1 in 5 Hoosiers suffer from mental illness and addiction, the Indiana Roundtable on Mental Health Summit aims to create comprehensive action steps to best address this mental health crisis in Indiana. An extension of the Indiana Roundtable on Mental Health, the Summit will bring together community leaders within three pillars: faith, youth and workforce.
Peer Recovery Specialist, Ethan Crossing of Indianapolis
Lori Lane has been a Certified Peer Recovery Support Specialist in our Recovery Community for a little over five years. She is an advocate for those suffering from Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders. She has worked with various organizations and has been a volunteer at the Indiana Woman’s Prison since 2007. Lori is currently employed part time with Ethan Crossing of Indianapolis. Before working in this field, she refers to as her passion, she worked as an Associate Consultant for Lilly for 28 years in Clinical Trials.
Lori is a person in long term recovery and comes with an abundance of experience in providing guidance and mentoring for those seeking recovery. She loves advocating for others looking for a better way to live. One of her greatest joys is being a mom and ‘MiMi’ to her beautiful daughter and handsome grandson. She truly knows without the help from others along the way in our recovery community, she would not be living the life she has today, thus the reason for her passion to be of service to others.
Her motto: Recovery is truly possible!
Lt. Governor, State of Indiana | Co-Chair, Indiana Mental Health Roundtable
Proud to have been born and raised in Evansville, Indiana, Suzanne previously served as Indiana’s State Auditor since January 2014.
Before becoming Auditor, she served as the State Representative for House District 78 which encompasses parts of Vanderburgh and Warrick counties. She was elected to the seat in 2005, and served as the Vice Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee and on the Public Health Committee. Throughout her years of public service, Suzanne has been focused and committed to programs and services for people with disabilities.
Prior to serving in the House of Representatives, Suzanne spent eight years as Auditor of Vanderburgh County. During that time, her office received its first clean bill of health in decades from the State Board of Accounts. She then went on to serve as a Vanderburgh County Commissioner until joining the Indiana House of Representatives. She presided as president of that body during her third year in office.
As a public servant, Suzanne has received the following awards and recognitions:
Constitutionally, as lieutenant governor, Suzanne serves as the President of the Indiana Senate.
Statutorily, the Lt. Governor oversees a portfolio that includes the Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA), Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA), Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA), and Indiana Destination Development Corporation (IDDC).
Additionally, she chairs the Roundtable on Mental Health, the Intellectual and Development Disabilities Task Force and the Civics Education Commission.
Other initiatives she and her office oversee include the Next Level Connections Broadband Grant Program, the Golden Hoosier Award, Hoosier Women Artists and Brilliant Firefly.
Suzanne graduated from Mater Dei High School in Evansville. She went on to receive her Bachelor’s Degree from Purdue University, majoring in Political Science. She is married to Larry Downs and together they have a grown daughter, Courtney.
Chief Executive Officer, MetaCX
Scott McCorkle currently serves as CEO of MetaCX, a company focused on helping commercial and social-impact organizations solve the world’s biggest problems by building digital networks that align stakeholders and measure value.
Scott has been lauded as a technology visionary, honored with awards including 2016 TechPoint Trailblazer Award and the 2017 Indiana Chamber 2025 Dynamic Leader of the Year. Scott is formerly the CEO of Salesforce Marketing Cloud and President of ExactTarget, acquired by Salesforce in 2013. Scott’s career can be traced back to the first publicly-traded software company in Indiana, Software Artistry, which was acquired by IBM in the late 90’s. Scott served as Vice President of Engineering for Software Artistry and CTO of CRM technologies for IBM.
Scott was born and raised in Rush County, Indiana in the small town of Milroy. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Ball State University and an MBA from Indiana University.
Director of Faith-Based Initiatives, Tennessee Department of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services
Monty Burks serves as the Director of Faith-Based Initiatives for the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, where his role is engaging and connecting Tennessee’s faith communities to the behavioral health care system, with the goal of expanding addiction and mental health support services across the state. He also oversees the Tennessee Lifeline Peer Project, a state program aimed at reducing the stigma associated with people who suffer from addiction, the Tennessee Faith Based Community Coordinators, who seek to help congregations build their capacity to combat addiction and mental health issues in their respective community and the Tennessee Collegiate Recovery Initiatives which aim to train Recovery Allies on every campus in his state.
Burks earned his master’s degree in criminal justice from Middle Tennessee State University, his Doctorate in theology from Heritage, and wears the honorable badge of Certified Peer Recovery Specialist. Burks has more than 22 years’ experience working with the criminal justice system in various roles, including adjunct criminal justice professor at Motlow State Community College, Criminal Justice Student Research Analyst at Middle Tennessee State University, and Criminal Justice Program coordinator and adjunct professor at Tennessee State University.
Award-Winning Science Journalist, Author, and Internationally Recognized Speaker
Donna Jackson Nakazawa is an award-winning science journalist, author of seven books, and an internationally-recognized speaker whose work explores the intersection of neurobiology and human emotion. Her latest book, Girls on the Brink: Helping Our Daughters Thrive in an Era of Increased Anxiety, Depression, and Social Media, was named one of the best health books of 2022 by The Washington Post and Mashable.
Donna is also the creator and founder of the narrative writing-to-heal programs, Breaking Free From Trauma, and Your Healing Narrative, which help participants to create a new, powerful, inner healing narrative that calms the body, brain, and nervous system.
Chief Justice, Indiana Supreme Court
Loretta H. Rush took the oath of office as Indiana's 108th Supreme Court Justice in November 2012 after being appointed by Governor Mitch Daniels. She was retained by voters in 2014. The Judicial Nominating Commission named her Chief Justice in August 2014, and she was reappointed as Chief Justice in 2019.
As Chief Justice, Rush is responsible for supervising the entire judicial branch. That includes administration and funding of court programs across the state. A central administrative office with multiple agencies works under Rush's direction to handle everything from caseload measures to technology updates to admission and discipline of lawyers. With millions of cases already in a central system, the Court continues to use technology to improve access and efficiency. The ability to e-file documents in both the trial and appellate courts became a reality under Rush's leadership with strong support from judicial colleagues, clerks, and bar associations.
Chief Justice Rush is President of the Conference of Chief Justices Board of Directors and Chair of National Center for State Courts Board of Directors. She served as co-chair of the National Judicial Opioid Task Force, was appointed by Chief Justice John Roberts to serve as a member of the Judicial Conference Committee on Federal-State Jurisdiction, and is a National Judicial Task Force to Examine State Courts’ Response to Mental Illness Executive Committee member. In addition to being a member of local, state, and national bar associations, Chief Justice Rush is a Life Fellow of the American Bar Foundation. She is an Academy of Law Alumni Fellow for the Maurer School of Law. She chairs or is a member of several commissions (including the Commission on Improving the Status of Children in Indiana and the Judicial Nominating/Qualifications Commission).
Chief Justice Rush was named the 2018 Indiana Chamber Government Leader of the Year. She has also received the Purdue University Distinguished Alumni Award with induction into the Boiler Business Exchange Hall of Fame; the Indianapolis Bar Association's Antoinette Dakin Leach Award; the Indiana Civil Rights Commission Spirit of Justice Award; the Indiana Business Journal Women of Influence Award; and the Addiction Policy Forum Pillar of Excellence Award. In July 2022, IBJ Media selected Chief Justice Rush for their inaugural Indiana 250, a list of the 250 most influential business leaders.
