We formed our committee to create an inclusive environment to bring trauma-focused therapeutic community gardens to at-risk youth and communities around the world.

“Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much.” – Helen Keller

“The success of this project is that everyone has a valuable part to play. These gardens are being built by the community for the community. They are owned by the community and valued by the community. The aim is to celebrate everyone involved every step of the way.  Life is about celebrating the little things which, when gathered together, become the most valuable things – they are the essence of what creates shared happiness.” – Natasha Donnelly

Natasha Donnelly is an PMHNP- BC and Sociologist with a Ph.D. in Suicide Prevention. She is the owner and Clinical Director of Cedar Oaks Clinic PLLC – Psychiatry and Mental Wellness. http://www.cedaroaksclinic. com. Natasha has been actively involved as part of the healthcare team, advocate, researcher, and educator in mental health settings for many years, including Juvenile Justice and Psychiatric Facilities. Natasha has engaged with suicide prevention since 2000; her international work included being an Adviser for the First Suicide Prevention Strategy for England and founding the UK mental health charity Students in Mind, which was then donated to all UK Universities in 2006. She has also served for many years on the Board and Public Policy for the AFSP NC Chapter.  In 2020 Natasha designed a new integrative model of care find out more by visiting the Cedar Oaks website. 

Natasha has been an active collaborator in many statewide multi-disciplinary initiatives in North Carolina. Natasha is passionate about designing initiatives to promote Trauma-Informed care and has been involved in therapeutic designs of indoor and outdoor spaces since 2004. In 2014 Natasha began researching the concept of Trauma-Focused Sensory Gardens and in 2016 took the idea to Juvenile Justice! In 2017 Natasha approached NC State University and was directed to Anne Spafford and her students. They joined the project to add horticultural expertise to North Carolina’s first Trauma-Focused (informed by latest research), Therapeutic Garden for Juvenile Justice settings. Natasha is proud to be a Board Member of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and  advisor for the Legacy Committee for the new Dorothea Dix Park in Raleigh, NC. We closed the charity during Covid but we are now up and running again!!

“Creativity is intelligence having fun.” Albert Einstein

Jayanthi Raghu is the CEO & Founder at Kryssalis Creators LLC in Durham, NC. She has a Bachelors in Sociology and a master’s in psychology, as well as a diploma in counseling from India. She has experience working with adults with Autism and Down Syndrome in Utah. She developed an interest in Technology and pursued a program at Moore College in Philadelphia. Her personal interest in technology along with a certificate program from MIT in Design Thinking helped her to establish a software services company in 2011.

Jayanthi has interest in software and is passionate about utilizing her creative thinking skills and software knowledge to impact the community in a positive way. Her passion is social entrepreneurship. She also runs a local community group for parents of teens to share knowledge on looking for signs of depression and anxiety among teens.

As CEO of Kryssalis Creators LLC, Jayanthi leads a team of software developers and analysts to conceptualize, design and develop software tools for the Department of Transportation and Healthcare. Jayanthi also works with educational institutions by building learning management systems.

 

“You must be the change you want to see in the world.” Mahatma Gandhi

Marsha Hill earned her Bachelor of Social Work at Fayetteville State University. Currently, she is a student at Walden University where she will earn her Master of Social Work. Upon graduation, she will obtain her Doctorate of Social Work at the University of Southern California. Marsha is a Member of the National Honors Society and National Association of Black Social Workers. With a passion to help others, Marsha is a youth mentor and social advocate.

Marsha recently has focused her attention to the TFTC Gardens. Brought on as a volunteer, Marsha loved the mission and vision of TFTC Gardens and is very excited to be a part of the team.

“We change the world by changing ourselves.” Lucia Rene

Anna Campbell has a BA in Communication/Public Relations and is currently earning her MBA in international business affairs. She is the business operations and marketing manager at Oak City Marketing Agency. She has 18 years of social entrepreneurship experience and has served within numerous community organizations focused on economic development, mental health awareness, and community development. As a business professional and volunteer, she has provided business development resources, project management services, and community outreach initiatives while working with schools, NGO’s, nonprofits, emergency service providers, and environmental organizations.

During Anna’s time volunteering with the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention (AFSP) in Fuquay-Varia from 2014 to 2018 she was trained to provide immediate assistance to individuals expressing signs of mental health distress and suicidal behavior.

 

Jane Ann Miller has a Master of Public Health degree in community mental health administration, a BS in psychology, and fourteen years of experience in community mental health programs. She served primarily as a child mental health case manager in urban areas of Pennsylvania and rural counties in NC. As a case manager, she served high-risk children and adults and interfaced with medical providers, schools, the court system, detention centers, mobile crisis, and crisis bed programs. Other duties included being a community and state hospital liaison and an outreach therapist.

Since joining the state’s Division of Public Health’s Injury and Violence Prevention Branch in 2000, she most notably served as the state’s Project Director for the federal youth suicide prevention grant known as Garrett Lee Smith from 2008-2015. Jane has conducted countless presentations and provided guidance to citizens, professionals, and agencies about suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention.

Neil Donnelly is an ACMA/CIMA qualified Finance Professional with over 20 years working in various roles within Global organizations across multiple countries. Currently holding the position of FP&A Director at Victra, a $1.5bn Turnover national retailer in Raleigh, NC.

Neil has had an active involvement in supporting Suicide Prevention and advocating for Mental Health throughout his life, including volunteering for many events and charities including Students in mind, Pride, AFSP, and international Sanity Fair. Neil has served as Treasurer for Students in Mind and is currently Treasurer for the NC Chapter of The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.