Join NAMI CA as we host our 4th annual Youth Mental Health Conference on April 23, 2022, from 10am to 4pm PST live on zoom! This year’s theme is Developing Tools for a Stronger Tomorrow. Throughout this event, participants will learn new skills and how to utilize practices they are already doing to support youth mental health for themselves or those in their community from our wonderful speakers, panels, and workshops.
- Date: April 23, 2022
- Time: 10am to 4pm PST
- Location: Zoom
- How to register:
- Complete the NAMI CA Event Registration Form.
- Once you complete this form, NAMI CA will send you a zoom registration link for the Youth Mental Health Conference.
- Complete the short zoom registration, and you will be sent a direct link to the event from zoom.
Watch the recording on our YouTube Chanel: NAMI CA Youth Mental Health Conference 2022
Monica Nepomuceno is the Education Administrator for the newly formed Office of School-Based Health Programs at the California Department of Education. In this capacity, Monica oversees the programs that support building and strengthen school-based physical and mental health programs, including the provision of resources and preventive programming that can be implemented across campuses to help foster student wellness.
At 23, Tristan Siebold has faced incredibly difficult mental health challenges throughout her life, including GAD, Depression, and has recently been diagnosed with ADHD. While their diagnoses are a part of who they are, they are not all that she is. Tristan’s lived experience has given her the opportunity to share her story with others, especially with those around her age, to let them know that they are not alone.
Daisong (Leo) Li moved to the United States in 2018, once struggling with cultural barriers, loneliness, and depression. Although he has never been officially diagnosed, Leo still experienced a lot related to the cultural conflict/shock and has also been deeply affected by it. He wants to share his experiences with others, especially with new AAPI immigrants to help them before it’s too late. Let them know they are not alone.
Omalina Wolfe is a passionate member of the mental health community. She is the president of her NAMI club at her high school. Omalina is going to college next year with a major in Psychology. Her goal as being a growing member of the mental health community is to destigmatize mental health as she believes everyone lives with it more and more every year, specifically among our younger generations.
Glenn T. Brassington is a 9th grader in Sonoma County, California. He has presented research on diversity resilience training, designed a camera shutter for a CubeSat (satellite), and presented stress management workshops for teens. He believes that mental and physical health are interrelated and need to be addressed equally. He enjoys reading science fiction novels in English and Spanish.
Haley Kowtko (she/her) is a current senior attending John H. Pitman High School. After high school she plans to pursue theatre while advocating for herself and others. She advocates for mental health to show others that support is available, and it’s never too late to reach out.
Gigi Crowder is the mother of 30 years old twin sons and many others by divine intervention. She is the Executive Director of NAMI Contra Costa. Gigi is an unapologetic advocate, committed to doing her part to ensure all those living with mental illness and their supporters have the best quality of life possible.
Elizabeth serves as the Program Director for NAMI WLA and she is passionate about mental health advocacy, youth mental health initiatives, and ensuring that the appropriate mental health services are accessible to all. Coming from a place of lived experience, Elizabeth understands firsthand the importance of addressing the stigma surrounding mental health and building a community of hope for all of those affected by mental health conditions.
Amanda Wilson is the TAY program supervisor with NAMI Orange County. She has strived to encourage young adults to be comfortable with their mental wellness and empower them to seek support when needed. She has helped create programs like Happy Hour, Honest Hour, and the podcast series, Declassified Anxiety Survival Guide; to give TAY a voice to share their stories and show others that they are not alone.
After a successful For-Profit career, Karen Lenyoun became dissatisfied with the status quo. She felt that longing to make a difference in her community and entered the non-profit world over 25 years ago. Ms. Lenyoun initially served at Impact Urban America which offered affordable housing and employment opportunities to hundreds of families in a marginalized demographic. She was Program Manager for a county funded substance misuse prevention program for 7 years. Karen has served as co-chair of the North Central Leadership Team for Live Well San Diego since 2013 and she received the Public Health Champion Award from San Diego County HHSA in March 2019. She currently works with NAMI San Diego as Program Manager for the Elevate Youth California Project.
Lisa has worked for Recovery International for nearly 25 years in different capacities including: publicity, meeting leader, San Diego Area Leader, and now Project Manager for the past 10 years. She oversees meetings in San Diego County clubhouses, dual diagnosis programs and to help veterans. She currently promotes the new teen/young adult program called “Power Your Mind” by Recovery International to groups that serve youth. She also began the Recovery International with Faith training program in partnership with the Catholic Diocese and Temple Emanu-El, of which she is member. She is active with the Suicide Prevention Council (SPC), the Community Alliance for Healthy Minds, and the San Diego Coalition for Mental Health. Lisa won the Dan Reese Award for Mental Health Advocacy in 2010. She also won the “This Person” award from RI International in 2013. She was featured in More magazine, describing how she has lived and thrived in spite of a mental illness. In 2019 Recovery International was recognized as Program of the Year by the San Diego Behavioral Health Committee. In 2020 Recovery International was presented with the Outstanding Community Partner Award by the Suicide Prevention Council. Lisa was featured in KNBC “Breakdown: Investigating San Diego’s Mental Health Crisis,” a three-part series by Catherine Garcia. 
Angela has been with nonprofits and informal education for over 25 years. She earned a master’s in education, certifications in change management and change intelligence, a certification in instructional design, and is a Youth Mental Health First Aider. She has developed and facilitated programs for all ages – from pre-K to retired adults. Angela develops curriculum, training materials, and does marketing for Power Your Mind: Tools to Build Resilience, a teen and young adult program on the Recovery Method. She also oversees training initiatives for Recovery International’s member base and helps lead new strategies to drive the organization forward. With two teenagers of her own, she is passionate about early intervention and mental wellness.
Nikki Daurio was one of the founder’s and CEO of Green Ribbon Club (GRC) – a non-profit dedicated to youth mental illness awareness and suicide prevention. While attending Harvard University, Nikki began her research as a 19 year old sophomore and started the Green Ribbon Club. During her time at GRC, she traveled the country speaking at schools, organized three charity silent auction fundraisers, started clubs at high school and colleges in multiple states, and ultimately increased participation in advocacy at the local and national level. When GRC had to shut down operations, Nikki and the rest of the organization supported NAMI’s club program through donations and support so they could continue their mission and advocacy goals. Now, Nikki works in the entertainment industry with a focus on helping others through positive representation in film and TV, especially of young people struggling with their mental health. You can catch Nikki with her service dog Tiki talking to anyone and everyone about the importance of mental health!