Bringing It Home 2025 Speakers
Keynote Speaker
Donald Whitehead, Jr. Executive Director, National Coalition for the Homeless
Donald Hugh Whitehead, Jr. served in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Horne as the ship journalist. Following his service, Whitehead struggled to readjust to society for a decade, culminating in homelessness. On August 25, 1996, he entered a substance abuse treatment facility. After completing the program, he began his career as an outreach worker. Whitehead has more than 25 years of experience and has provided direct service and technical assistance with homeless services, Veterans’ services, substance abuse services, and poverty throughout his career. Whitehead specializes in integrating people with lived experience into the planning and governance structures in continuums of care and community-based organizations. He helps to rethink shelter and coordinated entry strategic planning.Whitehead has served on advisory committees for Presidents Bush, Clinton, Bush II, Obama, and Biden. In 2005, Donald received a distinguished service award from the Congressional Black Caucus for his work on homelessness. He received a second award of Special Recognition from Congress in 2008. In 2011, he completed the prestigious American Express Leadership Academy.
Conference Hosts
Dr. Latonya Agard, Executive Director, NC Coalition to End Homelessness
Latonya L. Agard, “Dr. A,” comes to NCCEH with a wealth of leadership experience within the faith community, higher education, nonprofits, and mental health. She holds several degrees, including a BS in Chemistry and an MA in English from the University of Alabama, an MDiv from Duke University Divinity School, and a Doctor of Ministry from Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. Integrating her skills, knowledge, and experience, Dr. A broadened her justice work by opening her business, BeSpeak Solutions, Inc. In 2021, she joined NCCEH as a DEI Consultant to begin guiding the agency through the difficult process of identifying and dismantling racism and racist practices. This collaborative relationship challenged the staff and Board of Directors to redefine its values, reframe its Mission and Vision, and craft an explicit DEI Statement. Now, as our Executive Director, Dr. A continues to lead NCCEH as we transform our workplace culture and serve homeless families in North Carolina.
Samuel Gunter, Executive Director, NC Housing Coalition
Samuel has worked at the NC Housing Coalition since 2015. He currently chairs the Housing Recovery Support Function of the NC State Disaster Recovery Taskforce, is appointed to the NC Interagency Council On Coordinating Homeless Programs, and sits on the Board of Directors of the Council of Independent State Housing Associations. Samuel has a background in community development and public policy from his time at Habitat for Humanity of Wake County, AmeriCorps VISTA, and the Peace Corps. He is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin (B.A.) and Duke Divinity School (M.Div), and is also a Baptist minister who has served churches in North Carolina and Texas.
Chris Battle, ESG Homeless Programs Coordinator, Division of Aging, NC Department of Health and Human Services
Chris Battle is the ESG Homeless Programs Coordinator for the NC DHHS Division of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS). As Homeless Programs Coordinator, Chris provides program coordination, monitoring and technical assistance for North Carolina’s federal HUD Emergency Solutions Grant. Prior to joining the NC DHHS, Chris served 15 years as Executive Director of a private nonprofit serving the homeless and nearly homeless population of Nash and Edgecombe Counties. Serving as the community CoC lead for 8 years, Chris played an integral role in the development and implementation of multiple innovative Permanent Supportive Housing and Rapid Rehousing programs. Chris worked tirelessly leading efforts within the community facilitating a gradual shift towards progressive engagement and a housing focused approach in addressing homelessness, becoming a “champion” for change while pursuing his never-ending quest to end homelessness in eastern North Carolina.
Alissa Pritchett, ESG Homeless Programs Coordinator, Division of Aging, NC Department of Health and Human Services
Alissa Pritchett joined the NC ESG office as a Homeless Programs Coordinator in November of 2020. Her role as Homeless Programs Coordinator is to provide technical assistance and review of requisitions. Prior to joining the ESG office, Alissa worked at Family Promise of Wake County. During her time at Family Promise, she served in various roles, eventually serving as the Program Manager for their shelter, rapid rehousing, and transitional housing programs. Alissa has her Bachelor of Social Work degree from Campbell University. During her time at Campbell, Alissa completed her internship at another local shelter and in the Harnett County School System.
Lisa Worth, ESG Homeless Programs Coordinator, Division of Aging, NC Department of Health and Human Services
Lisa Worth began as the ESG Homeless Programs Coordinator in February of 2019. Her previous roles include serving as Program Director for a psychiatric rehabilitation facility, Program Director for a mental health center, Psychology Monitor for a State Mental Health Hospital, and Case Manager for a veteran’s rapid rehousing program. Lisa has a Master’s degree in General Psychology from Northern Arizona University and over 20 years of experience in the mental health, homeless, and social services fields. She has worked for state government and non-profit agencies with a primary focus on mental health, housing, employment, and general case management. She also has experience in Continuum of Care leadership, grant writing, chart auditing, and program management.
