Our May Guests
May 2, 2021
Vice President
Global Quality Cummins, Inc.
Dr. Tedra Anderson-Brown is the Behavioral Health Medical Director for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC (BCNC). She joined BCNC in November 2019. As a recovery ally, Dr. Anderson-Brown is the family member and friend of those living with mental health and substance abuse challenges.
Dr. A-B as she is affectionately called is professionally involved in medical and community-focused organizations addressing healthcare disparities for those with mental health and substance use challenges. She also volunteers her time in the Durham community and uses her voice to promote mental health awareness and combat stigma. She is a sought-after speaker in her profession and the community at large and has presented on topics ranging from Resilience and Self-Care, Suicide Prevention, Caregiver Support, Identifying and Treating Depression in the African American community, Managing Stress, Recovery and most recently on Managing Mental Health during Covid-19. She is also state certified trainer through NCDHHS on the covid vaccines.
Dr. Todra Anderson-Rhodes
Chief Medical Officer
Memorial Hospital Miramar
Dr. Todra Anderson-Rhodes, an Opa-Locka, Florida native, is now in her eighth year as Chief Medical Officer at Memorial Hospital Miramar (MHM), a Leapfrog Top General Hospital recognized for its outstanding quality, safety, and service. She values the team approach, leads by example and empowers team members to always do what is right! Dr. Anderson-Rhodes is an advocate for collegial collaboration, communication and citizenship across all members of the care team in order to provide patients, families, and all team members with outstanding service and professionalism. In addition to leading the Department of Medical Affairs with its nearly 1500 clinicians, she leads both the Quality and Clinical Effectiveness (Case Management, Social Work, and Utilization) Departments at MHM.
Angel Cornelius
Founder & CEO
Maison 276
Angel Cornelius is the Founder & CEO of Maison 276, a collection of premium beauty products, created with nutrient-rich botanicals and designed to inspire women to celebrate their own version of beauty, not someone else’s version of who they should be. After becoming increasingly frustrated with the lack of clean, effective beauty products in the market, Angel began formulating her own skin and hair care products. Her body butters quickly went viral in her local community and eventually found their way to the beauty editors at ESSENCE. The company launched in 2016 when the Pomegranate Kiss Body Butter, now a Best Seller, was introduced to nearly 15,000 ESSENCE BeautyBox subscribers. Her follow-up launch to the popular body butter was the unique Maison 276 3-Step Haircare System, an innovative and clean hair care system that brightens and hydrates silver and blonde hair without the use of harsh purple dyes.
Chief Executive Officer
The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens
Andrea Barnwell Brownlee, Ph.D., an art historian, curator, and writer, is the Cummer Museum’s George W. and Kathleen I. Gibbs Director & CEO. Brownlee served as Director of the Spelman College Museum of Fine Art for nearly 20 years, and the Senior Strategist for the Atlanta University Center Art History + Curatorial Studies Collective. She is widely recognized for her wise leadership, ambitious vision, and influential publications.
Brownlee is the recipient of several academic, professional, and scholarly awards including the 2013 David C. Driskell Prize in African American Art. She has curated and co-curated many exhibitions, most recently Deborah Roberts: The Evolution of Mimi (2018) and Mildred Thompson: The Atlanta Years, 1983 – 2003 (2019, with independent curator Melissa Messina). Brownlee is a member of the Association of Art Museum Directors and serves on the Board of Advisors for the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University.
Shawana Brooks
Executive Director
Jacksonville Cultural Development Corporation
Literary Artist and Public Speaker
Shawana Brooks (1979, Vallejo, California) is a literary artist and avid public speaker for her various roles as a curator focused on the relationship between artists and their communities. Her artistic expression revolves around personal storytelling fused to issues of social justice; from medical and maternal concern to civic engagement. She is the founder of a public arts agency who works to amplify Black Artists and other diverse voices through representation and storytelling. Brooks' works to break the barriers and her work has been highlighted in the national media (NPR, Morning Edition)
May 30, 2021
Toni Callahan, M.Ed.
