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Volunteer or join our board of directors today!
Current Therapy Fund Foundation Direct Staff (Scroll for B.O.D.)
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Ashley McGirt
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Omanie McGirt
Interim Development Director
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Jacquell Malvar
Director of Programs
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Jessie Howard
Director of Community Engagement
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Nansare Consalata
Outreach Coordinator
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Hil Davis
Administrator
Leadership Team
We are currently looking to fulfill the role of a communications manager, social media, and several committee positions. If you are interested in serving on the board, or a committee, and volunteering your time in any capacity please complete the contact form here. Scroll to the bottom of this page to learn about each committee.
Ashley McGirt- President/ Founder (she/her)
Ashley McGirt is the founder and CEO of the Therapy Fund Foundation. She is a psychotherapist, Tedx international speaker, and author who has been featured in Forbes, MSNBC, HuffPost, & more. Ashley currently serves as the NAACP state area conference health chair. Ashley has received a Masters of Social Work from the University of Washington. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. Ashley currently owns and operates her own private practice. In her private practice she focuses primarily on racial trauma, depression, and anxiety. Ashley actively works toward de-stigmatizing mental illness, and reducing high rates of recidivism in American prisons, in an attempt to create a more socially just society for all. Ashley offers presentations, workshops, group facilitation, and consultation specializing in racial trauma, mental health, crisis response, social justice and racial equity. Ashley strives to help others find happiness and healing within themselves through unpacking their baggage, resting, reflecting, and restoring themselves to be who they were intended to be on this earth.
David Coven - Treasurer * Pic & Bio Coming soon
Reynelda Solitaire - Secretary
Reynelda Solitaire is a native of Tacoma, WA, the oldest of 5 siblings with family roots in the south and military backgrounds. Reynelda started college at the University of San Francisco living in the Bay Area for 3 1/2 years which she considers her second home. Upon return to Washington, Reynelda completed her BA in Politics, Philosophy and Economics (Econ concentration) and a Minor in Business at the University of Washington. She currently is a small business owner with a company (Solitaire Professional Services) that provides business operations support services with a focus on billing, credentialing and administrative support for mental health professionals. Prior work experience includes 5 years as an Athletic Director at her alma mater, Foss High School, and 15 + years of administrative support and youth development work with organizations that include the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound and MetroParks Tacoma.
Reynelda's community involvement includes being a board member and chair of DEI committee for the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation NW Chapter, Ambassador for the Color of Crohn's & Chronic Illness organization, Secretary for the NBMBAA Seattle Chapter, Assistant Secretary for the NAACP Tacoma Chapter, committee member for the WIAA District 3 Athletics Eligibility Committee,and involvement with the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound Youth of of the Year event. She is always looking for ways to share her skills and love for community with organizations she is passionate about.
In her spare time, Reynelda enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, gardening, cooking, volunteering in her community and helping out at her friend’s ice cream shop (Creamy Cone Cafe) in South Seattle.
Having a brother who is a licensed therapist in Tacoma, WA with a private practice knowing the benefits and extreme need for mental health awareness, Reynelda is extremely excited about joining the board and continuing to advance the mission of the organization.
Board of Directors
Chalon L. Ervin, Psy.D. (she/her)
Chalon L. Ervin, Psy.D. is a clinical psychologist based in Seattle, Washington. Dr. Ervin earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Spelman College. After completing her undergraduate degree, Dr. Ervin worked as a real estate agent to assist in financing her graduate education. She earned her Master of Arts degree in Clinical Psychology, and her Doctorate of Psychology in Clinical Psychology through the Georgia School of Professional Psychology. Dr. Ervin was trained as a generalist and has treated an assortment of disorders, but specializes in trauma and transition. Her therapeutic approach is to provide symptom relief and support to help clients successfully address personal life changes.
Dr. Ervin has worked with Veterans at that Atlanta VAMC, Huntington West Virginia VAMC, and Puget Sound VAMC. She currently works as a clinical psychologist with the King County Superior Court, and recently opened her private practice Renewal of the Mind LLC. Her practice specializes in individual and group therapy, concierge services, psychoeducation seminars, public speaking, and consulting. Passionate about mental health and community, Dr. Ervin has shared her expertise at various venues including, seminars, nonprofits, churches, and conferences. She enjoys community work and hopes to enhance the quality of life for others, through a passionate commitment to the art of healing and self-actualization.