Session Speakers
Abena Bediako, LCSW, Clinical Manager, Durham Community Safety Department
Compassion and Care Have No End
Abena’s first-hand experiences growing up in humble beginnings have shaped her philosophy that we all have the innate ability to heal ourselves. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 20 years of experience in the mental health field, Abena sees this work as her calling. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from The College of William and Mary in 1999 and shortly after earned her Master of Social Work from Howard University School of Social Work in 2003. Since that time, Abena has provided clinical services to children, adolescents, and adults in multiple settings. Abena currently serves as Clinical Manager with the Durham Community Safety Department. In this role, she serves as a thought leader and changemaker to ensure folks in the community receive the most appropriate care whilst in the midst of a crisis.
Wayne Bell, Reentry Specialist/Certified Peer Support Specialist, Alliance of Disability Advocates
Individualized Reentry Plans for Individuals with Disabilities
Wayne Bell is ex military and an ex postal worker for over 20 years. He has been doing outreach and helping individuals through his ministry. Wayne joined the Alliance of Disability Advocates in 2022 and is a vital part of the success of the reentry program.
Cristen Bopp, RYT200
Mindfulness Session
Cristen Bopp (RYT200) has been teaching mindfulness to the Greater Raleigh Area since 2014. She skillfully utilizes the ancient traditions of yoga and qi gong while offering trauma-informed, accessible, grounding, thoughtfully paced private sessions, group classes, conferences, and workshops. Her passion for teaching is fueled by witnessing students cultivate: rest, joy, empowerment, rejuvenation, and trust in their own inner wisdom and physical strength. She began practicing yoga in 2002 and was diagnosed with severe rheumatoid arthritis in 2004. Since dealing with daily, chronic pain, mindfulness has been the foundation of outfoxing permanent disability. Cristen witnessed herself become more empowered, confident, and physically healthy when she practiced qi gong, so she became certified to teach Pangu Shengong moving and non-moving forms in 2013. Inspired to share the strength and love that yoga provides, she completed yoga teacher training in 2021 to deepen her own practice and to spread the yoga to all.
Erika Brandt, Assistant Department Director of Housing and Neighborhoods, City of Raleigh
Bringing Neighbors Home: A Community-Driven Approach to Ending Unsheltered Homelessness in Raleigh
Erika Brandt serves as Assistant Director of Housing and Neighborhoods for the City of Raleigh, where she shapes and implements initiatives to increase housing affordability and end homelessness. With over a decade of experience in affordable housing policy, programs, and finance at the state and local levels, Erika is dedicated to fostering equitable development and housing affordability through good government and public-private partnership. Erika holds a Master’s degree in City and Regional Planning from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. When not thinking about housing, she enjoys reading, running, and spending time with her two young boys.
Sharif Brown, Director of Reentry, Alliance of Disability Advocates
Individualized Reentry Plans for Individuals with Disabilities
Sharif Brown is a NYC transplant who moved to NC in 2016. He has been working with the disabled population since 1996. He is the youngest of 19 and a father of five sons, one with Autism. Sharif is extremely dedicated to assisting individuals with disabilities to be independent and successful in society. Sharif started his reentry program with Alliance of Disability Advocates in 2016, a program that has assisted over 600 individuals with disabilities with reentry.
Kay Carroll
Insights from Leaders with Lived Expertise
Rooted in Reality: How Lived Experience Fuels Systemic Change
Billy Cerullo, Housing Advocacy Organizer, National Low Income Housing Coalition
Advocacy and Community Organizing 102
Billy Cerullo is a housing advocacy organizer on NLIHC’s field team. In this role, Billy helps grow the Coalition’s network of advocates and support efforts to strategically engage federal policymakers on key policy priorities. Billy has been working as an organizer for almost a decade and has organized winning campaigns to change education and healthcare policies. Before joining NLIHC, he organized multiple unionization drives as an organizer for the Laborers International Union of North America (LiUNA). Billy is professionally trained through the PICO and Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF) traditions of community organizing and has extensive experience organizing and building power within systemically marginalized communities, always keeping an eye toward social, racial, and economic justice in his work. Prior to his organizing career, Billy obtained a bachelor’s degree in American government and public policy from Suffolk University in Boston, Massachusetts, and completed two years of service with AmeriCorps in Washington, D.C. He is bilingual in English and Spanish.
