YOUTH LEADERSHIP BOARD

Ali (She/Her)

Assistant Director of Ambassador Outreach

Hello! My Name is Ali (short for Alexandra), and I am the Assistant Director for the Ambassador Outreach on the Youth Leadership Board. I’m a sophomore at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School and I am new to YTP! I am fired up about being a part of YTP and all that is to come in the following years! To quote Kamala Harris, “our unity is our strength and our diversity is our power.” 🙂

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Avani (She/Her)

Director of Diversity & Equity

Hi my name is Avani and I am the director of the Diversity and Equity Board! I have been an ambassador of YTP for one year now and I am so excited to be more involved with YTP this year. I love that there is an organization catered towards smashing the stigma around mental health. I am excited to collaborate with others and advocate for change! I will be starting my senior year at Pennridge High School in the fall! Some of my other hobbies include: Key Club, Mini-THON, buildOn, Tennis, and dance.

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Bridget (She/Her)

Director of Events & Fundraising

Hi! My name is Bridget and I am currently a junior at Greenwich High School in Greenwich, Connecticut. I became a YTP Ambassador and am now the Director for the Events & Fundraising Committee in early 2022 and am ready to smash the stigma against mental health. Outside of school, I spend a lot of time helping others by volunteering at a local organization where I tutor elementary students with limited academic resources. I have a passion for helping others and am excited to work with YTP to spread the goals of this organization within my community.

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Cate (She/Her)

Assistant Director of Community Outreach

Hi! My name is Cate. I am currently a junior at Yarmouth High School in Maine. I will be the assistant director of the community outreach program this year. I am passionate about advocating for mental health and hope that I can help the Yellow Tulip Project smash the stigma! What drew me to YTP was their mission of connecting people and making everyone realize how important mental health is, and that struggling with mental health issues is nothing to be ashamed of. I want everyone to feel that they can open up and be truly themselves and I hope that throughout this program I can help get the word out! Some of my other interests include playing soccer and basketball, spending time with my friends, and volunteering with Planned Parenthood.

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Emily (She/Her)

Assistant Director of Ambassador Outreach

Hey! My name is Emily and I am a junior at Sacred Heart Greenwich, in Connecticut. I am a Co-Assistant Director of Ambassador Outreach and a recent addition to our ambassadors’ team, and I’m so excited to take on this new role! I’m a tennis player and a filmmaker who’s interested in making a difference through the medium of videography, both on and off of the screen. Mental health and aiding others is such an important topic to me so I’m excited to further our goals of Smashing the Stigma!

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Jaden (He/Him)

Assistant Director of Events & Fundraising

Hello change makers! My name is Jaden and I will be serving as the Director of Events & Fundraising for the 2022/23 Board. This is my 4th year being a part of YTP, and 3rd year on the Leadership Team and I am so excited to continue “smashing the stigma”. Outside of YTP, I love exploring the world, listening and creating music, trying new foods, and binge watching Netflix. Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, I am entering my first year at The Ohio State University and can’t wait to help form inclusive communities in a new season of my life. I would love to hear from you all, so feel free to email me at ytpregion11@gmail.com 🙂

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Josie (She/Her)

Director of Education

My name is Josie and I am the Director of Eduction for the Yellow Tulip Project. I joined YTP in 2020 because I witness first-hand the magnitude of the mental health challenges among my peers. I am currently a Junior at Bates College studying biochemistry. I grew up in London and enjoy dancing in my kitchen and singing off-key with my friends. Feel free to reach out at educate@theyellowtulipproject.org, if you have any questions.

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Mia (She/Her)

Assistant Director of Education

Hi! My name is Mia and I am the Assistant Director of the Education Committee. I am going to be a freshman at Northeastern University, majoring in political science. I enjoy skiing, tennis, debate, and being involved in my community. My favorite aspect of YTP is our commitment to spreading mental health awareness in all different forms: hope gardens, education programs, art exhibits, the list goes on! I believe mental health education and help should be acknowledged, available, and accessible for everyone. I am very excited to join the leadership team for my very first year and continue smashing the stigma!

