Meet the personal side of our team

What is your connection to mental health? – I have PTSD and CPTSD. I also have friends, family, and associates who have mental health conditions. I know firsthand what it’s like to struggle and feel like there is no hope. I aim to make sure no one who comes to us ever feels that way.

Why do you love NAMI Pasco? – We are peer lead. We truly try to allow our participants to guide all of our activities and programs. There is no hierarchy of anyone being better than anyone else. 

What is your favorite color? – Navy blue, but orange is my heart color. My son, Christopher was a NICU baby and as such experienced vision damage. Orange was one of the first colors he could see and identify. He became obsessed. Anytime I see orange I think of him. 

What’s your favorite place of all the places you have traveled and why? – I’d have to say Borderland State Park in Easton, MA. I love the trails there and the beautiful scenery. Not to mention they allow dogs and have a special off-leash area. 

What is your connection to mental health? – I personally have some anxiety and my son has mental health conditions.

Why do you love NAMI Pasco? – In the past two years I have watched a caterpillar of an organization turn into a butterfly. It is a place that people with mental health conditions now feel safe to come. I am proud to say that I am on the board. 

What is your favorite color? – Baby blue 

What’s your favorite place of all the places you have traveled and why? – Tennessee, it is where I feel at peace and like I am in God’s Country.  

AKA – Sister Fantastic

What is your connection to mental health? – I personally struggle with anxiety.

Why do you love NAMI Pasco? – We provide services and connections that people need that help them to recover and live stigma-free. We provide the daily connections that most can’t get elsewhere.

What is your favorite color? – Green

What fruit or vegetable would you most like to be and why? – A carrot because I love rich soil and digging deeper. 

AKA – Laini

What is your connection to mental health? – I have a son that has bipolar and I have depression.

Why do you love NAMI Pasco? – It’s a small nonprofit that does everything it can to try to help the community. It steps up when others should but don’t. 

What is your favorite color? – Hot Pink

What sport would you compete in if you were in the Olympics and why? – Gymnastics, because I have great respect for them. 

What is your connection to mental health? – I live with mental health conditions.

Why do you love NAMI Pasco? – NAMI Pasco is a wonderful organization to be part of. The support groups allow me to get support to help me deal with the difficulties of mental health conditions and to give support to others, which gives me purpose and meaning. The classes have helped me with personal development, and recovery. The activities have been a great social outlet. And the Coaching has helped me work towards my goals. I love that NAMI Pasco is working towards education and reducing the stigma of mental health conditions, and providing people in need with resources that can otherwise be difficult to find.

What is your favorite color? – Orange

What is your favorite place that you have traveled and why? – Right now I think it's Ocracoke Island North Carolina because it was my favorite family road trip.

AKA – Melanie, Mel, Melsey are all fine with me. (You can try to make an original joke about my last name, but the truth is, I've probably heard it before.) 

What is your connection to mental health? – Growing up, one of my parents experienced depression and the other experienced bipolar disorder. I thought I escaped this when I graduated from college with degrees in things like social work and student personnel, but by the time I hit 25, I experienced mental health challenges, too. So I see mental health BOTH from a personal standpoint and that of a family member.

Why do you love NAMI Pasco? – NAMI Pasco embodies what I think NAMI is supposed to be about. Participants are empowered to be the best versions of themselves, but not punished in any way for having a mental health condition. Respect is freely given, and thus, reciprocated in return. Honesty is valued, creativity is employed and humor truly is healthy!

What is your favorite color? – Blue Green or Teal

What is your favorite place that you have traveled and why? – In my early 20's, I took a group of students spelunking in East Tennessee. We hiked up and down cave walls, rafted across the little lake inside the cave, and slept on the cave floor.

The reason I loved this trip is that I lead it and I can't believe I survived it  I was just a young woman from the edge of Northeast Philly who had never seen a cave in her life! But somehow, we all made it through and it was rated the best trip of the year. It was unlike any place I've ever been.

What is your connection to mental health? – I have a mental health diagnosis, but I don’t let it define me. 

Why do you love NAMI Pasco? – I love Nami Pasco because of the support I received during a very scary time in my life. Also, I can help others by being understanding and helping through difficult times.

What is your favorite color? – Orange

What animal best matches your personality and why? A dolphin because they are loyal and compassionate. 

AKA – Nik

What is your connection to mental health? – Mental health conditions are a highly prevalent issue that affects a large portion of the population. I learned this while working for a mental health organization, while working in the medical healthcare industry, and in my family and personal life. I feel strongly that the stigma surrounding mental health needs to be eradicated to not only improve lives, but save them.

Why do you love NAMI Pasco? – I love NAMI Pasco for the dedication to their mission to remove the stigma and make mental health resources available to EVERYONE.

What is your favorite color? – Yellow

What animal best matches your personality and why? A lion. I’m fiercely protective of those I love and also adore naps.