Ruth Cole Burcaw, Executive Director, City with Dwellings
Leadership for Change: Building Trauma Resilient Homeless Response Programs and Communities
Ruth has served as Executive Director of City with Dwellings (CwD) since 2021, leading efforts to cultivate a community of care that helps people move with dignity from trauma and homelessness to healing and housing stability. A Champion Trainer with the Center for Trauma Resilient Communities and a former foster parent, Ruth is deeply familiar with the complexities of trauma, resilience, and systemic challenges. She also serves on the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Continuum of Care (CoC), working to strengthen collaboration among housing and service providers to better support neighbors experiencing homelessness. With over 30 years of leadership experience in public, private, and nonprofit spaces, Ruth has spent her career bringing people together to tackle complex challenges. She previously served as a denominational executive with the Moravian Church, ran her own corporate event and project management firm, and spent eight years with the Winston-Salem Mayor’s Office fostering cross-sector partnerships.
Carson Dean, Founder & Consultant, Carson Dean Consulting, LLC
Building SHIP from the Faith Community Out
Carson Dean is a nonprofit professional and organizational leader dedicated to maximizing the impact of nonprofit, faith-based, and local governmental entities in the communities they serve. Having enjoyed a career steeped in leading and directing organizations and programs, Carson has compiled experience in a vast array of areas, including management, financial oversight, team and board leadership, fund development, and community engagement. While skilled as a strategist, administrator and communicator, he prides himself on being compassionate, with a vision of serving in tactical ways, helping others to focus on mission, targeted populations, and community impact. Carson’s experience and passion makes him uniquely qualified to offer guidance to organizations and organizational leaders. In 2022, he founded Carson Dean Consulting, LLC with the intent of helping communities thrive. Carson has had the privilege of working with the Stable Housing Improvement Project (SHIP) to develop a program model that is solutions-focused and adheres to Housing First.
Crystal DePietro, LCSW, CCM, Executive Director, Connections of Cumberland County
Insights from Leaders with Lived Expertise
Crystal DePietro is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and Certified Case Manager (CCM) with over 15 years of experience in mental health and 10 years in nonprofit work. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Fayetteville State University and a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. Crystal’s career is further distinguished by her service as a U.S. Army Veteran, where she served both stateside and overseas. Currently, Crystal serves as the Executive Director of Connections of Cumberland County in Fayetteville, NC. In addition to her work at Connections, Crystal is actively involved in her community. She serves as a commissioner for the Fayetteville Metropolitan Housing Authority (FMHA) and is a member of the Fayetteville Cumberland County Continuum of Care on Homelessness (FCCCOC). As a registered woman veteran small business owner, Crystal has also established herself as a skilled grant writer, securing substantial funding for 501(c)(3) organizations.
Renata Dos Santos, RiverGirl Fishing
“We Begin Again at 9:30” Screening and Panel
Sara Harrington, Attorney, Disability Rights NC
Substance Use Disorders and Disability Rights Laws: Eliminating Barriers to Healthcare and Housing
Sara Harrington heads DRNC’s initiative to address discrimination against persons with substance use disorders in healthcare settings. Before coming to DRNC, Sara spent much of her legal career fighting to protect those facing financial exploitation. Sara is an attorney, with lived experience as a person with a disability, who has advocated for friends and family with disabilities for more than 20 years. She believes her advocacy stems from growing up in a community that took action to provide services and accommodations for people with disabilities, particularly individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disorders. Sara has served on several nonprofit boards that provide support for people with disabilities, specifically those with I/DD and substance use disorders. She graduated from Wake Forest University with a bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in Studio Art. Sara received her law degree from Campbell University School of Law.
Alden Hearn, Student Advocate, HOST (Housing Options for Students Today)
Engaging Community Members as Hosts for Unstably Housed College Students
Alden Hearn is the Student Advocate for Housing Options for Students Today (HOST). They bring their experience providing case management services and navigating the difficulties of securing housing in Raleigh at a time when the cost of living for students continues to rise rapidly. A Raleigh native, Alden was a student and employee of North Carolina State University for over fifteen years and has a Bachelor’s Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from the university. They are thrilled for the opportunity to assist students in accessing resources and connecting them with the support they need to achieve housing stability and academic success.
Marquita Henderson, Lead Housing Resource Coordinator, Charlotte Family Housing
Innovative Solutions in Landlord Engagement and Community Partnerships
Marquita, a Charlotte, NC native, brings a strong desire for helping others and serving the community. Her extensive background in property management led her to want to help residents in a different capacity. She is a true advocate of self-sufficiency and empowering families to be the best version of themselves. She also serves in the community assisting and volunteering with other nonprofit organizations who specialize in serving in populations experiencing homelessness.