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Michael (He/Him)

Co-Director of Social Media

Hi everyone! I am so humbled and excited to begin working with Breanna as a Co-Director for the Social Media team at YTP! I currently attend Rider University where I major in Film and Television. Ever since I began working as a social media Ambassador for YTP in November 2021, I have loved the work we’ve done to spread love and smash the stigma surrounding mental illness. I have experienced mental health issues within the past years, and it means so much to see the Yellow Tulip Project providing so much love and hope to help others. This message has resonated with me for such a long time and it brings me joy to give love and appreciation to others — this is one of the best mediums to spread happiness.

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Breanna (She/They)

Co-Director of Social Media

Hi! My name is Breanna. I currently attend the University of South Carolina-Aiken as a Biology major with a concentration in Pre-Veterinary Sciences. I am one of the Co-Directors for Community Outreach for YTP. After hearing about YTP at Key Club International, I became an Ambassador for over a year, and then moved up to the National Board. Having mental illnesses and having first-hand experiences with mental health issues, I feel as though it is imperative to not only eliminate the stigmas that evolve around mental health, but also to give young people the opportunity to speak about their struggles in a safe and accepting space. The Yellow Tulip Project not only allows me to become an advocate for mental health awareness, but it also allows me to create a bigger impact in my home, school, and community with my amazing team. I also personally love advocating for different societal issues such as racial, gender, and LGBT+ issues as well. I also love serving my community and I currently serve as USC Aiken Circle K President as well the Student Coordinator for IMPACT Community Service and I can’t want to integrate YTP into my community even more! Always remember that there is always hope! <3

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Rithvika (She/Her)

Assistant Director of Diversity & Equity

Hi my name is Rithvika and I’m the Co-director of Diversity and Equity! I’ve been a part of YTP for about a year now. I’m so incredibly thankful for YTP and it’s purpose of normalizing the conversation surrounding mental health. I go to Parkway West High School, and a few of my hobbies include playing the cello, martial arts, and drawing.

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Hattie (She/Her)

Director of Community Outreach

Hattie is very passionate about helping others and believes strongly that mental health needs to be pulled out of the shadows and brought to the light. For this reason, The Yellow Tulip’s message of stigma reduction and hope is extremely motivating for her. She is currently a student at Bowdoin College studying neuroscience and anthropology. Having grown up on the coast of Maine, Hattie enjoys spending time in nature, most particularly on the ocean! As Co-Director of Community Outreach, she hopes that YTP’s message and spirit can reach communities and individuals, inspire them, and give hope that no one is alone. Please reach out to Hattie at hattie@theyellowtulipproject.org with any questions, or if you are interested in bringing YTP to your community.

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Danielle (She/Her)

Director of Ambassador Outreach

Hey Changemakers! My name is Danielle, and I’m a Freshman at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. I’m an active and passionate ambassador for the Yellow Tulip Project and an enthusiastic member of the community surrounding it. I joined the Yellow Tulip Project in 2018 after a presentation at my high school and learning more during my time at Seeds of Peace. After hearing the momentum’s message, I knew in my heart that I had to get involved. The journey to healing and finding inner peace is far from linear, and it’s time we started walking together on this long and winding road. Hope does happen, and we are truly never alone. We are all endlessly worthy and innately deserving of the purest form of happiness. Together, we can and will ‘Smash the Stigma’ and save lives. I want to change the world, and I’m thrilled that I get to immerse myself in this beautiful community of mountain movers! Feel free to reach me at outreach@theyellowtulipproject.org

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Our Core Team

Julia Hansen (She/Her)

Co-Founder & Blog Editor

Julia considers herself a fearless learner. Trying to make a difference in this hectic, yet beautiful world energizes her. She loves diving into the unknown and finding the constellations of small details that make up people’s’ lives. During Julia’s sophomore year of high school, she lost her two closest friends to suicide. While struggling with her own of depression, she was faced with how to cope with the loss of these two incredible people in her life. She experienced great darkness and sadness, but always was and still is able to find the beauty in the world. Because of this, she created The Yellow Tulip Project, which is meant to smash the stigma associated with mental illness, and remind people that even in the darkest places, there really is always hope. This is a message she hopes to spread so no one ever has to feel alone.

