Carolyn Kinzel, MSHS, is the Founder and President of Brighter Days Family Grief Center, the first family-focused nonprofit grief center serving the state of Minnesota. Bringing her personal grief experiences to the forefront, Carolyn formed an unparalleled model of care for Brighter Days that addresses the logistical, psychosocial and financial aspects of grief illuminated by the death of a family …
Briana Herman-Brand, MSW, has been working with youth and adults for 20 years to heal and transform the root causes and impacts of trauma and oppression. Through training, facilitation, and coaching she supports individuals and communities to build skills at the intersections of healing and justice. She is a Lead Teacher with Generative Somatics, conducting courses nationally on trauma healing …
Melody A. Hime, MAE, EdS, has worked with youth and families in the field of School Psychology for nearly 30 years. She completed her undergraduate degree, with a major in Psychology and a minor in German, at Mankato State University. Melody studied School Psychology, earning her Master of Arts in Education and Education Specialist Degrees from the University of Northern …
Anna VonRueden has two decades of experience working with youth needing the most challenging interventions. Anna has become a recognized leader in Minneapolis-St. Paul for creating positive changes within the juvenile system and for those navigating it. After five years as FamilyWise Youth Service Manager, Anna took over as Chief Program Officer in 2018. While ensuring the health of this …
Samantha Moe and Associates provides continuing education, advanced training, and parent coach certification for family service professionals who support intense kids and their families. Certified parent coach and speaker Samantha Moe has coached parents on how to help their children calm, connect, and cooperate since 2004. She is the creator of the Mad to Glad Blueprint, a revolutionary brain-and-nervous-system-based approach …
Alyssa Perau has been an Adolescent Health Specialist with Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota’s SELF team, Seeing and Exploring Life’s Future, since 2018. She is currently working towards her master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at Adler Graduate School and will additionally graduate with a specialty in Expressive Arts Therapy. Before coming to LSS she worked as a program …
Jamil Stamschror-Lott, LICSW is a public speaker; mental health therapist; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion professional; educator; and the CEO and co-founder of Creative Kuponya. As a Black man, he represents less than 4% of licensed therapists in America. Jamil is a skilled healer and facilitator who has offered over 250 professional speaking engagements. Jamil and his wife Sara co-founded Creative …
Sherrita Allen, is a Licensed Professional Counselor who received her master’s degree in Counseling from Webster University in St. Louis, MO. She has 27 years of experience working in social services, trauma, and crisis. She has a wealth of experience ranging from direct care in residential facilities, foster care case management, victim advocacy, and individual, group, and family therapy. She …
Michelle Nelson has over 25 years of experience leading, managing, and training professionals in the human service industry, especially those working with young people. In addition to her youth worker and leadership skills, she is well-versed in team, program, and organizational development to include strategic planning. She is a certified trainer for the Crisis Prevention Institute, The National Council for …