Melissa Hewitt, NC Lived Expertise Advisory Council
Rooted in Reality: How Lived Experience Fuels Systemic Change
Melissa Hewitt has an associates degree in business and lives in Hickory, NC. She has lived in her home since 2014. She is passionate about taking care of her kids, both biological and adopted, and dog Lucy. Melissa stays focused through hard times by setting goals for herself. She has been known to occasionally get on her soap box and is committed to impacting domestic violence atrocities and injustices against the homeless.
Neisha Himes, Domestic Violence Education Specialist, Neisha Christine Consulting, LLC
Building Safe Havens: Collaborative Solutions for Housing and Healing
Neisha Christine Himes is an award-winning activist and motivational speaker dedicated to ending domestic violence. A survivor of a five-year abusive relationship, she turned her pain into purpose. In 2016, she founded the G.R.O.W. (Girls Recognizing Our Worth) Foundation, a nonprofit committed to supporting survivors as they heal and rebuild their lives. Her advocacy led her to roles as a Victim Advocate for the Norfolk Commonwealth Attorney’s Office and Domestic Violence Outreach Liaison for the Newport News Police Department, where she played a pivotal role in inspiring and establishing the department’s first Domestic Violence Unit. Now, Neisha continues her work as a Trauma Liaison Educator within a prominent healthcare system, helping to reshape how medical professionals provide trauma-informed care to victims of violence. Through Neisha Christine Consulting, LLC, she develops and facilitates educational workshops, violence intervention and prevention programs, and public awareness initiatives that challenge perceptions and inspire change.
Rev. Dawne Hollis-Custer, Vice Chair, Stable Housing Improvement Project (SHIP)
Building SHIP from the Faith Community Out
Pastor Dawne is currently serving Newland UMC and Grace UMC in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. She has served as a pastor in the North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church for the past 16 years. In addition to her pastoral duties, Pastor Dawne helps lead the Beacon District Dismantling Racism Team and helps coordinate the Albemarle Area Methodist Coalition (AAMC), a group of AME Zion and UMC clergy dedicated to unity in the Body of Christ. Pastor Dawne is one of the founding members of the Stable Housing Improvement Project (SHIP) a non-profit committed to providing supportive housing solutions to all persons in northeast North Carolina. Pastor Dawne received her Bachelor of Arts in Ministry & Leadership from Vanguard University of Southern California and a Master of Divinity from Duke Divinity School.
Gregory Jackson
Innovative Solutions in Landlord Engagement and Community Partnerships
Greg Jackson, 2021 Charlottean of the year and father of 3 girls, was a rapper and a sous chef when protests began following the Keith Lamont Scott shooting in 2016. Greg led a group to protest at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department headquarters. A crucial conversation that day changed his trajectory. Shortly after he started the non-profit Heal Charlotte. Through Heal Charlotte, Greg has helped train officers to communicate with the community in volatile situations, created an after-school camp for at-risk youth in his northeast Charlotte neighborhood of Orchard Trace Condominiums, and deployed efforts that focused on revitalizing the area with a holistic approach to the family unit. Serving the community and being a bridge of communication between the community and its officials is what drives him. In his words, “If everybody did a little, no one will have to do a lot.”
Rev. Jim Jones, Board Chair, Stable Housing Improvement Project (SHIP)
Building SHIP from the Faith Community Out
Pastor Jim has been the lead pastor of First United Methodist Church in Elizabeth City since July 2022. He is an ordained elder in full connection in the North Carolina Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. He is committed to serving the rural church and was awarded a Rural Ministries Fellowship by the Duke Endowment while he pursued his masters of divinity at Duke Divinity School. Pastor Jim is a North Carolina native born on base at Camp Lejeune. He has lived in Jacksonville, Gastonia, Greenville, Wilmington, Chapel Hill, Siler City, Roxboro, and Pittsboro. Jim graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a B.S. in Zoology and remains a loyal Tarheel fan. He is a founding member of the Stable Housing Improvement Project (SHIP)-a non-profit focused on providing supportive housing solutions to all the members of our community.
Telesa Jones, Justice Services Coordinator, Leading Into New Communities, Inc. (LINC)
Locked Out: Housing Barriers for People with Legal Histories & How Reentry Programs Can Overcome Them
Telesa graduated from University of North Carolina – Wilmington with a bachelor’s degree in International Studies, minoring in Anthropology. She then obtained a Master of Legal Studies and Business Law from the University of Southern California. Telesa is a certified Community Health Worker and Mental Health Technician. She currently serves as LINC’s Justice Services Coordinator and co-founded LINC’s Eyes on the Law Initiative, dedicated to researching and educating the community on the challenges justice-involved individuals face. She has also provided extensive service with Legal Aid of North Carolina Second Chance team, providing expunction, driver’s license restoration, and certificate of relief services for individuals residing in New Hanover County. Telesa serves on the SYNC task force, charged with identifying community-level factors that may influence ACEs in the community and developing a tailored plan to address and mitigate the impacts of ACEs.