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Suzanne Fox (She/Her)

Co-Founder & Executive Director

Suzanne knew little about mental illness until the summer day in 2015 when her daughter Julia told her that she was depressed. Soon after everything turned upside down with the back to back suicides of her daughter’s two best friends. Suzanne is passionate about community building and is fiercely dedicated to positive change and so that people know that there is help and hope out there. She believes in the simple and compelling message of the YTP and wants it to spread to schools and communities far and wide so that people know that things will get better and that suicide should never be an option. Suzanne is currently pursuing a Master of Social Work at the University of New England with a focus on global mental health and stigma reduction across cultures. You can reach Suzanne at suzanne@theyellowtulipproject.org.

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Ysanne Bethel (She/They)

Director of Youth Engagement

Ysanne believes in the transformative capacity of hope. In her eyes, hope is an essential ingredient in bringing communities together to make positive change. A graduate of the University of Southern Maine, Ysanne holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a Minor in Race & Ethnic Studies. Utilizing a sociological perspective, she is aware of how seemingly personal issues –like mental health–may actually be community issues. Indeed, when people come together in meaningful conversations that smash the stigmas associated with mental illness, they are not only creating courageous spaces where individuals can find connection, but they are also investing in the health of their communities at large. 

Ysanne loves supporting and amplifying the work of young leaders. A strong believer that everyone has their own change-making style, Ysanne enjoys supporting youth and adults in growing their unique leadership on the issues they are most passionate about. As young leaders continue to be at the forefront of important conversations about mental wellness and de-stigmatizing mental illness, Ysanne is excited to work alongside them as the Director of Youth Engagement. You reach Ysanne via email at Ysanne@theyellowtulipproject.org.

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Anaïs DerSimonian (She/Her)

Assistant Director

Anaïs DerSimonian is a writer and media artist who currently serves as The Yellow Tulip Project’s Associate Director. Holding a BA in both Screen Studies and Culture Studies from Clark University ’17, DerSimonian understands the importance of youth agency in storytelling–and is fiercely dedicated to uplifting those voices in the pursuit of intergenerational mental health awareness. DerSimonian was formerly the Filmmaker in Residence at the Jacob Hiatt Center for Urban Education. In her free time she enjoys making mood-based playlists and cooking elaborate dinners for her friends.

Email Anaïs at anais@theyellowtulipproject.org.

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Conrad Gabriel (He/Him)

Director of Operations

Conrad Gabriel is an individual with passions in understanding non-profits, public policy and mental health. His ambitions have led him to spend four years with the organization. Conrad is currently a Junior at Tulane University studying Real Estate. He has hopes of understanding the link between real estate and mental health. He also enjoys being outdoors and taking each  day as it comes. With any emails, you can reach him at Conradgabriel@theyellowtulipproject.org.

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Susan Teare (She/Her)

Creative + Education Advisor

Susan is a professional photographer with over 20 years of experience in landscape and architectural photography. In addition to a BA in Art History from Bowdoin College, she has an MFA in Media Studies from the Maine Media College. In her personal artistic practice she creates emotive, primal and sensory-based experiences using a variety of materials and mediums. With the integration of the natural elements and seasons, the regenerative nature of her art connects others to the environment and community. She is also an avid gardener and is particularly interested in the collaboration with nature for healing and connectivity. She is excited to introduce more creative/wellness offerings into YTP’s programming. She also finds great fulfillment in volunteering as a certified dog therapy handler and art therapy artist at her local hospital, an adaptive ski instructor and a photography/career mentor for high school students. Susan has known Julia her entire life and is so excited about finding new and creative ways for the Yellow Tulip Project to promote its message at the intersection of art and mental health. Please feel free to reach out to Susan if you have any questions or just want to introduce yourself at susan@theyellowtulipproject.org.

