Welcome to Episode 26 of Inspiring Community: An Inspire to Rise Podcast. Today's episode was led by our host, Drew Brandom! Please join us as he interviews our guest, Sheryl Johnson, the Founder and CEO of Hearts 4 Minds.

Ms. Sheryl and her husband founded Hearts 4 Minds in memory of their son, Alex. Hearts 4 Minds is leading the charge to break down the stigma of mental illness and alter how we look at mental health. It’s their mission to improve care for those with mental illness by becoming a resource for mental health, connecting those who need help with providers, and providing financial assistance for those who need it. By transforming mental health, we can save lives.

To create awareness about mental health and suicide prevention, Ms. Sheryl and her company have beautified the community with amazing murals that connect the community to information and resources to address mental health. Inspire to Rise was lucky enough to be the recipient of three such murals.

If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, you can also call or text 988 at anytime for immediate assistance.

Inspire to Rise, Inc. is a nonprofit focused on holistically helping make the community a little better, happier, and healthier place. For more information or to support our mission, please contact us at weinspiretorise.org or via phone at: 1-844-WE-RISE1 (1-844-937-4731).

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Welcome to Episode 25 of Inspiring Community: An Inspire to Rise Podcast. Today's episode was led by our host, Drew Brandom! Please join us as he interviews our guest, Cheryl Crawford-Deas, the Founder and Executive Director of the Darnell Deas, Jr., Marvelous Light Foundation.

Mrs. Crawford-Deas has a passion for bringing awareness to mental health and suicide prevention that stems from the loss of her own son, Darnel, Jr. (DJ) to suicide. Since 2018 the foundation has presented over $10,000 in scholarships to students throughout the country. You can learn more about Darnell Deas, Jr., Marvelous Light Foundation, as well as access resources, at djdeasmarvelouslightfoundation.com. If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, you can also call or text 988 at anytime for immediate assistance.

Inspire to Rise, Inc. is a nonprofit focused on holistically helping make the community a little better, happier, and healthier place. For more information or to support our mission, please contact us at weinspiretorise.org or via phone at: 1-844-WE-RISE1 (1-844-937-4731).

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Welcome to Episode 24 of Inspiring Community: An Inspire to Rise Podcast. Today's episode was led by our host, Drew Brandom! Please join us as he interviews our guest, Dr. Rob Thomas, the CEO of Community Health Outreach, Jacksonville’s only free integrated medical/dental clinic for low-income/uninsured residents, and which also hosts the Lord’s Food Pantry and Baby Luv Center for infant care supplies.

Dr. Thomas has worked in various healthcare roles to combat opioid, alcohol, and tobacco-use disorders in the state of Florida. As a nationally certified wellness practitioner and board-certified tobacco treatment specialist, he has worked with patients and the community on programs to prevent and control chronic diseases through public health initiatives.

Inspire to Rise, Inc. is a nonprofit focused on holistically helping make the community a little better, happier, and healthier place. For more information or to support our mission, please contact us at weinspiretorise.org or via phone at: 1-844-WE-RISE1 (1-844-937-4731).

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Welcome to Episode 23 of Inspiring Community: An Inspire to Rise Podcast. Today's episode was led by our host, Drew Brandom! Please join us as he interviews our guest, Jennifer Ryan, the CEO of Volunteers in Medicine, a non profit clinic that provides free healthcare for the working uninsured.

Mrs. Ryan is a fifth generation North Floridian with a proven reputation in building and sustaining community partnerships with experience in health care at the national, county, and hospital levels. She is recognized for being innovative, collaborative, creative, outgoing, team oriented, adaptable, and professional.

Inspire to Rise, Inc. is a nonprofit focused on holistically helping make the community a little better, happier, and healthier place. For more information or to support our mission, please contact us at weinspiretorise.org or via phone at: 1-844-WE-RISE1 (1-844-937-4731).

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Welcome to Episode 22 of Inspiring Community: An Inspire to Rise Podcast. Today's episode was led by our host, Drew Brandom! Please join us as he interviews our guest, Marcus Hill, the RISE Nassau Program Coordinator.

While Mr. Hill began as a Theology major with a goal of eventually becoming a pastor, he found his calling in psychology in his second year of his undergrad program. Now a licensed therapist, he works with the Inspired to Rise team in Nassau county, providing therapy services and expanding the Nassau campuses' service offerings.

Inspire to Rise, Inc. is a nonprofit focused on holistically helping make the community a little better, happier, and healthier place. For more information or to support our mission, please contact us at weinspiretorise.org or via phone at: 1-844-WE-RISE1 (1-844-937-4731).

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Welcome to Episode 21 of Inspiring Community: An Inspire to Rise Podcast. Today's episode was led by our host, Drew Brandom! Please join us as he interviews our guest, Malik Johnson, a teacher for INSPIRED Youth.

Mr. Johnson got his start running a basketball camp for youth in Washington D.C., where he fond his passion for working with youth. After graduating college, he began working with children with special education needs before moving to Jacksonville during the pandemic. In Jacksonville, he taught math and history to 5th-8th grade students before his middle school was ultimately shut down. He came to Inspire to Rise in November of 2024 and became a teacher for INSPIRED Youth.

Mr. Johnson discusses the benefits of the program, including preparing youth to return to traditional schooling, if they so choose. He also highlights how the program supports the whole child - emotional needs, educational needs, life skills, etc. - as opposed to just educational needs, the way traditional schools do.

INSPIRED Youth is currently accepting new participants - for more information, please use the contact information below.

Inspire to Rise, Inc. is a nonprofit focused on holistically helping make the community a little better, happier, and healthier place. For more information or to support our mission, please contact us at weinspiretorise.org or via phone at: 1-844-WE-RISE1 (1-844-937-4731).

Thank you for listening.

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Welcome to Episode 20 of Inspiring Community: An Inspire to Rise Podcast. Today's episode was led by our host, Drew Brandom! Please join us as he interviews our guests, Grace, Liam, and Saheim, three participants in the INSPIRED Youth program.

Grace, Liam, and Saheim discuss their participation in the INSPIRED Youth program, which is an alternative to public school in Duval county for children who need additional support, such as mental health services, trauma-informed care, recovery-focused education, and more.

The three youth discuss their favorite activities - cooking and free-time - and some of the important skills they've learned through their participation, such as emotional regulation.

INSPIRED Youth is currently accepting new participants - for more information, please use the contact information below.

Inspire to Rise, Inc. is a nonprofit focused on holistically helping make the community a little better, happier, and healthier place. For more information or to support our mission, please contact us at weinspiretorise.org or via phone at: 1-844-WE-RISE1 (1-844-937-4731).

Thank you for listening.

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Welcome to Episode 19 of Inspiring Community: An Inspire to Rise Podcast. Today’s episode was led by our host, Drew Brandom! Please join us as he interviews our guest, Michael Seeraj.

Mr. Seeraj is the Chief Financial Officer at Inspire to Rise and has over 21 years of accounting experience in both the private and not-for-profit sectors. In 2017, he was presented with the Business Journal - Ultimate CFO of the Year Award.

Mr. Seeraj discusses his career journey, from three days at UPS to make rent, to moving from company to company as a CFO, identifying holes and fixing problems as he went. When Aida Seeraj, his wife, came to him with an idea for a not-for-profit that would aid community members, he provided the framework to ensure they would be able to keep the doors open.

Inspire to Rise, Inc. is a nonprofit focused on holistically helping make the community a little better, happier, and healthier place. For more information or to support our mission, please contact us at weinspiretorise.org or via phone at: 1-844-WE-RISE1 (1-844-937-4731).

Thank you for listening.

Send us a text