Michelle Kennedy, Director, Town of Black Mountain, Planning & Community Development
Insights from Leaders with Lived Expertise
Prior to joining the Town of Black Mountain, Michelle led the City of Greensboro’s Housing & Neighborhood Development Department. A long-time community housing and homelessness advocate, she has led and overseen innovative solutions to these issues in both Los Angeles and North Carolina. She was the first openly LGBTQ+ person elected to the Greensboro City Council where she championed programs for the unhoused, including the establishment of Behavioral Health Response Teams. She was named the 2016 Greensboro Woman of the Year; is a recipient of the Leadership Greensboro Service Medal from Leadership; Distinguished Leadership Award, Guilford Green Foundation and Community Game Changer Award, Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro.
Steven Kersey, CPSS, Peer Support Specialist, Durham Community Safety Department
Compassion and Care Have No End
Steven is a dedicated peer support specialist with the HEART Team’s Familiar Neighbors Program in Durham, NC. Drawing from his personal journey, which includes navigating mental health challenges, substance use, homelessness, and justice involvement, Steven brings a unique and empathetic perspective to his work. His lived experience allows him to connect deeply with individuals facing similar struggles, offering hope and guidance as they work toward stability and recovery. Steven is passionate about empowering others, fostering a sense of community, and supporting positive change in the lives of those he serves.
Emily Lewis, CoC Specialist, LCSW-A, Guilford County-NC 504
Piecing It Together: Integrating Trauma-Informed Practices from Micro to Macro Level Systems
Emily Lewis is a dedicated and compassionate Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate (LCSW-A) currently working for the Department of Health and Human Services on behalf of the Continuum of Care in Guilford County. Emily earned her Master of Social Work (MSW) degree through the Joint Master of Social Work Program, a collaboration between the University of North Carolina Greensboro and North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, with minors in Sociology and Humanities, from Greensboro College. With two years of experience in the mental health field, she has worked with individuals who have experienced severe trauma and substance use issues, particularly at a community mental health non-profit focused on those without insurance. In addition, Emily has valuable experience as a case worker for individuals experiencing homelessness at a local non-profit in Greensboro.
Maria Lyons Legrande, Continuum of Care Specialist, Guilford County Government
Connect to Reconnect for Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness
With over 10 years of experience in human services, Maria is an accomplished professional with a strong foundation in social work, project management, and policy development. Her career has spanned multiple sectors, including nonprofit organizations, local government, and consulting, giving her a well-rounded perspective on the needs of vulnerable populations. Maria has successfully designed and implemented policies, managed large-scale projects, managed several state funded programs, and provided direct case management to individuals in need. Maria holds a Bachelor’s degree in Human Services from Gardner-Webb University and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Liberty University.
Shakieta Maloye, Chief Executive Officer, Another Chance: House of Refuge, Inc.
Pathways to Stability: Empowering Communities Through Affordable Housing Solutions
Shakieta Maloye is the Founder and CEO of Another Chance: House of Refuge (ACHR). Since 2019, ACHR has provided transitional housing to men and women who were formerly incarcerated or homeless. Shakieta also serves the Charlotte/Matthews community by providing food, clothing, and basic necessities to those in need. After achieving her Life Coach certification, she founded Pure Wisdom, LLC. Through her own transformation, Shakieta is now able to pass along empowering life coaching and consulting services. Shakieta has been invited as a guest Transformation Speaker by the Salvation Army, The National Association of Virtuous Women of NC, Miss Black South Carolina, numerous women and children shelters as well as WGIV Soul of Charlotte-radio station. In order to share life wisdom with as many people as she can, in 2018, she wrote her first book Paradise: Maximizing Your Life While Creating A Life of Miracles.
Pastor Arthur Manigault, Riverside United Methodist Church and Spirit & Truth United Methodist Church
Building SHIP from the Faith Community Out
Pastor Arthur Manigault has been serving in the United Methodist denomination for the past 11 years. He is currently serving two churches in Elizabeth City, NC: Riverside United Methodist, and Spirit & Truth United Methodist Churches. Pastor Arthur was born and raised in New York City and eventually relocated to Tallahassee, FL. He worked for 7 years in Florida as a National Sales Director before he finally moved to Hertford, NC where he received his call into ministry. Pastor Arthur currently serves on the board of multiple organizations such as, The United Way, Sentara Hospital, The Albemarle Area Methodist Coalition as well as S.H.I.P. (Stable Housing Improvement Project). As of now Pastor Arthur is attending Duke Divinity School where he expects to complete his studies early next year.
