Humanitarian
Change Maker
Thought Leader
Writer
Mental Health Advocate
Food Specialist
Storyteller
Hello!
Army brat born in Lynwood, CA.
I was raised in Florida and Los Angeles.
I raised my two daughters in San Diego (1985 -1999) & Los Angeles (1999-2006).
Moved to Berkeley to attend UCB (2006-2009).
Moved back to Los Angeles (2009-2012).
Moved to Arizona for family (2012-2023).
Moved to Washington in 2023.
I've also lived in Georgia, Alabama, Missouri, and South Carolina. At heart, I'm still a Cali girl.
I enjoy:
Nature. Reading. Hiking.
Listening to music
Taking my cats for walks
Learning. Helping.
At this stage in my life,
I'm focused on:
Writing
Managing my nonprofit aka
educating the world! on all things related to 'mental illness'
Bringing communities together
I'm interested in pursuing a Doctorate in Public Health.
EDUCATION
Antioch University, Yellow Springs, OH
Master of Arts in Humanities
Specialization: Creative Writing
October 2023 - August 2025
Capstone Project - Grassroots Movements: Designing & Implementing a Community Mental Health Intervention
University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
Bachelor of Science
August 2006 - June 2009
Major: Conservation & Resource Studies
2nd Major: Society & Environment
Minor: Global Poverty & Practice
Rio Hondo College, Whittier, CA
Associate of Science
June 2002 - May 2006
Major: Business Management and Supervision
Graduated with Honors/GPA 3.9
Alpha Gamma Sigma Treasurer
Antioch Courses
Foundations Research Methods
Foundations of Individualized Study
Intro to Individualized Study
Auto-Phenomenology: A Lived Experience
Writing Non-Fiction for Publication
Spiritual Poetry
Human Values & Beliefs
Community Psychology and Mental Health
Mental Health Advocacy and Public Policy
Mental Health Narratives in Media, Advocacy, and Policy Change
Interviewing Individuals with Mental Illness:
Theory, Practice, and Ethical Considerations
Mental Health Advocacy via Public Policy
The Power of Media in Shaping Mental Health Perceptions:
Changing the Narrative
CAPSTONE - Grassroots Movements: Designing & Implementing a Community Mental Health Intervention
UCB Favorite Courses
Nutrition in Community
The Urban Community
Intro to City Planning
Third World Ecology
As an Alumni:
Food, Culture, and the Environment
Extreme Politics: Radicals, Revolutionaries, and Terrorists
The Science of Happiness
Rio Hondo Favorite Courses
Global Business
Accounting
Art: Survey of Art History from the Renaissance to the Present
Anthropology
Astronomy
Tennis, Golf
edX Certificates (2024/5)
Storytelling for Social Change
Food for Thought: The Relationship Between Food, Gut and Brain
As a Writer
I have:
Advanced critical analysis and research skills
A capacity to self-edit
A mastery of grammar, syntax, and stylistic precision
Ethics
An ability to adapt creative work for performance, visual, and/or digital media
A willingness to collaborative with others
I am:
Proficient in multiple genres
Familiar with citation practices and academic discourse
Confident in reading, presenting, and performing my work publicly
*I worked as a freelance digital writer for 12+ years before deciding to continue my education at Antioch University.
Writing Samples
The Monterey Company - 6-month project/updated entire site
Consolidated Ink - 3-month project/updated entire site
Tammy Levent - 3+ years/ghostwriter, article writer
Net Profit Marketing (50+ articles)
Doctor Genius - 3 years/dental, medical articles (2000+)
Eco Terra Reviews 3-month project (16 reviews)
Lean in the OR - 1-month project/editing
Your Step-by-Step Guide to Staying Fit and Healthy While Traveling - 1-month project/editing
As a Mental Health Advocate
I:
Am flexible
Am a team player
Am an active listener
Acknowledge cultural beliefs
Employ perspective awareness
Encourage compassionate engagement
Recognize signs of crisis
Remain calm under pressure
Have lived experience knowledge
Objectives
Stop Stigma!
Unite Communities
Inform & Educate
Host Rallies (think farmer's market yet focus is on mental health)
Support Systemic Change
*I’ve been living with a Severe Mental Disorder since March of 2017. 14 health care professionals so far, and no diagnosis. Our health care system is broken. I will utilize my new nonprofit - Community Mental Health Rallies - to help fix it.
Current Projects
Auto-Phenomenology - A Lived Experience. *Short stories on my lived experience for scientific publication to, 1. analyze my experiences, and 2. gain deep insights into the phenomena of mental illness.
Personal Narratives.
*Stories from my lived experience to share publicly, i.e. my nonprofit website (Community Mental Health Rallies .org), NAMI, Instagram, Articles, Op-Eds, Posts, Scientific Journals, Magazines, and Publications.
Creative Non-Fiction.
*Working on a feature-length article, and one personal narrative for a literary journal.
Memoir.
I’m working on my memoir (2017 to 2023). My goal is to inform, educate, and connect with people regarding my unique experiences.
Spiritual Poetry.
I’m working on a short book of spiritual poems based on my journey.
Completed Projects
VISUAL PRESENTATION #1 - Mental Health Stigma in Marginalized Communities
VISUAL PRESENTATION #2 - Policy Reform Initiative: Utilizing Proven Integrated Community-Based Models to Enhance Responses to Mental Health Crises for ALL Communities
PAPER: Intervention Campaign on Stigma
PAPER: Policy Brief: The Affordable Care Act
FLASH PIECE: Embracing Unforeseen Change
PAPER: PAR Project to Address Stigma
Policy Testimony - Stigma
PSA (for Radio)
Nonprofit (managing)
EXPERIENCE
Freelance Writer, Sierra Vista, AZ
November 2009 - June 2022
Digital Content for Websites, Blogs, Articles, White Papers, Research, Proofreading, Editing
Owner/Manager, High Desert Farmers Market, Sierra Vista, AZ
November 2013 - November 2016
Nonprofit farmers market to address food insecurity
Project Coder, UCB, Berkeley, CA
January 2009 - June 2009
Coded school lunch reports to determine nutritional education results
Administrative/Technical Assistant, UCB, Berkeley, CA
July 2007 - September 2008
Entered data into Customer Relations Management (CRM) program, coordinated supply management system
Administrative Assistant, Rio Hondo College, Whittier, CA
July 2004 - July 2006
General office duties, administered/scored career assessment tests
AVON Sales Rep, El Cajon, CA
September 1995 - September 2004
Promoted, sold, and delivered Avon products to local clientele
Sales Associate/Assistant Manager, Sears, Whittier, CA
July 1994 - July 2006
Provided excellent customer service, trained and supervised new associates
Volunteer, Chase Elementary School, El Cajon, CA
July 1990 - July 1997
Classroom, events, recess monitor
Volunteer, Norwalk Vocational School, Norwalk, CA
July 1984 - July 1985
Teacher assistant, worked with the mentally and developmentally disabled
Contact me today. I look forward to speaking with you!
Additional Interests
Liberation Psychology - focuses on healing through empowerment, resisting oppression
Intersectionality - analyzes how overlapping identities affect mental health disparities
Narrative Justice - elevates storytelling into a tool for equity, policy influence
Public Health Advocacy - applies data-driven, systems-based strategies for sustainable change
BOOKS OF INTEREST
Topics of Particular Interest
Mental Illness vs Mental Disorder vs Mental Challenge vs Entitlement
Medical Marijuana/Terpenes
Spiritual Warfare
Our Dividing World