Chayil Bullock-Mariscal is 24 years old, originally from Plainfield, NJ. She is a proud 2024 graduate of the illustrious Johnson C. Smith University, where she majored in psychology and minored in sports management. During her time at the university, Chayil held various leadership roles, including President of Mellow Minds and a bisexual representative for Self Pride, both student-led organizations. She was also honored to be the 2023-2024 Miss Senior and a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
She is a devoted cat mom to a baby boy, Onyx, and the eldest of three human siblings. Her personal hobbies include reading, traveling, and trying new things. You can find her ziplining over a rainforest in another country, taking a stroll in her city on a random afternoon, having a picnic on a warm day, out at night living her best life with her best friend, or, her favorite, immersing myself in work, which often occupies most of her time.
Throughout Chayil’s journey, she has had the opportunity to intern and work with prominent organizations such as the NFL, NBA, MLS, and Mental Health America. These experiences, combined with her personal life’s journey, ignited her passion and led her to co-found The Hadassa Organization. Our nonprofit is dedicated to mental health, overall wellness, and fostering a supportive environment for colleges and universities. The Hadassa Organization aims to help young people navigate critical life challenges, such as the transition from high school to college, by providing essential mental health support, tools, and care to ensure their success.
As a suicide survivor, Chayil intimately understands despair and the importance of a strong support system. Her story is one of overcoming obstacles, and as a member of the Teen Advisory Board for the Teen Mental Health Month Initiative, she is here to help you navigate your challenges. No matter how dark it feels, there is always hope and a way forward.
Chayil envisions a world where we support each other through life’s trials, with mental health resources and encouragement to handle setbacks before they become overwhelming. Her mission is to offer the comfort and trust you need to remind you that you are not alone and destined for greatness. You have the power to become the best version of yourself.
Let’s create a supportive and empowering community together. You are capable, you’re important, and you are not alone.
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Jonathan Jean Charles
Jonathan Jean Charles is a third-year undergraduate student at the University of Miami. He is a COPE (Counseling Outreach Peer Education) Peer Educator and works alongside other peer educators to raise awareness of mental health concerns. His efforts to be an advocate for marginalized groups are seen through his roles in other departments on campus such as Housing & Residential Life and Multicultural Student Affairs. Jonathan also served as a volunteer for the Sandler Center for Alcohol & Other Drug Education during his freshman year of college. There, he helped lead peer education programs designed to educate students about the negative health and legal consequences of the high-risk use of alcohol and other drugs.
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Jasmine Diaz
Jasmine Diaz is currently a Psychology student at Goshen College. She also serves as a mentor on the Teen Advisory Board. Outside of being a student, she enjoys journaling, baking, and spending time with her two dogs.
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Uzi Makhdoom
Uzi’s real name is Uzma and she is 21 years old and a worldwide mental health advocate. Uzi is currently finishing college and runs a podcast and a nonprofit. She is currently in the process of writing books and goes to school. Uzi enjoys hanging with her family and friends and pets but also enjoys time to herself. She is a Disney fanatic, South Asian, and also speaks 3 languages.
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Ayaan Moledina
Ayaan Moledina (he/him) is a rising 10th grade student in Austin, Texas who first got involved with activism at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic when he worked on public health and pro-vaccine policy and grassroots campaigns. Since then, he has worked on multiple public health, education, youth mental health, and civic engagement policy campaigns. Given his lived experiences with mental health, he is passionate about providing resources to struggling youth and expanding suicide prevention resources for students across the country. He believes youth have the power to bring people together and he strives to help unite legislators, advocates, and citizens around important issues affecting youth. Ayaan has served in various roles including at The American Muslim & Multifaith Women’s Empowerment Council (AMMWEC), Asian Texans for Justice, the US House of Representatives, and as Co-Founder and Deputy Executive Director of The Youth Power Project, an organization dedicated to empowering young people in the policymaking process. He has worked on organizing advocacy and awareness events in partnership with various institutions such as The White House and the US Department of Health and Human Services. Ayaan has been honored by organizations such as the Texas American Federation of Teachers (AFT), The Westly Foundation, and The Congressional Award Foundation. He now serves as a Policy Intern at The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) and the Federal Policy Director at Students Engaged in Advancing Texas (SEAT).
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Aimee Resnick
Aimee Resnick is a third-year student studying social policy and art history at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. Originally from Centennial, Colorado, Resnick eventually plans to return to her home state and run for the state legislature. She has successfully helped write and pass three legislative acts regarding upstream mental health promotion: HB22-1052, SB23-014, and HB24-1285. Resnick is extremely passionate about ending weight-based discrimination and promoting health at any size. In her free time, she loves to bake, sew, and press flowers.
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Izzy Rookard
Isabel, who goes by Izzy, currently goes to college in central Michigan. She likes to stay active…and that could mean going exploring Michigan with her family or friends or playing on the volleyball court. She lives at home with her parents, sister, and two dogs.
When she saw the post for the Teen Advisory Board, she knew this was a great opportunity for her to expand my advocacy efforts on a larger scale. Her mother has worked for a community mental health agency her whole life so she has grown up around open and honest discussions about mental health. In the fourth grade, she experienced some challenges at school and was referred to a local therapist. She was diagnosed with general anxiety disorder and through CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) was able to learn tools to deal with her anxiety.
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Mohammad Shedeed
Mohammad Shedeed is a freshman at the University of Pittsburgh studying neuroscience. He is motivated by his Egyptian background to create educational resources and promote mental health equity especially among marginalized communities. He has worked with national organizations, creating podcasts called Talk2BeWells and content curriculum for Work2BeWell. Mohammad has been invited to speak on panels and organize leadership conferences around mental health for organizations such as the National Honor Society Leadership Network and the International Adolescent Health Week initiative. Currently, Mohammad works with the Pennsylvania Youth Advocacy Network. He has already passed state and local legislation recognizing Teen Mental Health Day and is in the process of pushing for a bill to be passed for school-excused mental health days. Mohammad’s ultimate aspiration is to become a psychiatrist and open up his own clinic focusing on healing with preventative and holistic methods rather than just relying on medications.
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