managing the development and application of creative and innovative institutional programs has been in organizations such as Santa Clara Valley Health & Hospital System, UCLA Department of Neurosurgery, ExxonMobil, and the Chanda Plan Foundation.
I’ve always believed in creating a public health environment that is accessible for everyone, focusing primarily on prevention and upstream approaches to health. After receiving my Master’s in Public Health from UCLA’s Fielding School I knew this was a reachable goal and with the fundamental knowledge of the health policy landscape and the everchanging needs of society, I was firmly set on my path. After connecting with Omid and Alexis, I served as Executive Director of La Maida Institute where, as an organization, we were dedicated to displaying a new approach to integrative care and proving that it can work as our foundational model, and creating the wave of momentum that has led to La Maida Project, and the opportunity to help more people.
Kelly is a California native, mother of 3 and lives with her husband and their two cats in Los Angeles, where at any given moment the family might be hiking or exploring creepy-crawlies in the vegetable garden.
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
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
Senior Manager of Programs & Curriculum
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.
Kelly Liu
Development Associate
My journey is fueled by a passion for exploring the connections between mental health, community empowerment, and education. Driven by a desire to address the growing mental health crisis, my experiences in institutional leadership and hands-on community engagement led me to pursue the role of Executive Coordinator at La Maida Project.
Drawing from my background in Asian American Studies from UC Berkeley, I am curious about the ways we shape and are shaped by our environments. I understand topics of individual and systemic healing through an integrated lens of history, social work, education, mental health, and public health.
I am deeply committed to addressing root problems and promoting community-centered solutions in the mental health landscape. From introducing mindfulness to fifth graders, to coordinating university events which prompt community resilience, I have witnessed the way true healing begins when we bridge the gaps between self, community, purpose, and nature. Through my work with young adults with disabilities, I have seen firsthand the transformative power of holistic solutions promoting collective wellness.
As an amateur gardener and nature enthusiast, I hold a deep appreciation for the interconnectedness between mental health and the natural world. In my free time, you can find me cooking experimental recipes and cherishing quality time with my poodle.
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!
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 Manager
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.