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Our Board

Julia Hansen (She/Her)

Co-Founder & Blog Editor

Julia considers herself a fearless learner. Trying to make a difference in this hectic, yet beautiful world energizes her. She loves diving into the unknown and finding the constellations of small details that make up people’s’ lives. During Julia’s sophomore year of high school, she lost her two closest friends to suicide. While struggling with her own of depression, she was faced with how to cope with the loss of these two incredible people in her life. She experienced great darkness and sadness, but always was and still is able to find the beauty in the world. Because of this, she created The Yellow Tulip Project, which is meant to smash the stigma associated with mental illness, and remind people that even in the darkest places, there really is always hope. This is a message she hopes to spread so no one ever has to feel alone.

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Matt Buonopane (He/Him)

Treasurer

Matt is a finance professional with experience in commercial and corporate banking as well as financial planning and analysis. Meticulously focused on finding solutions that drive straight to the center of an obstacle, Matt prides himself on the deeply analytical approach he takes to financing, development, and mentorship. During his time in commercial banking, he’s worked with non-profits and businesses ranging from small startups middle-market companies. Matt has also mentored entrepreneurs through SCORE, recently provided a series of financial management trainings to farmer cooperatives in the Philippines, and – during a hiatus from banking – taught 6th grade Common Core math and science in Southeast Asia.

 

Matt personally understands that everyone’s life, regardless of its outward appearance, contains numerous challenges. One such challenge is often mental health and the perceived stigma attached to sharing struggles and feelings. Matt is excited to be a part of an organization that illuminates these struggles, seeks to eliminate this stigma, and help those grappling with their mental health to feel heard. He lives with his wife in Portland, ME. They enjoy skiing, tennis, traveling, and being active in the Portland community together.

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Bill Wahrer (He/Him)

Bill is a practicing attorney specializing in labor and employment law at Bernstein Shur in Portland, Maine.  Prior to attending law school, Bill completed a yearlong fellowship at the Dismas House of Massachusetts, a multi-faceted non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the reentry of ex-prisoners and recovering addicts into society.  At Dismas House, Bill was tasked with raising funds through grant writing and implementing strategic policy initiatives across its various programs.  Bill’s experience highlighted to him the need for society to rethink how it handles mental health, especially among teenagers and young adults, and the need for more mental health resources and outlets overall.  Bill is excited to use his experience and skillset to promote the YTP mission and remove the stigma that surrounds mental illness.

 

A Maine native, Bill resides in Gorham, Maine, with his wife, Bonnie, and their two pets.  In his free time, you can find Bill watching any of the New England sport teams and remodeling his 200-year old home.

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Liz Bengis (She/Her)

Liz is a mental health volunteer with Crisis Text Line in the USA and Shout in the UK. She has her MSW from The University of Pennsylvania and spent her early career working in Foster Care and Adoption. She has since been certified in a Mindfulness in Schools program and in Family Mediation, both in the UK. Liz is committed to helping people overcome mental health obstacles. Her mantra while working with young people is to ensure they see themselves as lovable, capable, worthwhile, and responsible beings. She is excited about helping to make an impact on Mental Health awareness and “smashing the stigma” while working with Yellow Tulip Project. Liz resides primarily in London, UK and spends her summers in Boothbay, Maine. She has one daughter, a loving and devoted life partner, and a feisty and energetic English field spaniel. In her spare time, Liz enjoys hiking, cooking, and reading.

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Caitlin Dersimonian (She/Her)

Secretary

Caitlin joined Maine Medical Center’s Philanthropy Department in 2016. In her role as the Leadership Gifts Event Manager, she supports the Major Gift Officers and Executive Leadership at the Medical Center by planning and executing first-class events.