Prior to her appointment, Rush spent 15 years at a Lafayette law firm and was elected three times to serve as Tippecanoe Superior Court 3 judge. She was born in Pennsylvania and moved frequently as a child before settling in Indiana in 1972. She earned her undergraduate degree from Purdue University and her law degree from Indiana University Maurer School of Law, both with honors. She is married to Jim Rush with four children and three grandchildren.
Indiana State Senator of District 28
State Sen. Michael Crider has represented Hoosiers of east central Indiana since 2012. Crider represents Senate District 28, which includes Hancock County and portions of Marion and Shelby counties.
Crider serves as Majority Whip of the Senate Republican leadership team, chair of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Transportation, ranking member of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs and The Military and a member of the Senate Committees on Appropriations; Health and Provider Services; Joint Rules; and Rules and Legislative Procedure. Crider also serves on the Council of State Governments Transportation and Infrastructure Public Policy Committee, the Midwestern Legislative Conference of the Council of State Governments Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee and the National Conference of State Legislatures Committee on Natural Resources and Infrastructure.
Before his election to the Senate, Crider spent 30 years working as a conservation officer at the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR). During that time, he served as director of the DNR Division of Law Enforcement and reached the rank of colonel.
Crider graduated from the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in 1981 and the FBI National Academy in 2003. Outside the Senate, Crider served as a member of Neighborhoods Against Substance Abuse for 20 years, seven of which he served as president. His hobbies include fishing, hunting, golfing and riding his motorcycle.
He and his wife, Sherri, live in Greenfield and have two sons and six grandchildren.
State Representative, House District 40
Prior to attending law school, Steuerwald utilized his Masters in Criminal Justice by serving as a probation officer for two years. While attending Indiana University-Indianapolis, he served as an intern in the Hendricks County Prosecutor's Office. Upon graduation from law school, he joined his present law firm and has been there since 1981.
His firm has represented various units of local government including towns, libraries and townships. This includes the Hendricks County Board of Commissioners, the Hendricks County Plan Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals, the Hendricks County Health Department, Hendricks Regional Health and the Hendricks County Solid Waste Management District.
In 1996, Steuerwald received the Hendricks County Outstanding Economic Development Award. He is a certified probation officer with the State of Indiana Department of Corrections. He is also a registered mediator and received a Certificate of Recognition in Family Mediation Training through the Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum.
Steuerwald has focused on implementing laws to keep Hoosiers safe. He authored the law providing the foundation for a revision of Indiana's criminal code, which had not been revised in over 30 years. The new code provides for certainty in sentencing and keeps the most violent offenders in prison longer. He also worked to tighten loopholes in the the state's sex registry to ensure offenders report any changes in address or appearance to the local authorities.
Steuerwald was born on Sept. 12, 1952, in Terre Haute, Indiana. He resides in Avon with his wife, Christy. He has three grown children: Joshua Garver, D.D.S.; Jordan Gorgievski, and Adam Steuerwald.
Governor, State of Indiana
Eric J. Holcomb, 51st Governor of the State of Indiana, is a lifelong Hoosier and veteran of the U.S. Navy. Elected by his fellow Hoosiers to a second term in 2020, he received the most votes for governor in Indiana history.
Earning a reputation as a pragmatic consensus builder, Holcomb frequently travels throughout the state, visiting with Hoosiers about how to make Indiana the best place in the world to live, work, study, play and stay. Under Holcomb’s leadership, Indiana’s economy is strong, the state’s finances are honestly balanced, and the state is streamlining government services and returning dollars to Hoosier taxpayers, while simultaneously delivering significant investments and advancements in infrastructure, education, workforce, quality of life and public health.
During Holcomb’s terms, Indiana employees and employers are enjoying consecutive record-breaking years of job commitments. In 2022, companies committed a record-breaking $22 billion in capital investment. Actively seeking to build global relationships and attract investments in Indiana’s economic growth, Holcomb has made 14 international trips as governor, visiting more than 20 nations.
Maintaining Indiana’s “Crossroads of America” infrastructure and strengthening Indiana’s connections between our communities is a top priority for Holcomb. He implemented a long-term, fully-funded 20-year, $60 billion Next Level Roads program. In 2019 and again in 2022, CNBC ranked Indiana number one in the nation for infrastructure.
Holcomb has worked to align Indiana’s K-12, higher education, workforce and economic development efforts to empower Hoosiers with the necessary skills to succeed in the economy of the future. He signed into law historic, increased investments in education, including a record $1.9 billion in new funding for education in the current budget. He unveiled the Next Level Jobs program to prepare and connect more Hoosiers to high-demand, high-wage careers.
Holcomb created the Governor’s Public Health Commission in 2021 to study and make recommendations about how Indiana can improve the delivery of public health services throughout the state. For his efforts in the public health arena and focus on helping Hoosiers with substance use disorder recover, the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation honored him with the Circle of Hope Award in 2019.
Holcomb serves on the Executive Committee of the Republican Governors Association and previously served as its policy chairman. In 2018, The Hill named him one of ten governors shaping the future of politics. An article in Governing magazine read, “Indiana’s governor doesn’t scream, doesn’t threaten, and doesn’t even complain. He just wins.”
A lifelong basketball fan, Holcomb has made a basket in each of Indiana’s 92 counties. A collector of presidential signatures, he has documents signed by every U.S. president. He is a graduate of Pike High School in Indianapolis and Hanover College in southeastern Indiana. Prior to his election as Governor in 2016, following an unprecedented 106-day campaign, Holcomb served as Indiana’s 51st Lieutenant Governor.
Holcomb and his wife, Janet, live with their Miniature Schnauzer, Henry, and cat, Topper, in the Governor’s Residence in Indianapolis.
Director, Indiana Division of Mental Health & Addiction | Member, Indiana Mental Health Roundtable
Jay is the director of the Division of Mental Health and Addiction with the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration. Prior to joining DMHA, he served as managing attorney and director of Medical Legal Partnerships for Indiana Legal Services. Chaudhary holds a JD from the Indiana University Maurer School of Law and an undergraduate degree from Ball State University. Jay is the chair of the Indiana Behavioral Health Commission, and an Aspen Institute Ascend Fellow. He is the recipient of the 2020 "Distinguished Service" award from the Indiana University Maurer School of Law and the 2022 Ramstad-Kennedy Award from the National Association of State Drug and Alcohol Abuse Directors.
Professional Athlete, WNBA’s Indiana Fever
In her fifth WNBA season, all while wearing an Indiana Fever jersey, Kelsey Mitchell solidified her place as one of the greatest players in franchise history. This past season, Mitchell averaged career-highs with 18.4 points per game, 4.2 assists per game and shot 43.8 percent from the field, to go along with 1.9 rebounds and 32.6 minutes per contest in 31 games played. Before missing the last five games of the regular season with an injury, Mitchell had played in all 153 games of her WNBA career, which is now the longest consecutive games played streak in franchise history. Mitchell will enter the 2023 season third in franchise history in points scored (2,428), third in field goals made (855) and second in 3-point field goals made (347).
Mitchell is from Cincinnati, Ohio and attended Ohio State University from 2014-18. She was selected with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 WNBA Draft by the Fever. Mitchell was a three-time Big Ten Player of the Year (2015, 2017, 2018) and was the first four-time All-American in program history. She finished her career No. 2 on the NCAA’s career scoring list with 3,402 points.
