Our May Guests
May 1, 2022
Heartstrings & Beautiful Memories...
Love Letters from Mom!
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Deborah Cannington
Educator
Jacksonville Country Day School
Deborah Cannington is an educator at Jacksonville Country Day School for the past 23 years and is passionate about teaching her third grade students. In addition to teaching math, spelling, and language arts, she also teaches character education, and teaches all three third classes global studies. She is highly involved with the Diverse, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) council at her school. Deborah is a graduate of University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, a mother of two adult children and a wife to a wonderful husband. Outside of school she loves to work in her garden, admire the beauty of the beach, read, and enjoy spending time with special friends. One of her favorite quotes is, “Be somebody who makes everybody feel like somebody.”
Kimberly Holloway
I.T. Executive
Black Knight
Kimberly Proudme Holloway is a native of Jacksonville, FL where she has humbly served her church Open Arms Community Church (formerly Open Arms Christian Fellowship) for 20 years and the local Jacksonville community for over 30 years. Kimberly has been the leader of the church ministry’s Youth Ushers Ministry for 15 years, worker in their Education Enhancement, Young Ladies Mentoring and Nursery ministries throughout the 20 years of church membership.
Kimberly Holloway has been employed in the Information Technology field for over 30 years, more specifically at Black Knight, Inc. for 27 years. Kimberly received a Bachelor of Science degree in Management Information Systems from The Florida State University and a Master of Science degree in Business Administration from Nova Southeastern University.
Latasha Garrison
Assistant General Counsel
CSX Transportation
I am passionate about mentoring to children and young adults. I have served as a speaker at various schools, and participated in job fairs for children of various ages. I have also mentored law students and those considering pursuing the practice of law. In 2011, I joined Jack and Jill of America, Inc., a family driven organization that focuses on children centered annual programming. For instance, we recently hosted our 17th biennial and first virtual Beautillion where I served on several committees. I have served on the executive board for many years in three different roles: parliamentarian, vice president and editor.
I have been dedicated to fundraising efforts for various organizations. For instance, I currently serve on the fund development committee for the Gateway Girl Scouts Council. I also served as the Chair for the D.W. Perkins Bar Association’s scholarship banquet on two separate occasions. We raised gap funds to aid law school graduates who were studying for the bar. As a member of the Jacksonville (FL) Alumnae Chapter of my sorority, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., I have consistently participated in fundraising efforts and programming for graduating high school recipients.
Wanda Willis
Dir. of Community Engagement
Cummer Museum of Arts and Gardens
Wanda Willis has held several roles throughout her career, with the common thread being connecting community. She has lived on the first coast of Florida for over 25 years and demonstrates her community leadership by serving on the following Boards: Women’s Giving Alliance, Teach for America, The Legacy League and the American Cancer Society. She is a graduate of Leadership Jacksonville Class of 2002, a member of the Jacksonville Women’s Network Class of 2022; and an active member of Gamma Rho Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and currently serves as President of The Bold City Chapter of the Links, Incorporated.
She is driven by mentoring young people and helping them to connect passion with purpose and most recently served as a speaker and mentor for Jacksonville Business Journal’s Monday Mentoring for professional women.
May 15, 2022
Raising Awareness About Mental Illness:
It's Ok To Not Be Okay!
(Part 1)
Sonya Fischer
Vice President and Chief Creative Officer
Everybody VS Stigma
CEO
A to Z Custom Tees
EVERYBODY -VS- STIGMA is the vision and passion of Kevin & Sonya Fischer, designed to spread a global message of behavioral health awareness and inclusion. The EVERYBODY -VS- STIGMA brand supports the mission driven work of the Dominique Fischer Memorial Foundation, which was founded in 2011, shortly after Kevin lost his son Dominique to suicide after his brief battle with serious mental illness. Dominique was 23 years old.
Our mission is simple; to ELIMINATE the STIGMA associated with behavioral health disorders like Mental Illness, Substance Use Disorder, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Suicide Prevention. STIGMA is the leading barrier to the early diagnosis and treatment that leads to better outcomes. STIGMA KILLS! We feel one of the most effective ways to ELIMINATE STIGMA begins with the public display of unity and support which encourages a conversation about the reality of behavioral health disorders. Our prayer is the EVERYBODY -VS- STIGMA brand will become the global unifying symbol of HOPE. When you see someone wearing EVERYBODY -VS- STIGMA apparel, you will know YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
Benita Abernathy
Mental Health Advocate & Loving Mom
Benita Abernathy is with the Department of Humans Services at the State of Tennessee. Most of her working experience has been in Information Technology also touching on Product Management. Worked at Change Healthcare for most of her working career. Tennessee State University graduate with a degree in Psychology.
May 29, 2022
Raising Awareness About Mental Illness:
It's Ok To Not Be Okay!
(Part 2)
Brittany "Dr. Fit Britt" Stallworth, M.D.
Founder/CEO
Full Cup Fitness
Brittany Stallworth, M.D is a native of Detroit, Michigan. She attended Howard University where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology along with several awards including The Brower Youth Award for her work in Environmental Justice advocacy. After college, she participated in a highly competitive post-baccalaureate fellowship program at the National Cancer Institute before matriculating into medical school at Wayne State University School of Medicine.
While in medical school, Dr. Stallworth earned the nickname “Dr. Fit Britt” after she created Full Cup Fitness, a successful fitness business that encourages people to use working out as a form of medicine to improve mental, emotional, and physical health. Within the field of psychiatry, Dr. Stallworth combines her passion for using fitness as medicine with her interests in women’s health, psychosomatic medicine, and sports psychiatry.
Outside of medicine, Dr. Stallworth enjoys spending time with her family, working out, exploring new restaurants, and participating in community service projects as a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Jaiden Calhoun
Author
The Little Things
Junior
Frank H. Peterson High School
Jaiden Calhoun is a sixteen-year-old just trying to find their thing. She hopes to help many people, mostly teens, find the strength to find help. They encourage being open with loved ones and wanted to show that just because you can't see something, doesn't mean a struggle isn't happening. They hope their books will show people that they aren't alone.