NAMI Board Member
Physician & Provider Relations Director - Behavioral Health Division
Memorial Hospital of Jacksonville
Toni is currently employed by HCA Healthcare, Incorporated, as a Physician & Provider Relations Director for Memorial Hospital Jacksonville and Orange Park Medical Center. She promotes the Behavioral Health inpatient and outpatient services lines to physicians and provider’s offices throughout the greater Jacksonville marketplace and surrounding counties. Toni is a Jacksonville native and William M. Raines High School graduate. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Voorhees College and a Master of Education from the University of Phoenix. Toni has worked in the medical and healthcare industry for over 15 years. She developed a strong sense of devotion for the behavioral health sector after a very close loved one experienced a crisis while away in college. This life-changing experience caused Toni to want to help as many other parents by sharing what she experienced. Toni has been a board member of National Alliance of Mental Illness, Jacksonville Chapter, since 2018.
Ebony Benjamin
NAMI Board Member
Program Manager of the Psychosocial Rehab and Recovery Service for North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System
Ebony Benjamin is a licensed clinical social worker with over 20 years of experience working in mental health. She graduated from Florida State University with her Bachelor’s and Masters Degrees in Social Work. She is the Program Manager of the Psychosocial Rehab and Recovery Service for North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System. She also serves on the Board of the local NAMI affiliate.
Thelmecia Cason
NAMI Board Member
Operations Support Member
Blue Cross/Blue Shield; First Coast ServiceOptions Inc.
Thelmecia is a 35 year employee of Blue Cross/Blue Shield; First Coast Service Options Inc. she holds the title of Business Operations Support Specialist. As a mother of an adult child who suffers from paranoid schizophrenia, she was introduced to NAMI Family Support Groups. Through these helpful sessions they allowed her to understand the mental health disease and to recognize that she was not alone. The organization also gave her self confidence to speak out about this disease and to share her story. Hopefully her story will help open the doors for much needed conservation.
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.
Sonya Fischer
Vice President and Chief Creative Officer for Everybody VS Stigma
CEO of 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!
Our May Guests
May 2, 2021
Vice President
Global Quality Cummins, Inc.
Dr. Tedra Anderson-Brown is the Behavioral Health Medical Director for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC (BCNC). She joined BCNC in November 2019. As a recovery ally, Dr. Anderson-Brown is the family member and friend of those living with mental health and substance abuse challenges.
Dr. A-B as she is affectionately called is professionally involved in medical and community-focused organizations addressing healthcare disparities for those with mental health and substance use challenges. She also volunteers her time in the Durham community and uses her voice to promote mental health awareness and combat stigma. She is a sought-after speaker in her profession and the community at large and has presented on topics ranging from Resilience and Self-Care, Suicide Prevention, Caregiver Support, Identifying and Treating Depression in the African American community, Managing Stress, Recovery and most recently on Managing Mental Health during Covid-19. She is also state certified trainer through NCDHHS on the covid vaccines.
Dr. Todra Anderson-Rhodes
Chief Medical Officer
Memorial Hospital Miramar
Dr. Todra Anderson-Rhodes, an Opa-Locka, Florida native, is now in her eighth year as Chief Medical Officer at Memorial Hospital Miramar (MHM), a Leapfrog Top General Hospital recognized for its outstanding quality, safety, and service. She values the team approach, leads by example and empowers team members to always do what is right! Dr. Anderson-Rhodes is an advocate for collegial collaboration, communication and citizenship across all members of the care team in order to provide patients, families, and all team members with outstanding service and professionalism. In addition to leading the Department of Medical Affairs with its nearly 1500 clinicians, she leads both the Quality and Clinical Effectiveness (Case Management, Social Work, and Utilization) Departments at MHM.
Angel Cornelius
Founder & CEO
Maison 276
Angel Cornelius is the Founder & CEO of Maison 276, a collection of premium beauty products, created with nutrient-rich botanicals and designed to inspire women to celebrate their own version of beauty, not someone else’s version of who they should be. After becoming increasingly frustrated with the lack of clean, effective beauty products in the market, Angel began formulating her own skin and hair care products. Her body butters quickly went viral in her local community and eventually found their way to the beauty editors at ESSENCE. The company launched in 2016 when the Pomegranate Kiss Body Butter, now a Best Seller, was introduced to nearly 15,000 ESSENCE BeautyBox subscribers. Her follow-up launch to the popular body butter was the unique Maison 276 3-Step Haircare System, an innovative and clean hair care system that brightens and hydrates silver and blonde hair without the use of harsh purple dyes.
