Meet the Community Impact Committee

Kaela Brown is a nonprofit communications and development professional with experience in refugee and girl-serving organizations. She is a proud first-generation college graduate of The Ohio State University, with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and minor in Women's Gender & Sexuality Studies. She began her career in nonprofits as an AmeriCorps Member with New American Pathways, a refugee resettlement organization in Atlanta, GA, and continued with the organization as the Communications Coordinator leading multilingual marketing projects including vaccine outreach for New American communities. She now serves as the Executive Director for Girl Talk, Inc. Girl Talk is a national nonprofit with a mission of inspiring all girls to be confident leaders through peer-to-peer mentoring. 

Kaela has a passion for storytelling and supporting initiatives for mental health awareness, women’s empowerment, and violence education and prevention.

Michael Davis is the Associate Executive Director of Prevention at GUIDE, where he oversees all prevention strategies, activities, and campaigns. His career has been marked by extensive volunteer work and board service, including roles as Treasurer of Mosaic Georgia’s Board of Directors, Wellness Counselor for the Chi Phi Fraternity Grand Council, 2023 President of Let’s Be Clear Georgia’s Board of Directors and member of the Georgia School for Addiction Studies Board of Directors. He recently completed two terms on the University of West Georgia Alumni Association Board of Directors. Michael is guided by Don McPherson’s quote, “True prevention is not waiting for bad things to happen; it’s preventing things from happening in the first place.”

Before joining GUIDE, Michael’s career focused on supporting college students in various roles across housing, financial aid, and the Dean of Students office at four universities. At Iowa State University, he served as interim coordinator for prevention services during a university restructuring, reigniting his passion for prevention programs. His work with the Chi Phi Fraternity involved presenting on topics such as alcohol risk reduction, bystander intervention, consent and healthy relationships education, power-based violence prevention, and social justice issues.

Toni Jackson is a true advocate for underserved communities and marginalized populations due to her roots and upbringing in Atlanta, GA. While her 1st love was cosmetology and boosting black women’s self-confidence, being exposed to people’s different trials/tribulations naturally catapulted her into more impactful social work. She is currently the Director of Community Response Services with Policing Alternatives & Diversions Initiative, a nonprofit that dispatches teams into the community to divert from arrest for offenses related to substance use, mental health, and poverty. As an Atlanta native, she hasn’t been afraid to get involved with community organizing and outreach as she’s previously worked for and volunteered at various social service agencies. She has supported people from all different walks of life by helping them establish employment, housing, medical/mental healthcare, mindset shifts, and ultimately, safer lives. With each endeavor, she is dedicated to exemplifying what it means to be a leader of integrity and advocacy, often going to bat for basic human decency. She finds social service rewarding and what it means to live in and on purpose. In her free time, she enjoys hiking with her sons, painting, and finding cool new things to do in the beautiful city of Atlanta!

Her mantra? “Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” - Gandhi

Keya Jest is a person in long term recovery. What that means is that she has not found it necessary to use drugs or alcohol to cope with life. Keya has been on her recovery journey since January 28, 2014. While on her journey, she developed a passion for helping others who were struggling in the areas which she gained strength. This desire helped her create a career with CARES as a Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) and a Forensic Peer Mentor. Keya was recently accepted in the CPS Mental Health training as well.

During Keya’s recovery journey, she received an associate’s degree in business management and is presently a senior at Savannah State University pursuing a Bachelor's in Social Work. After graduating she will continue her education to receive a master’s in social work. With a global mindset, she was able to work with different cultures on social issues. Keya was recently awarded a scholarship to study abroad in Ghana, ACCRA, and volunteered at the Supreme Court in Ghana. Her service learning experience was in the Ministries of Police Services in the domestic violence unit and family services.

Chetana Mastroberardino, a person in long-term recovery since 2017, recently moved to North Georgia after living in Italy for 30 years. She began her recovery journey from alcohol use disorder (AUD) through online meetings in Italy, as her small town lacked face-to-face support. In 2022, she took a leap of faith and relocated to North Georgia, where she found a supportive community that helped her rebuild her life, including securing a car, a career, and a place to live.

Chetana is passionate about her work as an emergency responder for the 988 number with Benchmark Human Services, covering eight counties. She draws on her own experiences with mental health issues and AUD to assist those in crisis. As a Certified Peer Specialist, Mental Health, she is actively involved in community outreach and serves as a resident advisor at a women’s recovery center in Clarkesville, GA. Chetana aims to reduce the stigma around substance use disorders and is excited to contribute to the Georgia Recovers Community Impact Committee.

Jimbo Partin is a person in long-term recovery and what that means to him is that it's been four and a half years since he’s felt the need to put mind or mood altering substances into his body to change the way he thinks or feels.  Jimbo is a Certified Peer Specialist in Addictive Disease, Certified Addiction Recovery Empowerment Specialist as well as a Forensic Peer Mentor. Jimbo is a Peer Support Specialist at Gardens of Hope Recovery Community Organization in Toombs County. Jimbo really enjoys coming alongside the peers he serves to help them navigate their way into a new life free from substances.

Catherine Tootle is a woman in long-term recovery. What that means is that it's been 6.5 years since she used any illicit substances to cope with her life! Catherine speaks up for recovery because she believes that we can regain custody of our children and create a beautiful life as a family. After all, that is her experience.

Catherine is the Executive Director of Freedom Through Recovery RCO (FTR) located in Statesboro, GA. She is a Certified Addiction Recovery Empowerment Specialist (CARES) where she advocates for peers' self-directed care. In 2022, FTR was voted "RCO of the Year" by our peers across the state and Catherine  received "The Karen Daniels Spirit of CARES" award.  Because of her recovery, she was named an "Everyday Hero" of Bulloch County in 2020 and was highlighted as a recipient of the "20 under 40" award for Statesboro community leaders in 2021. 

Jocelyn Wallace, founder and executive director of The Never Alone Clubhouse in Douglas County, GA, has been thriving in long-term recovery since March 4, 2017. Her journey to recovery has been supported by a Higher Power, the transformative 12-Step program, and the unwavering encouragement of countless individuals. Recovery has granted her an authentic life she once thought unattainable, allowing her to share her story and inspire hope in others.

In addition to her work at The Never Alone Clubhouse, Jocelyn is actively involved in Waymakers Motorcycle Ministry and cherishes her family life with her husband and three children. Obtaining her CARES certification and CPS-AD, MAT has enabled her to work passionately in the field of recovery in Georgia. As a peer support provider and advocate, she is dedicated to empowering individuals to discover their inner strength and walk in freedom. For Jocelyn, working in recovery is not just a job but a calling, allowing her to witness and contribute to the miracle of transformation in others.

Heather Woodard is a person in long-term recovery. What that means for her is it has been over 5 years since she used a substance to change the way she feels or to help her cope with life on life’s terms. Recovery has provided Heather with the opportunity to become the best version of herself. She believes everyone deserves, and is capable of achieving, long-term recovery. But not everyone has the support they need. Heather is founding a Recovery Community Organization for Glynn County and is passionate about advocating for stigma reduction. Heather understands that not everyone has someone in his/her/their corner, and she wants to be that person.