In 2020, Mitchell also completed her master’s degree in Sports Administration from the University of Cincinnati.
Managing Member, Simon Equity Partners | Member, Indiana Mental Health Roundtable
Stephen H. Simon is the founder of Simon Equity Partners, LLC and has been a managing member since January 2007. From February 1997 to December 2006, Mr. Simon served as president and chief executive officer of Melvin Simon & Associates, Inc., a privately held real estate and investment company. Mr. Simon serves on the board of directors of the Pacers Basketball Corporation. Mr. Simon is a director for the Herbert Simon Family Foundation and serves on the boards of the following non-profit organizations; Central Indiana Land Trust, Conscious Alliance and The Willie T. Donald Exoneration Advisory Coalition.
Mr. Simon holds a degree in General Studies with a concentration in Public and Environmental Affairs from Indiana University.
Vice Chair & Owner, Indianapolis Colts | Member, Indiana Mental Health Roundtable
Kalen Jackson is entering her 12th season as vice chair/owner. Jackson joined the team in 2010 as vice president and, along with sisters Carlie Irsay-Gordon and Casey Foyt, represents the next generation of Colts ownership. Like her sisters, she grew up with the Colts organization as a significant part of her life since birth. Jackson is involved in various functions of the organization, including coordinating the Irsay family’s community and philanthropic efforts. She currently leads Kicking The Stigma, the family’s initiative to raise awareness about mental health disorders and remove the stigma often associated with these illnesses. Jackson currently serves on the national board of Project Healthy Minds and locally on the board of the United Way of Central Indiana. She also is president of the Indianapolis Colts Women’s Organization. In addition, to representing the Colts at NFL Owners’ Meetings, she serves on the league’s Employee Benefits Committee. As the committee’s youngest member, Jackson is responsible for administering club and league benefit plans, including plan design and amendment, benefit and administrative expense payments and employee eligibility issues.
She graduated with honors in 2010 from Indiana University’s School of Health, Physical Education & Recreation with a bachelor’s degree in sports management and marketing. Jackson was born and resides in Indianapolis with her husband, Boyd Jackson, and their two daughters.
President & Chief Operating Officer, Indiana Fever | Member, Indiana Mental Health Roundtable
With a career that spans from a schoolhouse to the White House and now to the Fieldhouse, Dr. Allison Barber has a successful record of building brands and maximizing impact. From grade school teacher in Merrillville, Indiana, to communications strategist in the White House and United States Department of Defense; and as the first chancellor and chief fundraiser for Western Governor’s University (WGU) Indiana, Allison has dedicated herself to creating pathways to help individuals reach their potential.
Now, as the President and COO of the Indiana Fever, she has set her sights on building and inspiring Fever fans in all 92 counties of Indiana. Barber understands the power of playing sports, a college athlete who lettered in tennis and softball, she values the positive impact sports can have on both children and adults.
Barber holds a B.S. in Elementary Education from Tennessee Temple University; a M.S. in Elementary Education from Indiana University; and a Ph.D. In Leadership from Tennessee Temple University. She is the recipient of the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service awarded by Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and was recognized as a Woman of Influence by the Indianapolis Business Journal.
In March 2019, she was presented with Indiana’s highest honor, the Sagamore of the Wabash, presented by Governor Eric Holcomb. Barber is a state lead volunteer for the American Red Cross and serves on the boards of the Sagamore Institute, the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, the Indiana Destination Development Corp., and the Elizabeth Dole Hidden Heroes Foundation.
Vice President of External Relations & Corporate Communications, Pacers Sports & Entertainment
Quinn Buckner is the long time analyst for the Pacers’ television games. In July 2004, Buckner was named Vice President of Communications for Pacers Sports & Entertainment. Buckner also leads the Pacers Youth Basketball program, a PS&E initiative to support youth basketball in Indiana. He serves on the Board of Directors for NBA All Star 2024 game. And was Co-Chair of the 2021 Men’s Final Four Indianapolis Host Committee.
Prior to joining the Pacers’ television staff, he was an analyst with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Other television Buckner has done includes work with NBC and its NBA coverage, and also working on CBS’ March Madness college basketball coverage. He was also an analyst for NBA games on ESPN Radio.
Buckner is a former head coach of the Dallas Mavericks and played 10 seasons in the NBA, including 1983-84, when he was a member of Boston’s NBA Championship team.
An Indiana University graduate with a Business degree, Buckner won four Big Ten Basketball championships and was the captain of the 1976 undefeated NCAA Championship team (the last college basketball team to go undefeated and win the national championship, and was voted the greatest team in the 75 years of the NCAA tournament). Buckner was the Captain of the 1976 gold medal-winning U.S. Olympic Basketball team. While in high school, he also captained two Illinois state championships teams. He is one of three people in the history of basketball to win a championship on every level, high school, college, Olympics and the NBA. On November 19, 2015, Quinn was inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in Kansas City, Mo.
Quinn is an avid golfer. And his community activities include serving on the boards of various institutions and charities, including Chairman of the Indiana University Board of Trustees, NBA All-Star Board of Directors, Indiana University Foundation, Pacers Foundation, Center for Leadership Development, IU Health, State Bank of Lizton, YMCA of Greater Indianapolis, First Tee of Indianapolis, Old National Bank Advisory Board, Crossroads of America Council Boy Scouts of America Advisory Board, Ivy Tech Community College Foundation, Indianapolis Children’s Choir Advisory Council, National Basketball Players Association, USA Basketball, Olympic Athletes' Advisory Council, Indiana Youth Institute, Special Olympics of Indiana, YMCA, Indianapolis Zoological Society, and the Big Ten Advisors Council.
Quinn is also a partner in Mack Financial, a Member Firm of M Financial Group. Mack Financial works with families, business owners, corporate executives and corporations on accumulation, management and preservation of their financial resources.
Lt. Governor, State of Indiana | Co-Chair, Indiana Mental Health Roundtable
Proud to have been born and raised in Evansville, Indiana, Suzanne previously served as Indiana’s State Auditor since January 2014.
Before becoming Auditor, she served as the State Representative for House District 78 which encompasses parts of Vanderburgh and Warrick counties. She was elected to the seat in 2005, and served as the Vice Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee and on the Public Health Committee. Throughout her years of public service, Suzanne has been focused and committed to programs and services for people with disabilities.
Prior to serving in the House of Representatives, Suzanne spent eight years as Auditor of Vanderburgh County. During that time, her office received its first clean bill of health in decades from the State Board of Accounts. She then went on to serve as a Vanderburgh County Commissioner until joining the Indiana House of Representatives. She presided as president of that body during her third year in office.
As a public servant, Suzanne has received the following awards and recognitions:
Constitutionally, as lieutenant governor, Suzanne serves as the President of the Indiana Senate.
Statutorily, the Lt. Governor oversees a portfolio that includes the Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA), Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA), Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA), and Indiana Destination Development Corporation (IDDC).
Additionally, she chairs the Roundtable on Mental Health, the Intellectual and Development Disabilities Task Force and the Civics Education Commission.
Other initiatives she and her office oversee include the Next Level Connections Broadband Grant Program, the Golden Hoosier Award, Hoosier Women Artists and Brilliant Firefly.
Suzanne graduated from Mater Dei High School in Evansville. She went on to receive her Bachelor’s Degree from Purdue University, majoring in Political Science. She is married to Larry Downs and together they have a grown daughter, Courtney.