Andrea Barnwell Brownlee, Ph.D
Chief Executive Officer
The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens
Andrea Barnwell Brownlee, Ph.D., an art historian, curator, and writer, is the Cummer Museum’s George W. and Kathleen I. Gibbs Director & CEO. Brownlee served as Director of the Spelman College Museum of Fine Art for nearly 20 years, and the Senior Strategist for the Atlanta University Center Art History + Curatorial Studies Collective. She is widely recognized for her wise leadership, ambitious vision, and influential publications.
Brownlee is the recipient of several academic, professional, and scholarly awards including the 2013 David C. Driskell Prize in African American Art. She has curated and co-curated many exhibitions, most recently Deborah Roberts: The Evolution of Mimi (2018) and Mildred Thompson: The Atlanta Years, 1983 – 2003 (2019, with independent curator Melissa Messina). Brownlee is a member of the Association of Art Museum Directors and serves on the Board of Advisors for the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University.
Shawana Brooks
Executive Director
Jacksonville Cultural Development Corporation
Literary Artist and Public Speaker
Shawana Brooks (1979, Vallejo, California) is a literary artist and avid public speaker for her various roles as a curator focused on the relationship between artists and their communities. Her artistic expression revolves around personal storytelling fused to issues of social justice; from medical and maternal concern to civic engagement. She is the founder of a public arts agency who works to amplify Black Artists and other diverse voices through representation and storytelling. Brooks' works to break the barriers and her work has been highlighted in the national media (NPR, Morning Edition)
Toni Callahan, M.Ed.
NAMI Board Member
Physician & Provider Relations Director - Behavioral Health Division
Memorial Hospital of Jacksonville
Toni is currently employed by HCA Healthcare, Incorporated, as a Physician & Provider Relations Director for Memorial Hospital Jacksonville and Orange Park Medical Center. She promotes the Behavioral Health inpatient and outpatient services lines to physicians and provider’s offices throughout the greater Jacksonville marketplace and surrounding counties. Toni is a Jacksonville native and William M. Raines High School graduate. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Voorhees College and a Master of Education from the University of Phoenix. Toni has worked in the medical and healthcare industry for over 15 years. She developed a strong sense of devotion for the behavioral health sector after a very close loved one experienced a crisis while away in college. This life-changing experience caused Toni to want to help as many other parents by sharing what she experienced. Toni has been a board member of National Alliance of Mental Illness, Jacksonville Chapter, since 2018.
Ebony Benjamin
NAMI Board Member
Program Manager of the Psychosocial Rehab and Recovery Service for North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System
Ebony Benjamin is a licensed clinical social worker with over 20 years of experience working in mental health. She graduated from Florida State University with her Bachelor’s and Masters Degrees in Social Work. She is the Program Manager of the Psychosocial Rehab and Recovery Service for North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System. She also serves on the Board of the local NAMI affiliate.
Thelmecia Cason
NAMI Board Member
Operations Support Member
Blue Cross/Blue Shield; First Coast ServiceOptions Inc.
Thelmecia is a 35 year employee of Blue Cross/Blue Shield; First Coast Service Options Inc. she holds the title of Business Operations Support Specialist. As a mother of an adult child who suffers from paranoid schizophrenia, she was introduced to NAMI Family Support Groups. Through these helpful sessions they allowed her to understand the mental health disease and to recognize that she was not alone. The organization also gave her self confidence to speak out about this disease and to share her story. Hopefully her story will help open the doors for much needed conservation.
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.
Sonya Fischer
Vice President and Chief Creative Officer for Everybody VS Stigma
CEO of 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!
Our May Guests
Dr. Tedra Anderson-Brown
Vice President
Global Quality Cummins, Inc.
Dr. Tedra Anderson-Brown is the Behavioral Health Medical Director for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC (BCNC). She joined BCNC in November 2019. As a recovery ally, Dr. Anderson-Brown is the family member and friend of those living with mental health and substance abuse challenges.
Dr. A-B as she is affectionately called is professionally involved in medical and community-focused organizations addressing healthcare disparities for those with mental health and substance use challenges. She also volunteers her time in the Durham community and uses her voice to promote mental health awareness and combat stigma. She is a sought-after speaker in her profession and the community at large and has presented on topics ranging from Resilience and Self-Care, Suicide Prevention, Caregiver Support, Identifying and Treating Depression in the African American community, Managing Stress, Recovery and most recently on Managing Mental Health during Covid-19. She is also state certified trainer through NCDHHS on the covid vaccines.