Kelly McCoy, Founder, RiverGirlFishing
“We Begin Again at 9:30” Screening and Panel
Cooper Mertens, Data & Impact Coordinator, Leading Into New Communities, Inc. (LINC)
Locked Out: Housing Barriers for People with Legal Histories & How Reentry Programs Can Overcome Them
LINC Data & Impact Coordinator, graduated from University of North Carolina – Wilmington with two bachelor’s degrees, in both Public Criminology and Public Sociology, with a minor in Psychology. Originally hired at LINC as Data & Impact Analyst for the Pathway Home program, Cooper has been able to implement and support the creation and continuation of data-driven practices to all LINC programs. Cooper also co-founded the Eyes on the Law Initiative, designed to research and educate the community on the rights of justice-involved individuals — all in an effort to continue to uplift and support the reentry community. A certified Peer Support Specialist, Community Health Worker, and Mental Health Technician, Cooper works tirelessly as an advocate for social justice, the rights of all humans, and ensuring that equity and inclusion is included in all spheres of research and education.
Josh Morrow, Asheville CoC Lived Expertise Advisory Council
Insights from Leaders with Lived Expertise
Josh Morrow is a person with lived experience with being unhoused and with Substance misuse. He spent roughly 23 years in between addiction, being unhoused and with substance misuse. He’s a father of 3 kids who had to face obstacles with DSS and trying to gain stability while trying to gain his life back. Now, he sits on the board of the 501 Asheville Buncombe Continuum of Care. He’s a North Carolina Peer Support Specialist, Recovery Coach and a Forensic Peer Support Specialist. He currently works as a RCC Coordinator with Sunrise Community For Recovery and Wellness.
Dane Mullis
Substance Use Disorders and Disability Rights Laws: Eliminating Barriers to Healthcare and Housing (V)
Dane Mullis is an advocate for people with substance use disabilities. His work focuses on addressing discrimination against persons with substance use disorders in healthcare settings as well as working to increase access to medication-assisted treatment (MAT) in jails. Prior to joining the DRNC team, Dane worked as a certified alcohol and drug counselor in several treatment centers in the Western North Carolina area. Dane has a bachelor’s degree in social work from Western Carolina University and will enter a master of social work degree program next summer. Dane has worked in harm reduction with several organizations in the Western North Carolina area. These experiences, and others, have made Dane passionate, knowledgeable, and resourceful in advocating for underrepresented communities dealing with Substance Use/Opioid Use Disorder. Dane is from Concord, North Carolina.
Cheri Neal, Continuum of Care Program Manager, Guilford County Government
Connect to Reconnect for Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness
J. Nelson-Weaver, Vice President, Clinical & Community Services, Family Services, Inc.
Leadership for Change: Building Trauma Resilient Homeless Response Programs and Communities
J. serves as a leader in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Continuum of Care and is the Vice President of Clinical and Community Services at Family Services Inc in Forsyth County. As the largest victim services agency in the community, Family Services serves over 175 guests a year in emergency domestic violence shelter. J. leads programs that provide trauma counseling, emergency shelter, advocacy and support to over 2,000 unduplicated clients per year. J. has engaged her staff teams and agency in deep training and practice to build trauma resilience skills and approaches. When we serve clients who have experienced trauma, they will always bring those experiences to staff. Leaders who can equip client-facing staff with options to assist clients while also preventing trauma transfer are needed today in all sectors. J. has over 25 years of experience in designing and delivering community services, evaluation and quality improvement, public health and health care, and community engagement.
Lisa Nesbitt
Substance Use Disorders and Disability Rights Laws: Eliminating Barriers to Healthcare and Housing (V)
Lisa Nesbitt joined DRNC in 2012 and was promoted in 2020 to Supervising Attorney for the Community Inclusion Team. In addition to overseeing that team, she helps children and adults obtain necessary medical services, including mental health and developmental disabilities services. Nesbitt received her bachelor’s degree from Cook College at Rutgers University and her law degree from George Washington University. She practiced law with several private firms in Washington and New Jersey before taking time off to raise three children.
Von Marie Nixson, Chair, Region 13 Lived Expertise Advisory Council
Insights from Leaders with Lived Expertise
Rooted in Reality: How Lived Experience Fuels Systemic Change
Von Marie Nixson is a dedicated Trauma Healing Facilitator with Restoring the Remnant and a Trauma-Informed Training & Development Coach at the Traumatology Center. She serves as the Chair of the Region 13 Lived Expertise Advisory Council (LEAC) and a LEAC at Large Member for the NC CoC, advocating for the integration of lived experience into systemic change. With over eight years of experience as a Real Estate Asset Redevelopment Manager, Von has firsthand knowledge of the housing industry and the complexities of property management, redevelopment, and community stabilization. She is passionate about building strategic community partnerships that foster housing stability and systemic transformation. Through her work, she bridges the gap between policy, advocacy, and education, equipping individuals and organizations with the tools to create meaningful and lasting impact.