Executive Director of Health Equity & Initiatives, Purdue University | Former U.S. Surgeon General | Member, Indiana Mental Health Roundtable
Dr. Jerome Adams was appointed as a Presidential Fellow and the Executive Director of Purdue's Health Equity Initiatives on October 1, 2021. He is also a Distinguished Professor of Practice in the departments of Pharmacy Practice and Public Health.
As the 20th U.S. Surgeon General and a prior member of the President’s Coronavirus task force, Dr. Adams has been at the forefront of America’s most pressing health challenges. A regular communicator via tv, radio, and in print, Dr. Adams is an expert not just in the science, but also in communicating the science to the lay public, and making it relevant to various audiences.
Dr. Adams is a licensed anesthesiologist with a master’s degree in public health and ran the Indiana State Department of Health prior to becoming Surgeon General.
In addition to his recent COVID19 work, Dr. Adams has partnered with and assisted organizations as they navigate the opioid epidemic, maternal health, rising rates of chronic disease, the impacts of rising suicide rates in our Nation, and how businesses can become better stewards and stakeholders in promoting community health.
Chief Executive Officer, MetaCX
Scott McCorkle currently serves as CEO of MetaCX, a company focused on helping commercial and social-impact organizations solve the world’s biggest problems by building digital networks that align stakeholders and measure value.
Scott has been lauded as a technology visionary, honored with awards including 2016 TechPoint Trailblazer Award and the 2017 Indiana Chamber 2025 Dynamic Leader of the Year. Scott is formerly the CEO of Salesforce Marketing Cloud and President of ExactTarget, acquired by Salesforce in 2013. Scott’s career can be traced back to the first publicly-traded software company in Indiana, Software Artistry, which was acquired by IBM in the late 90’s. Scott served as Vice President of Engineering for Software Artistry and CTO of CRM technologies for IBM.
Scott was born and raised in Rush County, Indiana in the small town of Milroy. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Ball State University and an MBA from Indiana University.
Camp Mariposa: Aaron’s Place staff provided information about their year long overnight camp program which serves 9–12-year-olds who have been affected by substance use disorder. The impact of adverse childhood events were addressed through a trauma informed lens using the concept of family centered harm reduction along with evidence based addiction prevention curriculum.
Leah Edge- Reetz holds a master’s degree in social work from IUPUI and has spent her working career in nonprofit youth programs. Leah also has 8 plus years of camp experience and is passionate about the transformational ability of camp to create community and healing. Leah joined Overdose Lifeline in early 2023 as part of the Youth Programming team and is the Camp Mariposa Director where she helps bridge the prevention curriculum with the power of connecting through play.
Rachel is an Occupational Therapist who works full time at a level I trauma hospital and serves as Clinical Camp Director for Camp Mariposa: Aarons Place. Rachel has a passion for mental health and trauma informed care. As clinical camp director, she utilizes evidence-based strategies to create a healthy environment for campers and mentors, provide opportunities for growth and development of important life-skills, and promote successful engagement in childhood occupations.
Justin Phillips, MA and White House Champion of Change for Advocacy, Prevention and Treatment is the Founder and Executive Director of Overdose Lifeline, Inc. (ODL) ODL is a non-profit dedicated to reducing the stigma of substance use disorder and preventing deaths resulting from opioid overdose.
Justin holds a Master’s in Clinical Addition Counseling and a Master’s degree in philanthropic studies and nonprofit management. Justin is also certified in the Grief Recovery Method.®
Justin is a featured speaker on the national, regional and local circuit.
Learn from Fairbanks Foundation, Indiana Department of Education, and Division of Mental Health and Addiction project leaders working to support Indiana schools dedicated to planning and implementing prevention and early intervention programs that improve students’ mental health and build positive coping skills to avoid early substance misuse. Attendees heard an overview of each initiative, lessons learned, and walked away with a framework for other schools and partners to use.
Jessica received her B.Ed. from Purdue and served as an elementary teacher in Indianapolis. She then received her Masters in Public Health from IU. She worked with the State Department of Health as the Childhood Obesity Program Coordinator, receiving guidance from school health experts around the country to provide assistance to Indiana schools on a variety of school health topics. Jessica now works at the Indiana State Department of Education as the Project AWARE Specialist. With funding from SAMHSA, Jessica supports the agency’s development of resources and professional development to increase mental health services, awareness and, prevention in schools.
Bethany (Ecklor) Goetz is the School and Community Based Programs Director for the Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addiction. She oversees DMHA school-based initiatives, including grants, contracts and agreements implementing evidence-based practices across the state and partnering with state and local agencies to connect and improve the systems that serve Indiana’s youth. Bethany has served DMHA in multiple roles including Community Liaison and Bureau Chief of Youth Services. Bethany received a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Indiana University in 2012 and began her career in direct mental health services for youth receiving residential treatment as well as outpatient services at multiple community mental health centers.
Sarah Hawkins is a Senior Program Officer at the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation. In this role, Sarah works closely with the Foundation’s President & CEO and Program staff to develop, refine, and execute strategies in support of the Foundation’s funding goals, with duties spanning program, policy, and community engagement initiatives. Sarah is the Program lead for Prevention Matters, the Foundation’s $13.5 million, four-year grant initiative to support evidence-based substance use prevention programs in Marion County schools. Sarah joined the Foundation in 2017 and previously served in various program and strategy roles at The Mind Trust, Leadership Indianapolis, and ExactTarget. Sarah is a member of Class XXXVI of the Stanley K. Lacy Executive Leadership Series, was named one of the Indianapolis Business Journal’s “40 Under 40” in 2012, and graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a Bachelor of Arts from DePauw University in 2001.
Emilyn Whitesell is the Senior Director of Learning and Evaluation at the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation, where she collaborates with staff, grantees, and stakeholders to ground the Foundation’s work in high-quality research and data. She has been closely involved with the Prevention Matters substance use prevention initiative, including overseeing the external four-year evaluation and technical assistance to grantees. Before joining the Foundation in 2019, Emi was a researcher at Mathematica, where her work focused on education policy and program evaluation for government and nonprofit clients. A former Indianapolis Public Schools teacher and Teach For America corps member, Emi holds a B.S. from Indiana University, an M.A.T. from Marian University, and a Ph.D. from New York University.
Babies and toddlers’ emotional wellness depends on secure relationships with parents and other caregivers that let them feel safe, able to learn, and engage positively with others. Because these relationships are so key to child development, supporting caregivers supports children. When families are supported in this way, their children grow up to have better school and work performance, more resilience to trauma, and fewer mental health concerns in adulthood.
Dr. Tomlin is Professor of Clinical Pediatrics and Co-Chief of the Division of Developmental Medicine, Department of Pediatrics at Indiana University School of Medicine. She is also the Director of the Indiana LEND interdisciplinary training program. In these roles, Dr. Tomlin provides clinical services to families with children with neurodevelopmental disabilities and behavioral concerns, supervises graduate trainees, and provides reflective consultation in the community. Her training and scholarly interests include infant mental health, autism, reflective practice and supervision, and workforce development. She is the author or co-author of more than 25 publications and with Stephan Viehweg authored Tackling with Tough Stuff: A Home Visitor’s Guide to Supporting Families at Risk in 2016. She is certified in perinatal mental health through Postpartum Support International. With her husband of 39 years, Dr. Tomlin is the proud parent of two adult daughters and two wonderful grandchildren.