Caitlin holds a Bachelor of Arts in Design degree from Becker College in Worcester, Massachusetts. Utilizing her skills and knowledge, she brings a creative and fresh approach to her work in event coordination.

Before joining MMC, Caitlin’s professional career was in the field of Higher Education Administration. Most recently, she served as the Executive Assistant to the President of Union College in Schenectady, New York, where her duties included supporting the President’s fundraising efforts, organizing campus-wide and special events, as well as conferences and meetings for its Board of Trustees.

Caitlin resides in Portland, where she enjoys its vibrant art and music scene, diverse culinary offerings, and the State of Maine’s beautiful great outdoors. Additionally, she is inspired by positive change through giving back and is delighted to be participating on the board of the Yellow Tulip Project.

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Dan Featherstone (He/Him)

Board Chair

Dan Featherstone is a seasoned digital strategist, currently serving as Unum’s Digital Marketing manager. Prior to Unum, Dan spent five years on the digital marketing team at CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange) as their Sr. Digital Marketing Producer where he was responsible for developing and implementing digital marketing campaigns across a wide range of platforms.

An alum of UNE, Dan received his degree in Political Science. He currently lives in Portland, ME with his beloved dog Nori. Someday, Dan aspires to be a professional boat captain, and can often be seen sailing around Casco bay.

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Margie Fox (She/Her)

Margie is a 30+ year veteran of the marketing / pr / branding / communications biz. Her career has included a 15 year run at the helm of the eponymous and award-winning Maloney + Fox agency, stints as US creative director/managing director at Ogilvy PR, and global creative director at Devries Global. Her eclectic client list includes the likes of Microsoft, Tupperware, Shutterfly, Mercedes, Ford, Amazon, Hendrick’s Gin, The Balvenie and Glenfiddich. She currently consults with a panoply of businesses on almost every aspect of conceivable and effective strategic and creative initiatives. In off hours — she focuses on her side hustle, fitz+hen (fitzandhen.com) — a quirky, cute, affordable jewelry line that celebrates the sisterhood of women, and the men who love them. Margie has been involved in the Yellow Tulip Project from day one — experiencing first hand the devastation/sadness and ultimately hope when people come together to band against the stigma of talking about mental illness and depression. With her powerful sister Suzanne, and uber-remarkable niece she has learned a vast amount more — and is committed to help the organization make a difference on a daily, and national basis.

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Brook Fulton (She/Her)

Brook Fulton has been the office/operations manager of a thriving Medical Aesthetic practice in Fairfield CT for the past 7 years.  Prior to that, she launched her own social media consulting company in 2013.  Brook previously spent many years in the education world and worked at Alex. Brown & Sons in the investment research department planning Health Care seminars after graduating from Boston University.

Brook and her husband Mike recently lost their son tragically after his struggle balancing life and work.  Pierce Fulton was a world renowned music producer and instrumentalist and the Fulton family has made it their mission to help remove the stigma associated with mental health and afford people access to necessary care.  They are committed to harnessing the powerful reach music has to bringing awareness to mental health needs and continuing the outstanding momentum YTP has made in the past 5 years.

Brook has extensive experience in event planning and fundraising from years of chairing scholarship auctions and events at Stratton Mountain School and Maple Street School in Manchester, VT where the Fultons raised their 3 children.  She looks forward to offering whatever Yellow Tulip Project may need from her event planning/fundraising and marketing background.    Brook splits her time between Stratton VT and Fairfield where she enjoys yoga, paddle tennis, hiking, skiing, and spending as much time as she can with her new granddaughter, Freddie. 

