Hope Starts With Us: Support on the Homefront – Military & Families

We hope this podcast encourages you, inspires you, helps you and brings you further into the collective to know: you are not alone.

Episodes will air every other Wednesday and will be available on most major directories and apps.

JB Moore

JB Moore is a veterans and mental health advocate, currently serving as the Executive Director of NAMI Prince George’s County, MD. Formerly, she served as manager for NAMI National’s Military and Veterans Policy Program, where she was responsible for supporting mental health advocacy efforts aimed at improving lives of military members and veterans affected with mental illness. She is a family member and legal guardian of a loved one living with a serious mental illness.

Prior to her tenure at NAMI, Ms. Moore served as Program Associate for Services to the Armed Forces at the American Red Cross in Washington, D.C., where she provided technical support to boost troop morale and fulfill the critical role of enhancing lines of communication between the U.S. Armed Forces and their families.

She is a veteran of the Persian Gulf War, with an Honorable Discharge from the U.S. Air Force after serving eight years as a Mental Health Clinic Manager and Technician providing psychological services to military members and their families. She is passionate about building organizational capacity and infrastructure to help improve the quality of life for individuals and their families impacted by mental illness.

She holds a Master’s degree in Management Science from Lesley College, in Cambridge, MA, and a J.D. from Howard University School of Law, in Washington, D.C.

Joel OJida

Joel OJida is a father, a husband, a retired Marine Corps Sergeant, and a current clinical social worker in Cleveland Ohio. Sergeant OJida was medically retired after suffering a traumatic brain injury and military sexual trauma that left his body and spirit broken. It is through this trauma that Joel began building upon his mental health practice, gaining the tools needed to support the veteran community.

Joel is a passionate and dedicated community mental health advocate and creator of Men’s Support Group; a weekly virtual meeting for men looking for community, support, and resources. He is a mental health influencer and is a Vice Chair of the Service Members, Veterans, and Families Council (SMVFC) here at NAMI.

Katherine Martinez

Katherine Martinez is a dedicated individual with a remarkable journey of service and education. Her unwavering commitment to both her country and community sets her apart. As a United States Navy Veteran, she proudly served as a Sonar Technician from 2015 to 2019.

After her military service, Katherine pursued higher education and graduated from Tidewater Community College with an Associates of Science degree in Social Science. She later graduated with a dual Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Criminal Justice from Old Dominion University. She excelled at both institutions as she led her Student Veterans of America chapters as President. Her passion for service and leadership didn’t end there; she was recognized as the Student Veteran of the Year at the 2022 National Conference of Student Veterans of America, showcasing her outstanding dedication to her community. She also led her chapter at Old Dominion University to receive Student Organization of the Year, out of 300+ Student organizations at Old Dominion University.

Katherine holds pivotal positions in various organizations. She serves on the Board of Directors for both Student Veterans of America and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Virginia chapter. In a remarkable testament to her leadership qualities, the Governor of Virginia appointed her to the Joint Leadership Council of Veteran Service Organizations in July.

Katherine’s commitment to veterans extends to her participation in The Mission Continues, where she is an alumna of cohort 5 from the Women Veterans Leadership Program and Mass Deployment District Drilldown. She is also an active member of the DC platoon.

Currently, Katherine Martinez serves as the Mid-Atlantic Regional Lead at the Travis Manion Foundation, contributing to their mission of empowering veterans and families of fallen heroes. Her journey continues as she prepares for the LSAT exam, highlighting her determination to excel in new endeavors.

In sum, Katherine Martinez’s life is a testament to her dedication, leadership, and tireless commitment to both veterans and her community, making her an inspirational figure in the world of service, advocacy and education.

Daniel H. Gillison, Jr.

Follow on Twitter: @DanGillison

Daniel H. Gillison, Jr. is the chief executive officer of NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness). Prior to his work at NAMI, he served as executive director of the American Psychiatric Association Foundation (APAF) in addition to several other leadership roles at various large corporations such as Xerox, Nextel, and Sprint. He is passionate about making inclusive, culturally competent mental health resources available to all people, spending time with his family, and of course playing tennis.