Stephan Viehweg, LCSW, ACSW, IECMH-E®, CYC-P is the Associate Director of the Indiana LEND at the IU School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Developmental Medicine, the Associate Director of the IUPUI Center for Translating Research Into Practice, and Adjunct Professor of the IU School of Social Work. He currently serves as the CDC’s Learn the Signs. Act Early. Ambassador to Indiana. He is founding chair of Infancy Onward (Indiana’s association for infant mental health), founding president of Family Voices Indiana and now Secretary of Indiana Family to Family, Treasurer of Mental Health America of Indiana, and serves a Governor appointment to the Indiana Behavioral Health Professions Licensing Board. He is co-author with Angela Tomlin of Tackling the Tough Stuff: A Home Visitor’s Guide to Supporting Families at Risk.
This discussion explored Healing Centered Engagement and its use in establishing relationships, and building environments of belonging, healing and cultural affirmation for communities of color who are system impacted.
Kia Wright is the Founder and Executive Director of VOICES Corporation. A graduate of Lawrence Central High School, in Indianapolis, Indiana, she went on to attend Indiana State University on a full Track and Field Scholarship. While earning her Master’s degree in Criminology, Mrs. Wright obtained employment with the Vigo County Juvenile Probation Department in 2004, where she developed a passion for community development. Moving back to Indianapolis in 2008, working for Marion County Juvenile Probation she gained a better understanding of systemic trauma, and root causes of delinquent and criminal behavior. Utilizing the power of the arts, in 2010, she founded VOICES with a vision of empowering communities of color to restore themselves through communal healing, artistic expression and economic mobility.
In 2012, she walked away for Probation and began community work. VOICES was created to center the lived experience of Black and brown communities and to provide safe spaces for self-expression, and to begin the journey of healing. Today, VOICES services span 36 Indianapolis zip codes, 7 Indiana Counties, and serves 750+ youth and families annually. Mrs. Wright is a founding Board Member for Invent Learning Hub Charter School, and a member of the Indiana Juvenile Justice Oversight Committee, Juvenile Detention Alternatives to Detention Steering Committee, and an alum of the Indiana Youth Services Association Executive Journey Fellowship. Kia resides on the Northwest side of Indy with her husband Trey, (VOICES COO) and their 2 little boys.
This session explored the 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey data and the alarming call to action to better support our youth mental health needs. Kate was joined by members of the Indiana Youth Advisory Board to share their first hand perspectives on mental health supports needed and personal experiences. .
Kate has a history of working with adolescents and young adults on a global scale. She enjoys working on strategic change that will impact youth across Indiana. Kate is a proud Michigan Wolverine, a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer of Albania, and holds a Master's degree in public health from Yale School of Public Health. She loves traveling, reading, puzzling, and woodworking.
This session explored national and state level trends and strategies used to address behavioral health workforce shortages. Attendees learned about Indiana’s historical policies and programs related to behavioral health workforce recruitment and retention, and had the opportunity to engage in facilitated discussions regarding opportunities to strengthen these efforts in Indiana.
Dr. Hannah Maxey is Associate Professor of Family Medicine and Director of the Bowen Center for Health Workforce Research and Policy at the Indiana University School of Medicine. She is a nationally recognized expert in health workforce policy with more than two decades of experience in health care and public health. Dr. Maxey has been a licensed dental hygienist in Indiana for over 20 years. She spent nearly a decade practicing in public health clinics operated by the Marion County Public Health Department (MCPHD) prior to pursuing a Master of Public Health in Health Policy and Management (2011), and a Doctor of Philosophy in the same area (2014). Her experience as a practicing health care professional in public health clinics provided perspective on the intersection and relationship between health care and public health, as well as the critical role the health workforce has in ensuring availability and accessibility in both public health and health care services. Dr. Maxey has been actively engaged in developing strategies and leading health workforce initiatives within multiple states since 2014. She serves as an expert consultant to the National Governor’s Association, and has worked on issues ranging from health workforce data collection to policy design and implementation.
Becky Boustani is a Health Policy Analyst for Indiana University’s Bowen Center for Health Workforce Policy and Research. She spent her early career working with non-profits and local government before returning to school to earn a master’s in public affairs from Indiana University’s Paul O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs in 2020. Becky is passionate about improving public health systems to better serve the individuals and communities that depend on them. She is committed to the research and implementation of evidenced-based solutions to the growing health workforce crisis.
Courtney Medlock, Assistant Director of Policy & Strategy at the Bowen Center for Health Workforce Research & Policy at Indiana University, is passionate about and actively involved in health workforce policy research at the state and national level. Mrs. Medlock holds a Master of Public Health degree from the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Indiana University Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health. Her expertise is in the analysis of various intersecting health and regulatory policies, the engagement and management of governmental and non-governmental key stakeholders, and the conceptualization of strategic policy and programmatic solutions.
Indiana’s Community Mental Health Center network has long been the training ground for behavioral health workforce in the State. Understand current capabilities, capacity-building, quality assurance measures, and breadth of training within two Northern Indiana CMHCs. Additional discussion on next steps needed to optimize workforce development initiatives within CMHCs and their existing external partnership networks.
Dr. Monique Kulkarni received her doctorate in Counseling Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin. She is the Senior Director of Clinical Services at Valley Oaks Health, overseeing clinical operations across eight rural counties. In addition to numerous other leadership roles, she also serves on the steering committee for the state's Assessment of Federal Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) Standards in Indiana's CMHC Workforce and Service Provision.
Dr. Carrie Cadwell earned her doctorate degree in clinical psychology from the Adler School of Professional Psychology with a certificate in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and specialty track in neuropsychological assessment. She has served as the Chief Executive Officer for 4C Health since 2017.
This session hosted a panel of professionals sharing their diverse experiences with youth and young adults considering mental health as a potential career field. Participants learned about ways young people are choosing to become part of the dialog around mental health, as well as existing initiatives that support students pursuing careers in these fields. Panelists also discussed potential barriers and innovative solutions in workforce that can help connect passionate individuals to careers that support community-driven wellness.
Gina Woodward is the Director of Behavioral Health Workforce Development with the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration – Division of Mental Health and Addiction. Gina began her career in public education as a visual arts teacher and professional school counselor. Working with students, families, educators, and community partners for more than 20 years, Gina has cultivated strong passions for inspiring personal growth and development, engaging historically underserved populations in education and learning, and working across systems as a catalyst for long-term, high-impact strategic development and change. As a natural leader, she transitioned from work at the local level to various roles with the state including positions with the Indiana Department of Education and Governor’s Workforce Cabinet as well as DMHA. With opportunities to represent the Indiana Commission on Improving the Status of Children, Indianapolis Continuum of Care Blueprint Council, as well as other cross-agency workgroups and advisory boards, Gina continuously uses her voice at the table to advocate for all Hoosiers – elevating the importance of lived experience, education, and equitable opportunity.
Karissa Morris is the Special Projects Coordinator at ASPIN. She holds a Master of Social Work from Indiana University and Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Indianapolis. Karissa coordinates the DMHA Mental Health Internship Stipend Program which has disbursed over $800,000 to master-level and associate-level students for their internship experiences in the field of mental health since the program started in 2022. As a certified Community Health Worker and trainer, Karissa develops curriculum to reflect the training needs and emerging issues represented in the field today. Prior to her current role with ASPIN, Karissa worked as a therapist in various settings including community mental health, child services, and private practice. As a lifelong resident of Indiana, she is passionate about supporting both the mental health workforce and clients of mental health services throughout the state to create a healthier, more sustainable system of care for all.
