Be Seen. Be Heard. Live Empowered.
Board of Directors
Toni Leaf-Odette, BSN RN, RNC-NIC Director & Founder (she/her)
Toni Leaf-Odette, BSN RN, RNC-NIC Director & Founder (she/her)
Toni Leaf-Odette, BSN RN, RNC-NIC Director & Founder (she/her)
Toni has experience as a parent of children with special needs and as a healthcare worker. She has been an RN for 12 years, some of that time in the Traverse City NICU. She specializes in working with infants effected by drug withdrawal. She is now a leader working in Community Health. Toni helps to lead regional acceptance and inclusivit
Toni has experience as a parent of children with special needs and as a healthcare worker. She has been an RN for 12 years, some of that time in the Traverse City NICU. She specializes in working with infants effected by drug withdrawal. She is now a leader working in Community Health. Toni helps to lead regional acceptance and inclusivity strategies in healthcare. She is also involved in Pediatric Behavioral Health strategy, particularly in advocacy for children with communication and sensory barriers in crisis settings. This nonprofit was inspired by triumphs and struggles for her children. Read Ella's story.
Dr. Christine Nefcy, MD FAAP Board Director
Toni Leaf-Odette, BSN RN, RNC-NIC Director & Founder (she/her)
Toni Leaf-Odette, BSN RN, RNC-NIC Director & Founder (she/her)
Christine has experience as a mother with a child with a chronic health condition that required advocacy. She is a pediatrician, healthcare leader, patient rights and safety champion, and child advocate. She served in the United States Air Force for 10 years. She believes in honoring diversity, equitable strategies, and inclusive services
Christine has experience as a mother with a child with a chronic health condition that required advocacy. She is a pediatrician, healthcare leader, patient rights and safety champion, and child advocate. She served in the United States Air Force for 10 years. She believes in honoring diversity, equitable strategies, and inclusive services. She served as Chief Medical Officer for over a cumulative ten years at Intermountain Healthcare Urban North Region and Munson Healthcare.
Lauren Matus, PhD Board Director
Lauren Matus, PhD Board Director
Lauren Matus, PhD Board Director
Lauren is a dynamic collaborator who has worked with nonprofit agency partners for 11+ years to enhance community engagement initiatives. She has over 10 years of experience in grant writing, fundraising, and asset management. She is an experienced educator and writing specialist at the university level.
Georgia O'Brien Board Director
Lauren Matus, PhD Board Director
Lauren Matus, PhD Board Director
Georgia is a Habilitation Specialist who supports children and adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Georgia has first-hand parental experience as the guardian to a very loved teenager with autism. She holds a Bachelors in Elementary Education and has worked with children with autism as a direct care worker and advocate
Georgia is a Habilitation Specialist who supports children and adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Georgia has first-hand parental experience as the guardian to a very loved teenager with autism. She holds a Bachelors in Elementary Education and has worked with children with autism as a direct care worker and advocate under different models of care for over twenty years. She specializes in Community Living Services and Respite. Her passions are working with the entire family, taking children to "adventure," and teaching independence through interaction with the world.
Advisory Council
Casey Szymchack & Grizzly
First and foremost, Casey is a strong mother to a delightful son. She and Grizzly live in a small rural town in Kalkaska County. She is a creative bartender and small business owner and is heavily involved in Grizzly's treatment. She is skilled in website management, social media marketing, and lends her skills to support social media. We are proud to have Casey on our team!
Dr. Jacques Burgess, MD, MPH, SFHM
Board certified in Pediatrics and Internal Medicine, Dr. Burgess is a graduate of Michigan State University College of Human Medicine and received a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Michigan.
He has received many quality, patient satisfaction and teaching awards during his career and serves on a number of quality, research and process improvement committees at Munson Healthcare. He is part of collaborative initiatives with DeVos Children's Hospital, the University of Michigan, and the American Academy of Pediatrics. He has been instrumental in helping to improve processes around pain management standardization for kids, among many other contributions.
Emily Llore
Emily is a Director of Community Health Assessment and Improvement Planning, Community Planner for the
Health Department of Northwest Michigan & Northern Michigan Community Health Innovation Region Director. She helps the members of her community to live a more fully realized, healthy life. She started the schoolyard garden at Traverse Heights Elementary in Traverse City. While working in Peru, she learned valuable lessons about healthcare and best practices with minimal resources. She takes great pride in providing authentic, hands-on experiences that better people's lives. She greatly values health as a natural part of life and in resources to ingrain a healthful lifestyle in the community should be readily available and strives to help others realize their ability to affect their own health.
Dr. Chris Archangeli, MD
Dr. Archangeli is the Chief Medical Officer in Psychiatry at Munson Healthcare. He is double-board certified in Adult and Pediatric Psychiatry. He is a passionate advocate for children with behavioral health needs and actively navigates partnerships in the community in addition to his patient-centered care. Since coming to Traverse City, he has served as an advocate and trailblazer in his compassion for patients and their families.
Kelsey Wabanimkee
Kelsey is a trained & certified Doula, a traditional Birthworker, breastfeeding counselor, mother, and leader in Anishinaabek community health. Much of her work is dedicated to ensuring Indigenous Voice has a seat at the table. A spirited advocate for Indigenous families and community wellness, Kelsey Wabanimkee (she/her) is a citizen of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, with roots in Northern Lower Michigan's Leelanau Peninsula. Kelsey serves Anishinaabek by promoting mindfulness in everyday living and working to reclaim the First Peoples culture and traditions.
James Gaultier
James is a family man and was born, raised, and lives in a very rural community in Northern Michigan. He is a Manager for a Manufacturing Company and has lived experience with a relative with a disability. As a multiracial individual in a 98% White community, he grew up experiencing racial inequity as a young child. He is raising two creative and outgoing teenagers alongside his wife, Kelly.