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Conrad Gabriel (He/Him)

Director of Operations

Conrad Gabriel is an individual with passions in understanding non-profits, public policy and mental health. His ambitions have led him to spend four years with the organization. Conrad is currently a Junior at Tulane University studying Real Estate. He has hopes of understanding the link between real estate and mental health. He also enjoys being outdoors and taking each  day as it comes. With any emails, you can reach him at Conradgabriel@theyellowtulipproject.org.

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Anna Mullen (She/Her)

Hello! My name is Anna Mullen and I am serving as the Co-Director of the Regional Network. I am a sophomore at Assumption University in Worcester, MA and am originally from Milton, MA. I became a YTP ambassador during my senior year of high school at Fontbonne Academy and established a chapter at my school that year as well. I became more involved with the leadership team by serving as the Director of Social Media for a year and a half. I also took part in our new Storytelling Alchemy course in the Summer of 2020. I am incredibly excited to continue developing our Regional Network. I am looking forward to continuing this journey with YTP and spreading our hopeful message far and wide!

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Danielle (She/Her)

Director of Ambassador Outreach

Hey Changemakers! My name is Danielle, and I’m a Freshman at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. I’m an active and passionate ambassador for the Yellow Tulip Project and an enthusiastic member of the community surrounding it. I joined the Yellow Tulip Project in 2018 after a presentation at my high school and learning more during my time at Seeds of Peace. After hearing the momentum’s message, I knew in my heart that I had to get involved. The journey to healing and finding inner peace is far from linear, and it’s time we started walking together on this long and winding road. Hope does happen, and we are truly never alone. We are all endlessly worthy and innately deserving of the purest form of happiness. Together, we can and will ‘Smash the Stigma’ and save lives. I want to change the world, and I’m thrilled that I get to immerse myself in this beautiful community of mountain movers! Feel free to reach me at outreach@theyellowtulipproject.org

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Our Advisory Board

Shelley Cohen Konrad

Dr. Shelley Cohen Konrad is Professor and Director of the University of New England School of Social Work and founding Director (2009) of the Center for Excellence in Collaborative Education (formerly IPEC), an initiative that promotes shared learning, research, collaborative practice and service. Shelley received a BA from Boston University in Developmental Psychology, and an MSW and PhD from Simmons University in Boston. In 2007 she was awarded the Simmons College School of Social Work Harriett Bartlett Award for Scholarship in Health Care; and in 2014 she was inducted as a Distinguished Scholar & and Fellow in the National Academies of Practice and the Social Work Academy. Shelley is a prolific scholar. Her most recent publications in peer-reviewed journals focus on interprofessional education and practice as well as on the integration of arts and experiential learning in the health professions. Recognition of the global impact of her interprofessional scholarship and curricular redesign is evidenced by invited keynote presentations at the national IPEC Institute, the Nexus Innovation Summit, All Together Health in Oxford England, Collaborating across Borders, the Arctic Circle Assembly in Iceland, and at Ben Gurion University of the Negev in Beer Sheva, Israel where she spoke on the integration of interprofessional learning and the humanities. She is currently working on an edited book for Oxford Press that brings together international scholars on this topic.

Shelley has 30 years of clinical social work experience. She co-founded two community programs, Kids First and Touchstone that offer low barrier services to children, adults, and their identified family systems. A second edition of her book, Practice with Children and Families: A Relational Perspective, first published in 2013 is now available.

Shelley has keen interest in developing transformative education and training methods that prepare the future workforce with collaboration-ready, compassionate, team-based skills to serve youth to aging populations. She is an avid reader, art collector, gardener, baker, and enjoys time with her family on the coast of Maine.

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Adam Daley Wilson (He/Him)

Adam is a practicing artist and lawyer who was diagnosed with bipolar 1 over twenty years ago, shortly after he graduated from Stanford Law School and the University of Pennsylvania. As a conceptual artist represented by a gallery in Chicago, he explores a range of ideas—including ideas relating to voice, identity, inclusion, and stigma—through oil paintings, video, multi-media, and large-scale installations. As a lawyer, he has practiced antitrust and appellate law with large firms in San Francisco / Los Angeles and Washington, DC, clerked for a federal appellate judge, served as a state court mediator, and served in the non-profit sector by advocating for the constitutional and statutory rights of adults with intellectual disabilities. When not making art and raising his two teens, he works with law firms nationwide, consulting on, and writing, appeals and briefs.