Wendy Parker joined EmployIndy in 2021 as a Business Development Manager and moved into her current position as Senior Business Development Manager in July of 2022 to manage employer engagement and strategy for EmployIndy’s Modern Apprenticeship program, which aims to provide juniors from Marion County high schools with impactful work-based learning experiences and create a pipeline for employers.
Prior to joining EmployIndy, Wendy worked as an entrepreneurship coach and grant writer for Edna Martin Christian Center, and her previous life was in finance, where she worked as a private banker and ran international sales teams for quantitative hedge funds in the futures and options trading space.
Wendy moved back to Indiana in 2015 after many years in the Chicago area. She is an empty-nester with a daughter at IU and she lives in Irvington with her husband and three dogs. She is active in hunger mitigation and serves on the Meals on Wheels board.
Clinton Faupel is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of RemedyLIVE, a technology based non-profit that produces interactive events and includes a 24 hour staffed chat center that provides hope and live chat interaction for people that are struggling with mental health issues in their life. RemedyLIVE has had over 12.5 million interactions in it’s chat center and impacted over 300,000 adults and children with it’s corporate centered/ public school events since 2015.
Clinton is an interactive communicator who uses proprietary technology, he helped create, to engage his audience. He speaks to tens of thousands of people per year about how secret struggles do not need to have the final say on their future.
Raised in Western Canada, Clinton is married to his wife Tonya, and have been serving people together since 2003. Clinton and Tonya have three beautiful teenage girls and a son and live in Northeast Indiana.
Indiana, like much of the country, is experiencing a workforce shortage in many market sectors. The Behavioral Health workforce shortage has been classified as a national crisis due to the demand for treatment is significantly greater than the workforce available to deliver the care. This presentation helped quantify the problem, provided some understanding of how the shortage developed, offered some practical steps to address the shortage, and gave a call to action as to what is still needed.
Ashley Overley, M.D., has served as the CEO for Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center (SEMHC) and VP for Mental Health Operations for Eskenazi Health since 2017. She is an attending psychiatrist at the Dr. Alan & Diane Breier Prevention and Recovery Center for Early Psychosis (PARC) where she also supervises psychiatry residents in training. In 2023 SEMHC introduced the John & Kathy Ackerman Mental Health Professional Development Center as an exciting strategy to help promote mental health career opportunities and development.
Dr. Overley earned undergraduate degrees from the University of Georgia and earned a medical degree and completed her psychiatry residency at Indiana University School of Medicine, also serving as chief resident during her final year of residency. She completed a fellowship in public psychiatry at Columbia University. She is certified as a diplomate by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.
George Hurd is the V.P. of Behavioral Health for Community Health Network and has over 30 years of experience working with families and individuals in multiple roles spanning from criminal justice, child welfare and for the last 10 years in the Community Mental Health Center field. He is passionate about ensuring the best care is provided for the marginalized in our society and that prevention and understanding are a cornerstone of care delivery. He has been an advocate for early identification and intervention as well as stigma reduction. He is enthusiastic about advancing workforce development initiatives as means to increase service providers ability to meet people where they are and advance the care of Mental Health and Substance Abuse services for all Hoosiers. George earned an MBA from Indiana Wesleyan University and has provided lectures on the history and advances of mental health care in State of Indiana to various community and college audiences.
A happy, healthy, engaged workforce is crucial for business success. “New data suggests that for almost 70% of people, their manager has more impact on their mental health than their therapist or their doctor—and it’s equal to the impact of their partner,” according to Forbes. Learn from a pilot study on vicarious trauma and burnout in Indiana health center workforce and hear key strategies to from top Indiana employers on navigating the important topic of workplace mental health.
Jennifer Pferrer joined the Indiana Chamber of Commerce in April 2017 as the Executive Director for the Wellness Council of Indiana. With over 30 years of experience working in healthcare, Jennifer understands the impact individual health has on the corporate bottom line and why corporate wellness is critical to corporate and community development.
With experience in the hospital and non-profit setting, Jennifer led efforts in brand alignment, organizational development, and strategic oversight to local and regional initiatives. Jennifer has significant insights to how consumers engage with the healthcare and the role of employers in improving individual wellbeing.
She is a former executive with the American Diabetes Association and St.Vincent Hospital where she learned the role of chronic disease management and internal hospital operations offering a unique perspective on healthcare.
Jennifer earned her bachelor’s degree from Ball State University. She resides in Noblesville with her husband and is a mom to three sons.
Lori Harris, RN has been the CEO of the Family Health Centers of Southern Indiana, a non profit federally qualified health center since. since March 2010. Prior to this , Mrs. Harris contracted with the Family Health Center since 2008 to implement the quality improvement programs and the Federal Tort Claims Act applications. Mrs. Harris has an extensive work experience in Kentucky and Indiana, working at Clark Memorial Hospital as a nurse and Director of Medical Staff Services, she also spent time as the statewide outreach coordinator for Kentucky Medicaid Children’s Health Insurance Program (federal SCHIP) and work at the Kentucky Department of Insurance. In addition to her RN, Mrs. Harris has a Bachelor’s Degree from Taylor University and a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Louisville. She currently serves on community committees and boards with agencies that have like minded missions as the health center. She is currently pursing her Doctorate in Public Health from Indiana University Purdue University with an anticipated completion date in Summer 2023.
Candace Shaffer earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Purdue. Now, she’s the senior director of benefits in Human Resources, responsible for overseeing and planning the realm of benefits for Purdue employees. In this role, Shaffer manages the strategic planning and customer service of a strong benefits plan for the employees and their families. This includes medical and dental benefits, as well as retirement, leave, worker compensation, families and the systems and processes in place to help employees engage in those programs.
With her education and previous work experience being child development and family studies, her first introduction to benefits from an employer’s perspective was when she came to work at Purdue in 2014 as the worksite health and child care specialist. She was impressed to learn Purdue had developed a position within the benefits department that focused on family-friendly initiatives, such as on-site child care options, lactation support and family-friendly practices and guidelines. Once she joined the team, she got more involved in benefit projects. In mid-2016, she was offered the opportunity to serve as interim associate director, which opened more opportunities and ultimately to her position as senior director of benefits.
Awarded with Employee Benefits News ‘Benefits Leadership in Healthcare’ in 2018, Candace’s focus on overall employee wellness – physical, mental, behavioral, financial – continues to bring new opportunities to the table, not only to the employee population but also the university.