Deaunte Damper (he/him)
Born in Seattle, WA, Damper has focused his work on bringing HIV awareness and LGBTQIA+ affirming education to marginalized communities throughout the City of Seattle. This started thru his non-profit work at POCAAN as a Peer Navigator for the Department of Health. In April 2019, Damper made History as the NAACP'S first LGBTQIA+ Chair, the first in 110 years of the organization. In October 2019, Damper began as a Transitional Specialist for the Washington State Department of Corrections. And as of November 2019, he is Rainer Beach High School's Black Student Union Advisor. Damper, as well, started a support group for young men of color, B.R.O.T.H.A (Blacks Recovering Overcoming Trauma Health and Awareness).
Huston Adair Jr. (he/him)
Huston is a Navy vet, peer support specialist, and Flint, Native.
Julie Davidson- (she/her)
Julie Davidson, MA, LMHC is a psychotherapist based in Seattle (un-ceded Duwamish Territory) working from a somatic, trauma-informed and holistic approach. She works with individuals, couples and groups experiencing anxiety, depression, body image issues, pregnancy and postpartum, impact of oppression (racial, sexual, spiritual), and identity development. Her work considers the whole person--body, mind, spirit and community. Within this healing modality founded and largely dominated by white voices, Julie continually works to decolonize her own mind and practice. Her work involves both holding space to help clients heal as well as working outside of of the therapy space to advocate for justice in systems causing trauma. Julie has worked in educational settings, intensive outpatient settings and currently works in private practice. She writes, teaches, leads retreats and is a mother of two young children. Julie is honored to be on the board of WA Therapy Fund under the leadership of Ashley McGirt.
Keisha Credit
Keisha Credit is a Kreative Entrepreneur, with experience founding 5 companies at her young age of 32. She is a Seattle native, and multi-time graduate from the University of Washington. With her main business, Your Business Bestie, she coaches other Entrepreneurs how to run their business to maximum profitability. One of her core pillars is mental health and freedom, which she explores through her work with the Therapy Fund Foundation.
Angela Saidybah MSW, LICSW (she/her)
Angela Saidybah, MSW, LICSW, is a licensed clinical social worker, Pan-Africanist, and entrepreneur. Having earned her master’s degree in social work from the University of Washington in 2018, Angela has provided professional behavioral health services in a variety of community-based settings, including engaging child welfare-involved families through in-home counseling support and working as a crisis clinician to support youths experiencing emotional disturbance. Angela currently works in oncology/hematology, offering behavioral health support to people living with cancer and chronic illnesses, including sickle cell disease.
As a clinician, Angela fuses classic therapy modalities (cognitive-behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and mindfulness) with African holistic health practices (storytelling, meditation, yoga, and whole foods) to treat the mind, body, and spirit of individuals. As a Pan-Africanist, she values economic sovereignty and mental wellness for all Black people, as shebelieves this to be the cornerstone of Black liberation. Angela has a penchant for African design and travel, which inspired her to create the Adeshe Brand African clothing and accessory line.She travels throughout East and West Africa, collaborating with African designers and craftspeople to bring Mama Africa to her Pacific Northwest community.
Committees
Executive Committee
Executive committees consist of the board chair, vice president, secretary, treasurer, immediate past president and possibly a few others.
Ashley McGirt
Julie Davidson
Deaunte Damper
David Coven
Fundraising
Fundraising committees coordinate events like raffles, galas, silent auctions, 5k or 10K runs, and other events with the main goal of raising money for the organization. Fundraising committees also seek out opportunities for gaining corporate sponsors, philanthropists, large donors, grants and endowments, as well as other ways of generating funds for the organization.
Membership
In addition to formal fundraising efforts, another way that boards work to generate funds is by charging a membership fee and expanding their membership. The membership committee keeps track of membership fees and looks for ways to attract new members. While also thanking members and donors.
Marketing & Communications
Marketing committees create awareness of the good work that nonprofits do by creating marketing campaigns, promoting events, creating advertising and posting on social media platforms. Will work closely with public relations committee.
Finance
Members of finance committees keep track of the organization’s assets and liabilities. The committee prepares the annual budget and makes recommendations to the board
Elizabeth Bennet
Public Relations
The public relations committee manages all printed publications, such as brochures, flyers, leaflets and whitepapers. This committee often also manages the website directly or oversees someone who does. The public relations committee chair often shares the responsibility of being the organization’s spokesperson with the board president.
Education
Will work toward educating the community on mental health services and destigmatizing mental illness.
Couples
Preserving Black Families
Will work toward providing couples counseling and education to preserve Black family life.