Latoya Patterson, Regional Property Manager, Ginkgo Residential
Innovative Solutions in Landlord Engagement and Community Partnerships
Latoya T. Patterson, CAPS, CAM, HCCP, is a senior regional property manager with Ginkgo Residential. She has been affiliated with property management for 26 years and holds a NC Real Estate Brokers License, the NAAEI Certified Apartment Portfolio Supervisor (CAPS), and Certified Apartment Manager (CAM) designations, and the Housing Credit Certified Professional (HCCP) designation. She is a proud graduate of North Carolina Central University and holds a Bachelors of Business Administration degree. Latoya is a Board member of Copper Circle and co-Chairs the Programs and Services Committee. Latoya serves on the AANC Education Committee and Speakers Task force subcommittee.
Julie Paul, Raleigh Program Director, Lotus Campaign
Innovative Solutions in Landlord Engagement and Community Partnerships
Julie Paul serves as Lotus Campaign’s Raleigh Program Director responsible for the continued growth of our Landlord Participation Program in our second market. She directs and manages the Raleigh Landlord Participation Program and supports related key initiatives. Prior to Lotus, Julie served as the Associate Director | MBA Real Estate Lead at UNC’s Kenan-Flagler Business School, guiding MBA students from recruitment to graduation. She also held a business development and commercial broker role with York Properties and is the former Executive Director of the Urban Land Institute’s Triangle District Council. Julie holds a NC Real Estate Brokers License, an MBA from Columbia Business School and a BA from the University of Southern California.
Drennan Paylor, Homeless Services & Community Support Coordinator, Guilford County Schools
Connect to Reconnect for Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness
Drennan Rhyne Paylor is a dedicated professional with a Master’s degree in School Counseling from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. With over 30 years of experience in education, Paylor has made significant contributions across various roles in the field. She is the former Coordinator of Homeless Services and ESSA Point of Contact for Guilford County Schools in Greensboro, North Carolina, where she spent four years focusing on homeless services and foster care. Beyond her work in the school district, Paylor is actively engaged in the community. She has served as a representative on the Continuum of Care, the Head Start Policy Council, and the Guilford County Homeless Taskforce. At the state level, she is a valued member of the North Carolina Homeless Education Program Leadership Teams, where she collaborates with colleagues to support homeless and foster care students and mentors new liaisons in the field.
Ruth Peebles, President and Founder, The INS Group
Nonprofit Funding: Diversifying for Sustainability
Ruth Peebles, President and Founder of The INS Group, offers over 35 years of hands‐on experience in nonprofit management, fundraising, organizational development, and project management. Ms. Peebles is an instructor for the Duke University Certificate Program in Nonprofit Management and served as an adjunct instructor for the School of Public and International Affairs Master of Public Administration Program at North Carolina State University. She has created the following courses: Grant Writing, Advanced Grant Writing, Grant Writing and Compliance, Fundraising 101 and Individual Donor Development, Establishing a Successful Direct Mail Campaign, Strategic Planning, and Advanced Strategic Planning. Ms. Peebles currently serves on the Wake County Affiliate Board of the North Carolina Community Foundation. She is a founding member of the Next Generation of African American Philanthropists giving circle.
Jefferey Rawlings, Community Development Senior Analyst, City of Durham
Insights from Leaders with Lived Expertise
Jefferey works as a Community Development Senior Analyst for the City of Durham. He is the Coordinated Entry Administrator as well as a contract manager. Jefferey has worked in homeless services for over twenty years and worked providing services even while he was experiencing homelessness. Jefferey has worked in homeless services since 2000 as an intake specialist, case manager, case manager supervisor, program director and as Coordinated Entry/HMIS administrator for Region 7 of the NC Balance of State before leaving for his current role in Durham in 2023. In addition to serving on the Board of Directors of NCCEH, Jefferey currently serves on the boards of Cumberland HealthNet and NC Victims Advocate Support Services (NC VASS). He has been a panelist at several state, regional and national conferences discussing topics such as Landlord Engagement and Retention, Building a Local Consortium and Homeless Providers with Lived Expertise.
Maurice Reid, Charlotte CoC Lived Expertise Advisory Council
Insights from Leaders with Lived Expertise
Maurice Reid is a military veteran (US Navy, 2001-2009) who experienced homelessness following a workplace injury that resulted in his wrongful termination. He was able to get back on his feet thanks to the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program. He is currently a member of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board Continuum of Care and founder of the nonprofit Suited for Veterans, which helps with the financial and social needs of veterans to be integrated into society, which is a lifelong process. He has given a voice and injected life into the Charlotte-Mecklenburg CoC Lived Expertise Committee.