Kimble Richardson received his Master’s degree with honors in Counseling and Counselor Education from Indiana University in 1987. With 35 years of experience in healthcare, he has been co-coordinator for emergency department services at Wishard Hospital/Midtown Community Mental Health Center (now Eskenazi Health), served in various capacities at Ascension St. Vincent, and currently is Manager of Business Development and Referrals for Community Health Network – Community Fairbanks Behavioral Health. He is licensed in Indiana as a mental health counselor, clinical social worker, marriage and family therapist, and clinical addiction counselor. He was appointed by the governor to the Behavioral Health and Human Services licensing board and is the current chair. Kimble is a former president of the Indiana Mental Health Counselors Association and in 1996 was named “Mental Health Counselor of the Year”. In March 2011 he was awarded the “Barbara Walker-Cole Distinguished Counselor of the Year” by the Indiana Counseling Association. He is an adjunct faculty member at the University of Indianapolis and was named the Outstanding Faculty Member of the Year in 2013. He is the recipient of the 2013 Charles E. Heineman Allied Health Professional Award from the Indiana Psychological Association. In March 2022, he was awarded the inaugural “Indiana CIT Behavioral Health Professional of the Year.” Kimble was a member of the inaugural board of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) Indiana Chapter and past co-coordinator of AFSP’s Indianapolis Out of the Darkness Community Walk. He is certified in Critical Incident Stress Management (CCISM) and is the clinical coordinator for CISM teams at Community Health Network and the Fishers Indiana Police Department. He assists the Indiana CISM Network and Indiana FOP Memorial/CISM Team. Kimble is an Approved Instructor for four CISM courses (Assisting Individuals in Crisis, Group Crisis Intervention, Advanced Group Crisis Intervention, and Psychological Body Armor). He is the coordinator of Indiana’s District 5 Resilience and Emotional Support Team, a member of the American Red Cross Disaster Mental Health Services Team, the Indiana Mortuary Emergency Response Team, several Crisis Intervention Teams (a partnership between Law Enforcement, NAMI, and mental health professionals), and a board member for the Rotary Club of Indianapolis. He has responded to and/or coordinated over 800 requests for support, including eight First Responder line-of-duty-deaths, the 2011 Indiana State Fair stage collapse, the 2021 Indianapolis FedEx, NHK Seating of America, and the 2022 Greenwood Park Mall mass casualty events. Kimble was the inaugural chair of the Behavioral Health Working Group with the MESH Coalition, a public-private partnership that helps organizations prepare for, respond to, and recover from adverse events or disasters. He is trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), is a certified trainer for Mental Health First Aid, SafeTALK, and QPR (Question, Persuade, and Refer). Kimble has presented at the World Congress on Stress, Trauma, and Resilience, the National Healthcare Coalition Preparedness Conference, Association of Public Safety Communications, National Association of EMS Educators, American Association of Physician Liaisons, National Nursing Management Congress, the National Neonatal Association, and the Global First Responder Summit. He’s been published in Crisis, Stress, and Human Resilience: An International Journal, International Initiative for Mental Health Leadership (IIMHL) and the NHS Confederation Mental Health Network (MHN), and International Review of Psychiatry. Kimble is a faculty member for the Community Health Network Psychiatry Residency Program and the APIC-approved Psychology Internship Program. He has provided training and consultation for the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, the FBI, the NCAA, and various state agencies and organizations. In September 2022, he completed the first-ever training for behavioral health professionals on Threat Assessment/Threat Management at the FBI Academy taught by the Behavioral Analysis Unit-1. Kimble has spoken on a wide variety of behavioral health topics and serves as a contact for broadcast, radio, social, and print media.
From reducing stigma around mental health needs to providing resources for access to services, faith communities have a unique opportunity to reach a wide variety of individuals. Learn about programs and innovations implemented by faith and mental health leaders that aim to address mental health and substance use challenges faced by members of faith communities.
David Greene Rev. David W. Greene, Sr. is a dedicated husband, father, son, pastor and friend on a personal level; as well as a strong determined humanitarian, civic leader, educator, an advocate of mental health, and a drum major for social justice. Pastor Greene has been the dynamic Senior Pastor of Second Baptist Church (doing business name of “Purpose of Life Ministries”) here in Indianapolis for 25 years. Pastor Greene is an educator and a strong supporter of education, not just by mouth, but as demonstrated by his achievements in education. He graduated valedictorian of his high school class at Caverna High School, with honors from the University of Kentucky with degrees in math and computer science; a Summa Cum Laude graduate of Crossroads Bible College with a degree in religious studies; a Master of Divinity degree from Anderson University School of Theology. Pastor Greene’s civic involvement is extensive and, in many instances, mirrors his passion for mental health and social justice. Pastor Greene is an active board member of the following organizations:
Pastor Darryl K. Webster currently serves as the senior pastor of Emmanuel Missionary Baptist Church in Indianapolis, Indiana. He is the founder and leader of the well sought-after Men’s BOOTCAMP Connect, a specialized transformative ministry for men and boys. BOOTCAMP has been featured on Focus on the Family, C-Span, local and national media outlets, and in two documentaries. Pastor Webster is the author of “Small Change, Great Impact,” and the soon to be released, “God Doesn’t Waste Wounds.” He is a certified John Maxwell Leadership Coach, DFree facilitator and past adjunct professor. He has been married to his beautiful wife and ministry partner, Sibyl, for over thirty years. They have four children and nine grandchildren.
Linda Williams, State Program Director for NAMI Indiana assists the 16 local affiliates in Indiana with NAMI signature programs. After taking part in one of NAMI's signature programs, Linda became interested in being trained to volunteer as a leader for NAMI’s Evidence based Family-to-Family education class. The importance of that class guided her into a new career. The certification she received in 1987 in medical and dental administration has been helpful in her position. She joined the NAMI Indiana staff in 2010. She works closely with volunteer leaders around the state. She recruits, trains, and motivates members to become active volunteers, leaders, and advocates. Her lived experience has made her very passionate about the mission of NAMI which is to improve the quality of life for persons who are affected by mental illness by providing education, support, advocacy and promoting research.
The Honorable La Keisha Jackson is currently a Democratic member of the City-County Council of Indianapolis-Marion County, District 14. She has been a member of the Council since 2014. Councillor Jackson serves on four (4) Council Committees: Chairwoman of Community Affairs, Rules and Public Policy, Metropolitan & Development, and Administration & Finance.
She is the younger of two children and a Georgia native. La Keisha moved to the great City of Indianapolis in 1984 and has resided in Warren Township for over 20 years. Her faith and religious beliefs have a profound effect on her life. Jackson’s spiritual believes and faith has a profound calling on her life that she displays in her daily walk. She is long-term member of Emmanuel Missionary Baptist Church where she works with her Pastor and church members to support community change. La Keisha Jackson also co-founded the Indianapolis Urban Pastors Coalition (IUPC) in 2021 to help create and support and resource platform for faith-based organization to help residents at a grass-roots level. IUPC’s programming is focused around mental health, trauma informed care, education, crime prevention & intervention and resource access.
La Keisha Jackson has been a business professional for over 25 years and working in the community and social services field for over 20 years. La Keisha’s passion is helping disadvantaged and at-risk youth and families develop personal, professional and educational skills. Ms. Jackson says, “Although, my official title, at a grass-roots non-profit community center (Pathway Resource Center, Inc.), is Chief Executive Officer, children call me, “Ms. La Keisha. I decided to become a youth mentor, so that I could inspire children to learn, grow and be empowered to become self-sufficient while providing crime reduction advocacy. I desire to foster youth in my love of knowledge, professionalism and wisdom just as my parents, teachers and mentors have inspired me.”
La Keisha has served on many boards, neighborhood & community groups, committees, planning events, conference committee host and conference facilitator for HUD related national conferences including the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Indianapolis Chapter. La Keisha is also the recipient of two Mayor’s Community Service Awards (2008 & 2012).
La Keisha Jackson is an alumni of Indiana University, Bloomington, and has obtained several college degrees. In 2007, she obtained her Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a specialization in Health Care Management from Indiana Wesleyan University. La Keisha Jackson has dedicated her life to helping disadvantaged and underserved youth and families. La Keisha has touched the lives of over 100,000 residents by helping them achieve employment, personal, financial, spiritual and educational goals in some capacity.