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Raffi Dersimonian

Raffi Dersimonian brings a wealth of marketing and communications expertise within a range of industries. Prior to serving as Director of Marketing & Communications at Maine College of Art (‘12-’18), his professional experience includes leading marketing efforts for a range of industries and institutions including The Royal Festival Hall in London, Providence Performing Arts Center in Rhode Island, Orient-Express Hotels, Trains & Cruises, Becker College, and a various other academic institutions. He is founder and principal of Dersimonian LLC, a boutique marketing firm that specializes in the orchestration of large-scale initiatives that require strategy, creativity and technology.

He has also served in leadership positions for the Worcester Arts Council, Maine Academy of Modern Music, FORK Food Labs, The Armenian Cultural Association of Maine, Maine Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, Portland Downtown Marketing Committee, Portland Bach Experience and Creative Portland.

Dersimonian received his graduate degree in professional marketing and communications Since receiving his graduate degree from Clark University in Worcester, MA. He enjoys tennis, sailing, outdoor adventure, live music, and promoting all the finer things Portland has to offer. He lives in Portland with his wife, Caitlin.

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Christine Linnehan

Christine Linnehan, M.S., LCPC, BC-DMT, FT has been in private practice, Riverview Counseling, in Scarborough, ME for the past 21 years focusing on grief, loss, and trauma.

She has been a clinical consultant in the Bereavement Support Program at the Center for Grieving Children since 2004. She is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, and a Board-Certified Approved Clinical Supervisor. Drawing from her training as a board-certified dance/movement therapist, she utilizes mind/body strategies in her clinical work designed to promote resilience and wellbeing.

Christine is certified as a Fellow of Thanatology (FT®) by the Association of Death Education and Counseling. She completed the Suicide Bereavement Clinician Training sponsored by the American Association of Suicidology and the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention (AFSP). Locally, Christine is active in the Maine chapter of AFSP and is a facilitator for their annual International Suicide Survivors of Loss Day. She has a special interest in the impact of suicide loss on children and families.

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Chris Mclaughlin

Chris McLaughlin, LCSW is the Executive Director of the Maine Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers and is the owner and lead consultant of Inspired Consulting Group, LLC. A lifelong resident of Maine, he obtained both his BA in Psychology (1996) and his MSW (2001) from the University of Maine in Orono. Chris has spent the last 20+ years providing behavioral health services to youth and families across a variety of clinical settings including treatment foster care, residential treatment facilities, public schools, private practice, community-based case management programs, and psychiatric hospitals. Chris is an adjunct faculty member at both the University of Maine in Orono and Husson University in Bangor.  He served on the Maine Board of Social Work Licensing for 5 years and is a member of both the NASW and the Society for Social Work Leadership in Health Care (SSWLHC). He is a graduate of the Disney Institute leadership program and Maine’s “Daniel Hanley Health Leadership Development” (HLD) program.  Locally, Chriswas recognized in 2019 for his advocacy work with LGBTQ+ youth and was named Health Care Social Worker of the Year in 2019 by the Maine Hospital Association and the Maine Chapter of the SSWLHC. Nationally, he was the SSWLHC’s 2019 recipient of the Eleanor Clark Award for Innovative Programs in Patient Care for his work on youth suicide prevention. Chris and his husband live in Hermon, Maine with their 3 dogs, Anna, Becky, and Sawyer.

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John Powers

John Powers, a former board member, has continued his support for the Yellow Tulip Project by staying on as an advisor. He is willing to help anywhere, but is mostly focussed on large, community-based installations of our I Am More exhibit. The exhibit was on display at the Portland International Airport in 2018 and is now at Logan Airport in Boston, MA.