Natalie Sprague, LCSWA, Crisis Response Clinician, Durham Community Safety Department
Compassion and Care Have No End
Natalie Sprague is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate (LCSWA) as well as a Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist (LCAS). She started off as a crisis call line volunteer and has since worked in different crisis settings including 211, a shelter for unsheltered families, an in-patient facility based crisis unit, and now with HEART. She remains dedicated to serving the whole community, including the most marginalized, by utilizing person-centered approaches and bringing agencies together to improve care collaboration.
Libby Stephens, Program Coordinator, HOST (Housing Options for Students Today)
Engaging Community Members as Hosts for Unstably Housed College Students
Libby Stephens is the Program Coordinator for Housing Options for Students Today (HOST). She brings over twenty years of non-profit experience to her role, leading program development and ongoing management. She graduated from Marshall University with a B.A. in History and received a Master of Divinity from the Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, VA. Libby is excited about her work with HOST because it is a solution to housing instability that, at its core, is about building connections and relationships between people.
Emila Sutton, Department Director of Housing and Neighborhoods, City of Raleigh
Bringing Neighbors Home: A Community-Driven Approach to Ending Unsheltered Homelessness in Raleigh
Emila Sutton serves as the Housing & Neighborhoods Director for the City of Raleigh. Emila proposed, designed, and implemented the Bringing Neighbors Home Pilot initiative, which provides direct housing assistance, case management, and follow-along services for people experiencing unsheltered homelessness in Raleigh. Prior to her current role, Emila was a senior associate with the Technical Assistance Collaborative (TAC). Prior to joining TAC, Emila served as the Director of Housing and Community Development and Public Housing Agency Executive Director for Orange County, NC. She held several roles with the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency, ultimately leading policy and research for the self-funding public agency. In her time with the North Carolina Coalition to End Homelessness, she coordinated the Balance of State Continuum of Care program, which delivers homeless services to the 79 predominantly rural counties in North Carolina. Sutton holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, a Master’s degree in History, and a Juris Doctor (JD).
Rykiell Turner, CoC Specialist, LCMHC-A, Guilford County-NC 504
Piecing It Together: Integrating Trauma-Informed Practices from Micro to Macro Level Systems
Rykiell Turner is a dedicated Continuum of Care Specialist for NC 504 Guilford County’s Continuum of Care. She holds a BA in Psychology and an MA in Clinical Psychology and is a licensed LCMHC-A. Throughout her career, Rykiell has worked in diverse environments, including research labs, prisons, mental health hospital satellite residential settings, community mental health, foster care, homeless shelters, private practice and local government. In these settings, she provided case management, intensive in-home mental health care and interventions to children, adults, and families. Rykiell’s passion for mental health and psychological wellness transcends age, culture, and background, focusing on empowerment to help individuals embrace and express their best selves. She is deeply committed to addressing the challenges at the intersection of mental health, homelessness, poverty, and incarceration, recognizing the critical role mental health plays in overcoming socioeconomic barriers and supporting vulnerable populations through advocacy and policy change.
Josh Walker, Olmstead Housing Director, NC Department of Health and Human Services
NC Strategic Housing Plan
Josh Walker has been the Olmstead Housing Director for the NC Department of Health and Human Services since June 2023, with 20 years of experience in the field. He was previously the Clinical Director of Medicaid provider CABHA in NC and VA and has 8 years of experience with Olmstead and Transitions to Community Living (TCL).He has been licensed as a licensed clinical mental health counselor supervisor (LCMHC-S) since 2009 and holds a Masters Degree in Community Counseling from Campbell University.
Yvette Warren, Cape Fear CoC Lived Expertise Advisory Council
Insights from Leaders with Lived Expertise
Stephanie Watkins-Cruz, Direct of Housing Policy, NC Housing Coalition
Advocacy and Community Organizing 101
Stephanie Watkins-Cruz joined NCHC in August 2022 as the Director of Housing Policy. Stephanie is passionate about affordable housing, community engagement, and creating bridges for effective and creative collaboration to address community needs. Prior to joining NCHC Stephanie worked as a Policy Analyst for Chatham County where she was responsible for developing and implementing affordable housing policies and programs, facilitating strategic planning efforts, and providing support to organization leaders, officials, and community partners. She also worked as a Fellow with the Development Finance Institute at the UNC School of Government, and as a Collaborative database Project Manager for the Chatham County Council on Aging. She has a master’s degree in City & Regional Planning and Public Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a BA in Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Asheville.