Our world, friends, family, work, our direct surroundings, are filled with moments that bring hurt and wounding. When we are able to expose the lies that we have believed, then we can shift ourselves into truth. Lies break relationship wit God, with others, and with ourself. Truth brings freedom, and removes the effects of our trauma, dysfunction, and disappointments.
Cory Joy, lead pastor of Encounter Life Ministries church and Founder/Executive Director of the nonprofit Do Something, BrownCounty has called Brown County Indiana his home for more than 40 years. Both ministries he leads exist to partner with individuals, families, and the community to link people in need to the resources that encourage, equip, and empower them to live a life of wholeness and freedom. Cory and his wife, Michelle, lost their older son, Caleb, to a heroin overdose in 2017. This devastating loss ignited a passion in both Cory and Michelle to see all people set free from the pain that often leads to addiction.
Members of various faith communities around Indianapolis participated in a panel discussion about productive ways to engage with one another regarding the promotion of mental health. Considering key identity markers of the individuals and communities that populate faith spaces, panelists explored what mental health advocacy interventions can look like that honor the dignity and fullness of the human experience and move toward a collective vision of wellness for all people.
Josih Hostetler is a Licensed Social Worker and the current Program Director at the Center for Interfaith Cooperation. Josih received his BA from Manchester University, and his MSW from the University of Minnesota. Josihhas spent his 20 years in social work in workforce and community development. He has served in program leadership in schools of Public Health, Nursing, and Dentistry. Josih spent almost four years as the Coordinator for the Pediatric Residency Program, IU School of Medicine at IU Health Riley Hospital for Children. He has relished the opportunity to direct the proprogramming Center for Interfaith Cooperation, including drawing on his experience to lead the Interfaith Enrichment Corps AmeriCorps program. Josih savors his community through Fairfield Friends Meeting and the warmth of living in an a100-year-old farm house in Camby, IN with his husband, Jon, and dog, Betty Wrinkles.
Komal Chohan. Komal’s dedication to serving the community has led her to establish Umeed-Hope, a nonprofit organization that aims to provide legal and mental health resources to survivors of family violence. Through this initiative, Komal intends to break down the barriers surrounding abuse and create an open dialogue for survivors to seek help. As a teacher and activist, Komal is committed to empowering individuals from diverse backgrounds to overcome their challenges and lead fulfilling lives. Her expertise, coupled with her compassionate approach, makes her an invaluable asset to the community.
Britney Foster, LMHCA, MDiv, med Britney is an outpatient therapist with a local community mental health organization, where she works primarily with adults. She is also one of the pastors of Trinity Church in Broad Ripple where she preaches and manages areas of family ministry. She is passionate about the connections between mental health and faith, particularly how mental health is shaped by faith and faith institutions. She lives in Irvington with her wife and stepdaughter with their two dogs and two cats.
A 2022 graduate from Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington, Dr. Byrd strives to make choices that align with her core values and support her holistic (body, mind, spirit) well-being. Dr. Kourtney Byrd self-identifies as a child of God, a member of the African Diaspora community, and a public health scholar and practitioner with 10 + years of practicing the craft of research.
The goal of her research efforts is to: a) better understand the intersectionality of Boys and Men's Eight Dimensions of Health, Community Violence, and Economic Infrastructures and b) to translate that understanding into evidence-based curricula for community-focused efforts that seek to improve health behaviors and relationship building for males who face challenges from exposure to violence.
Dr. Byrd is a self-employed research consultant at BrooksByrd and Company L.L.C. and a research associate/program manager at Purdue University, Center for Health Equity and Innovation (CHEqI), and Health Equity Research (HER) lab. She is a volunteer board member for Hoosiers Concerned About Gun Violence (HCGV) to reduce gun violence through public health research efforts and intergenerational alliances.
As a community-based researcher, she positions herself to serve as a bridge to community members and civic leaders, providing reliable public health data, executing deliverables, and being a dependable thought partner. Dr. Byrd believes that we are stronger together as a Human Race, and united, we can Create, Contribute, and Champion Health Equity Efforts for the current and next generation of Hoosiers in Indiana.
Lindsey Nell Rabinowitch is the Director for Christian Theological Seminary’s Faith & Action Project. In her role with the Faith & Action Project, Lindsey works to bring together faith communities, nonprofit organizations and leaders in business and government in a collaborative effort to turn back the tide of poverty in Indianapolis. Lindsey’s previous work experience includes working as a Pharmaceutical Sales Representative for Eli Lilly, Project Manager for Deborah Wood & Associates, a healthcare marketing firm, and as Marketing and Communications Manager for Lacy Leadership Association, a not-for-profit organization promoting civic leadership in Indianapolis. In addition to her work with Faith & Action, Lindsey serves in many volunteer roles, including as a member of the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis Guild; Fundraiser Chair for St. Luke’s UMC Freedom School; a volunteer member of Park Tudor’s Art Guild; engaged member of Women’s Fund of Indianapolis. Lindsey spends her free time volunteering, running, playing tennis, being with her friends and most importantly spending time with her husband Misha, their two kids--Kate (15) and Eli (13) and their dog, Maxie.
Imam Ahmed Alanin Amide. Alanine has been the Imam and the Director of Religious Affairs of the Indianapolis Muslim Community Association, the first Muslim community and nonprofit organization in Indianapolis, since 2017. Imam Alamine holds bachelor’s degree in Islamic Studies, a Master’s in Islamic studies, and another Master’s of Business Administration. He is currently pursuing a professional doctorate in Philanthropic Leadership at Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. Imam Alamine also serves as the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Center for Interfaith Cooperation (CIC), the largest Interfaith organization in Indiana. He also is the Board secretary of the Greater Indianapolis Multi Faith Alliance (GIMA). He has been serving as a chaplain with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office
(MCSO) since 2018. In 2019, he was sworn as the first Muslim police chaplain with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) to serve the citizens of Indianapolis both officers and civilians. His areas of focus are civic engagement, youth empowerment, and holistic health and fitness. His major hobby is traveling both national and internationally to explore different cultures and traditions and meeting people from different backgrounds. He has been to 49 states of the U.S.
Tuesday, May 16, 2023
2nd & 3rd Floors of the Hyatt Regency Indianapolis; 1 South Capitol Ave. Indianapolis, IN 46204
Registration opens at 7:30am with the opening plenary session beginning at 8:30am.
Yes, the Indiana Roundtable on Mental Health Summit is currently at capacity. Please continue monitoring social media and the website as additional tickets may become available.
Yes, both breakfast and lunch are included.
Please select your dietary restriction when you complete registration. Upon checking in at the Summit, be sure to grab a dietary card that you can display at your place setting during lunch to alert your server.
The full agenda will be released closer to event day and can be found on the event website: https://mentalhealthroundtable.org/2023-summit/
No. Breakout sessions will be available on first come-first served basis.
No. Once at the Summit, you will be able to attend whichever breakout session you are most interested in. To assist, signage and printed materials will be color-coded to indicate each track; Workforce = Blue, Faith = Purple, Youth = Green.
The full agenda will be released closer to event day and can be found on the event website: https://mentalhealthroundtable.org/2023-summit/
Yes. All attendees of the IRMHS are invited to stay for the networking reception after the Summit concludes. Refreshments will be provided.
The 3rd floor foyer of the Hyatt Regency.
If you have additional questions, please email emily@sagamoreinstitute.org