He has also served on the board at the Maine College of Art and still is on two of their advisory committees. Powers received his BFA in Interdisciplinary Arts at the Maine College of Art in 1995. After many years working in the arts, he transitioned to healthcare, and currently works for Baxter Healthcare. He is a living kidney donor, avid runner, poker player, artist, entrepreneur. He lives in Cape Elizabeth with his wife, Zuleika, while his twin daughters both attend Connecticut College.

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Cameron Rosenblum

For as long as she can remember, Cameron Kelly Rosenblum has loved stories in every form. Raised in southern Connecticut, she studied English Literature at Kenyon College and earned her M.Ed. from Lesley University. She’s spent half her career classroom teaching (Greenwich, CT and Cape Elizabeth, ME) and the other half as a school librarian, developing her writing craft all the while. Losing a childhood friend to suicide inspired her to write a young adult novel, THE STEPPING OFF PLACE (HarperCollins). It made Kirkus Reviews’ Best Books of 2020 List and was further lauded as a top ten book discussing mental illness. Cameron lives in Cumberland Foreside with her husband and two children. She is committed to the Smash the Stigma campaign, and has joined YTP to spread the word through speaking engagements.

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Elizabeth Sanborn

Elizabeth Sanborn has been a public school teacher since 2001 and is currently the gifted and talented teacher for the Sacopee Valley school district in western Maine. She received a Bachelor of Arts in English Education (2001) and Master of Arts in Teaching (2003) at the University of New Hampshire and is currently a doctoral candidate in the curriculum & instruction Ed.D. program at the University of Louisiana Monroe. Elizabeth is a National Board certified teacher in English Language Arts and a teacher-consultant through the Southern Maine Writing Project. Besides education, her other great passion is horses, and Elizabeth is an accomplished adult amateur in dressage and three phase eventing competition. If she’s not at school or spending time with her family, she is probably in the barn or on the back of a horse! One of Elizabeth’s amazing middle school students asked her if they could bring the Yellow Tulip Project to their school community in the spring of 2019, and since then the SVMS Tulip Team has created a true momentum! Elizabeth’s own journey of mental wellness, coupled with her desire to empower young people and serve as an influential role model, makes being a part of the Yellow Tulip Project quite fitting! She feels it is incredibly important to create a healthy middle school environment in which the importance of mental wellness is recognized and built on a foundation of advocacy, education, and awareness. Elizabeth hopes to be a resource for other middle school educators who want to bring the YTP to their schools.

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Tim Wilson

Tim Wilson has more than 50 years of experience in education, public service and athletic coaching. Currently, Tim serves as Special Advisor to Seeds of Peace, an organization that he has been with since its founding in 1993, and Director of its Maine Seeds Program. Until 2006, he was the Director of both the Seeds of Peace Camp in Maine and the Seeds of Peace Center for Coexistence in Jerusalem. Prior to and during the early years of his appointment with Seeds of Peace, Tim served as the Director of Multicultural Programs for Pierce Atwood Consulting in Portland, Maine. Tim has been appointed by three Maine Governors to posts including Chair of the Maine Human Rights Commission, State Ombudsman, and Associate Commissioner of Programming for the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation & Corrections.

Tim’s work in the community includes serving as Chair of the Abyssinian Church Restoration Committee in Portland, Maine, on the Community Mediation Center Board of Directors, on the Maine Hospice Council Board of Directors, on the Kents Hill School Board of Directors, and as a Trustee of Bridgton Academy.

In 1997, the late King Hussein of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan presented Tim with a Medal of Honor. The Maine Youth Camping Association has honored him with the Halsey Gulick Award, and Seeds of Peace has recognized his efforts with a Distinguished Leadership Award.Most recently, he was awarded the Gerda Haas Award for Excellence in Human Rights Education and Leadership from the Holocaust and Human Rights Center of Maine.

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