Dr. Todra Anderson-Rhodes
Chief Medical Officer
Memorial Hospital Miramar
Dr. Todra Anderson-Rhodes, an Opa-Locka, Florida native, is now in her eighth year as Chief Medical Officer at Memorial Hospital Miramar (MHM), a Leapfrog Top General Hospital recognized for its outstanding quality, safety, and service. She values the team approach, leads by example and empowers team members to always do what is right! Dr. Anderson-Rhodes is an advocate for collegial collaboration, communication and citizenship across all members of the care team in order to provide patients, families, and all team members with outstanding service and professionalism. In addition to leading the Department of Medical Affairs with its nearly 1500 clinicians, she leads both the Quality and Clinical Effectiveness (Case Management, Social Work, and Utilization) Departments at MHM.
Angel Cornelius
Founder & CEO
Maison 276
Angel Cornelius is the Founder & CEO of Maison 276, a collection of premium beauty products, created with nutrient-rich botanicals and designed to inspire women to celebrate their own version of beauty, not someone else’s version of who they should be. After becoming increasingly frustrated with the lack of clean, effective beauty products in the market, Angel began formulating her own skin and hair care products. Her body butters quickly went viral in her local community and eventually found their way to the beauty editors at ESSENCE. The company launched in 2016 when the Pomegranate Kiss Body Butter, now a Best Seller, was introduced to nearly 15,000 ESSENCE BeautyBox subscribers. Her follow-up launch to the popular body butter was the unique Maison 276 3-Step Haircare System, an innovative and clean hair care system that brightens and hydrates silver and blonde hair without the use of harsh purple dyes.
Andrea Barnwell Brownlee, Ph.D
Chief Executive Officer
The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens
Andrea Barnwell Brownlee, Ph.D., an art historian, curator, and writer, is the Cummer Museum’s George W. and Kathleen I. Gibbs Director & CEO. Brownlee served as Director of the Spelman College Museum of Fine Art for nearly 20 years, and the Senior Strategist for the Atlanta University Center Art History + Curatorial Studies Collective. She is widely recognized for her wise leadership, ambitious vision, and influential publications.
Brownlee is the recipient of several academic, professional, and scholarly awards including the 2013 David C. Driskell Prize in African American Art. She has curated and co-curated many exhibitions, most recently Deborah Roberts: The Evolution of Mimi (2018) and Mildred Thompson: The Atlanta Years, 1983 – 2003 (2019, with independent curator Melissa Messina). Brownlee is a member of the Association of Art Museum Directors and serves on the Board of Advisors for the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University.
Shawana Brooks
Executive Director
Jacksonville Cultural Development Corporation
Literary Artist and Public Speaker
Shawana Brooks (1979, Vallejo, California) is a literary artist and avid public speaker for her various roles as a curator focused on the relationship between artists and their communities. Her artistic expression revolves around personal storytelling fused to issues of social justice; from medical and maternal concern to civic engagement. She is the founder of a public arts agency who works to amplify Black Artists and other diverse voices through representation and storytelling. Brooks' works to break the barriers and her work has been highlighted in the national media (NPR, Morning Edition)
Toni Callahan, M.Ed.
NAMI Board Member
Physician & Provider Relations Director - Behavioral Health Division
Memorial Hospital of Jacksonville
Toni is currently employed by HCA Healthcare, Incorporated, as a Physician & Provider Relations Director for Memorial Hospital Jacksonville and Orange Park Medical Center. She promotes the Behavioral Health inpatient and outpatient services lines to physicians and provider’s offices throughout the greater Jacksonville marketplace and surrounding counties. Toni is a Jacksonville native and William M. Raines High School graduate. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Voorhees College and a Master of Education from the University of Phoenix. Toni has worked in the medical and healthcare industry for over 15 years. She developed a strong sense of devotion for the behavioral health sector after a very close loved one experienced a crisis while away in college. This life-changing experience caused Toni to want to help as many other parents by sharing what she experienced. Toni has been a board member of National Alliance of Mental Illness, Jacksonville Chapter, since 2018.
Ebony Benjamin
NAMI Board Member
Program Manager of the Psychosocial Rehab and Recovery Service for North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System
Ebony Benjamin is a licensed clinical social worker with over 20 years of experience working in mental health. She graduated from Florida State University with her Bachelor’s and Masters Degrees in Social Work. She is the Program Manager of the Psychosocial Rehab and Recovery Service for North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System. She also serves on the Board of the local NAMI affiliate.
Thelmecia Cason
NAMI Board Member
Operations Support Member
Blue Cross/Blue Shield; First Coast ServiceOptions Inc.
Thelmecia is a 35 year employee of Blue Cross/Blue Shield; First Coast Service Options Inc. she holds the title of Business Operations Support Specialist. As a mother of an adult child who suffers from paranoid schizophrenia, she was introduced to NAMI Family Support Groups. Through these helpful sessions they allowed her to understand the mental health disease and to recognize that she was not alone. The organization also gave her self confidence to speak out about this disease and to share her story. Hopefully her story will help open the doors for much needed conservation.
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.
Vice President and Chief Creative Officer for Everybody VS Stigma
CEO of 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!
Our May Guests
Raising Awareness About Mental Illness:
It's Ok to Not be Ok!
May 30, 2021
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.
Thelmecia Cason
NAMI Board Member
Operations Support Member
Blue Cross/Blue Shield; First Coast Service Options Inc.
Thelmecia is a 35 year employee of Blue Cross/Blue Shield; First Coast Service Options Inc. she holds the title of Business Operations Support Specialist. As a mother of an adult child who suffers from paranoid schizophrenia, she was introduced to NAMI Family Support Groups. Through these helpful sessions they allowed her to understand the mental health disease and to recognize that she was not alone. The organization also gave her self confidence to speak out about this disease and to share her story. Hopefully her story will help open the doors for much needed conservation.
Ebony Benjamin
NAMI Board Member
Program Manager
Psychosocial Rehab and Recovery Service for North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System
Ebony Benjamin is a licensed clinical social worker with over 20 years of experience working in mental health. She graduated from Florida State University with her Bachelor’s and Masters Degrees in Social Work. She is the Program Manager of the Psychosocial Rehab and Recovery Service for North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System. She also serves on the Board of the local NAMI affiliate.
Toni Callahan, M.Ed.
NAMI Board Member
Physician & Provider Relations Director - Behavioral Health Division
Memorial Hospital of Jacksonville
Toni is currently employed by HCA Healthcare, Incorporated, as a Physician & Provider Relations Director for Memorial Hospital Jacksonville and Orange Park Medical Center. She promotes the Behavioral Health inpatient and outpatient services lines to physicians and provider’s offices throughout the greater Jacksonville marketplace and surrounding counties. Toni is a Jacksonville native and William M. Raines High School graduate. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Voorhees College and a Master of Education from the University of Phoenix. Toni has worked in the medical and healthcare industry for over 15 years. She developed a strong sense of devotion for the behavioral health sector after a very close loved one experienced a crisis while away in college. This life-changing experience caused Toni to want to help as many other parents by sharing what she experienced. Toni has been a board member of National Alliance of Mental Illness, Jacksonville Chapter, since 2018.
May 16, 2021
The ART of Conversation, Culture & Consciousness
Andrea Barnwell Brownlee, Ph.D
Chief Executive Officer
The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens
Andrea Barnwell Brownlee, Ph.D., an art historian, curator, and writer, is the Cummer Museum’s George W. and Kathleen I. Gibbs Director & CEO. Brownlee served as Director of the Spelman College Museum of Fine Art for nearly 20 years, and the Senior Strategist for the Atlanta University Center Art History + Curatorial Studies Collective. She is widely recognized for her wise leadership, ambitious vision, and influential publications.
Brownlee is the recipient of several academic, professional, and scholarly awards including the 2013 David C. Driskell Prize in African American Art. She has curated and co-curated many exhibitions, most recently Deborah Roberts: The Evolution of Mimi (2018) and Mildred Thompson: The Atlanta Years, 1983 – 2003 (2019, with independent curator Melissa Messina). Brownlee is a member of the Association of Art Museum Directors and serves on the Board of Advisors for the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University.
Shawana Brooks
Executive Director
Jacksonville Cultural Development Corporation
Literary Artist and Public Speaker
Shawana Brooks (1979, Vallejo, California) is a literary artist and avid public speaker for her various roles as a curator focused on the relationship between artists and their communities. Her artistic expression revolves around personal storytelling fused to issues of social justice; from medical and maternal concern to civic engagement. She is the founder of a public arts agency who works to amplify Black Artists and other diverse voices through representation and storytelling. Brooks' works to break the barriers and her work has been highlighted in the national media (NPR, Morning Edition)
May 30, 2021
Living Our Best Lives: Embracing Self-Care... Let's Talk About Sex!
Lorraine Polite Clark, DMD
Co-Owner and Vice President
Soutel Dental Center II P.A./ Inc.
Lorraine Polite Clark, DMD is an analytical, multi-dimensional thinker who believes that empathy is key to cross-cultural care. She is candid, profound and passionate about exemplary patient care. Dr. Polite Clark is a multi-faceted professional with an earned Doctor of Dental Medicine degree and an earned Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy. Dr. Polite Clark is the Co-Owner and Vice President of Soutel Dental Center II P.A., Inc., and Today’s Dentistry by Polite and Clark where she has been a General Dentist in Jacksonville, FL and four surrounding counties for more than 25 years. Her areas of focus are General Dentistry, Orthodontics, Implants and Cosmetic Dentistry. Dr. Polite Clark is an active member of various professional associations and she impacts her community by serving as a volunteer dentist. Dr. Polite Clark has numerous accomplishments and accolades to include being the featured dentist in a Nationally Broadcasted Polident Denture Cleaner commercial. Dr. Polite Clark is a native of Jacksonville, FL – she is the wife of Bennie Clark Jr., DMD and the proud mother of her two adult daughters, Sydney and Lyndsey.
Candice Kennedy, MS, DPM, DABPM, DABMSP
Owner
Total Foot Care and Wellness Clinic
Dr. Candice Kennedy, MS, DPM, DABPM, DABMSP hails from St. Louis, Missouri and completed her undergraduate studies at The University of Missouri-Columbia aka Mizzou. After Mizzou, Dr. Kennedy moved to Hampton, Virginia to complete her masters in Medical Sciences from Hampton University. It was at this time that Dr. Kennedy decided to change her path of following in her grandfather’s footsteps and pursuing a career as an Oral Surgeon and decided to pursue Foot Surgery instead.
Dr. Tedra Anderson-Brown
Vice President
Global Quality Cummins, Inc.
Dr. Tedra Anderson-Brown is the Behavioral Health Medical Director for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC (BCNC). She joined BCNC in November 2019. As a recovery ally, Dr. Anderson-Brown is the family member and friend of those living with mental health and substance abuse challenges.
Dr. A-B as she is affectionately called is professionally involved in medical and community-focused organizations addressing healthcare disparities for those with mental health and substance use challenges. She also volunteers her time in the Durham community and uses her voice to promote mental health awareness and combat stigma. She is a sought-after speaker in her profession and the community at large and has presented on topics ranging from Resilience and Self-Care, Suicide Prevention, Caregiver Support, Identifying and Treating Depression in the African American community, Managing Stress, Recovery and most recently on Managing Mental Health during Covid-19. She is also state certified trainer through NCDHHS on the covid vaccines.
Dr. Todra Anderson-Rhodes
Chief Medical Officer
Memorial Hospital Miramar
Dr. Todra Anderson-Rhodes, an Opa-Locka, Florida native, is now in her eighth year as Chief Medical Officer at Memorial Hospital Miramar (MHM), a Leapfrog Top General Hospital recognized for its outstanding quality, safety, and service. She values the team approach, leads by example and empowers team members to always do what is right! Dr. Anderson-Rhodes is an advocate for collegial collaboration, communication and citizenship across all members of the care team in order to provide patients, families, and all team members with outstanding service and professionalism. In addition to leading the Department of Medical Affairs with its nearly 1500 clinicians, she leads both the Quality and Clinical Effectiveness (Case Management, Social Work, and Utilization) Departments at MHM.
Angel Cornelius
Founder & CEO
Maison 276
Angel Cornelius is the Founder & CEO of Maison 276, a collection of premium beauty products, created with nutrient-rich botanicals and designed to inspire women to celebrate their own version of beauty, not someone else’s version of who they should be. After becoming increasingly frustrated with the lack of clean, effective beauty products in the market, Angel began formulating her own skin and hair care products. Her body butters quickly went viral in her local community and eventually found their way to the beauty editors at ESSENCE. The company launched in 2016 when the Pomegranate Kiss Body Butter, now a Best Seller, was introduced to nearly 15,000 ESSENCE BeautyBox subscribers. Her follow-up launch to the popular body butter was the unique Maison 276 3-Step Haircare System, an innovative and clean hair care system that brightens and hydrates silver and blonde hair without the use of harsh purple dyes.