25th Annual Empowering Community Wellness Symposium

April Thomas-Jones (she/her) is the first person of color to lead Planned Parenthood of Delaware, stepping into the role in November 2023. With a deep commitment to healthcare as a human right, she brings passion, purpose, and over 18 years of nonprofit leadership experience to this critical position. 

Before joining Planned Parenthood, April served as Executive Director of the Police Athletic League of Philadelphia, where she managed 18 community-based sites across the city. Her career has been marked by a focus on building strategic partnerships, advancing community impact, and maintaining strong fiscal stewardship. 

A seasoned educator and advocate for social justice, April has consistently centered equity in her work. Her leadership reflects a lifelong dedication to expanding access, uplifting underserved communities, and driving systemic change. 

Outside of her professional life, April enjoys spending time with her family, walking her dog Sheba, attending theatre productions, and serving on several community boards. 

Marla Blunt-Carter is an Associate Professor of Professional Practice at Rutgers University School of Social Work and a nationally recognized political social worker whose personal and professional journeys embody resilience, voice, and purpose. As both a stroke survivor and a woman navigating life with vitiligo, Marla brings a deeply human perspective to her work, one that affirms the power of healing, identity, and courage in the face of public visibility and private vulnerability. 

Marla's health journey has profoundly shaped her approach to leadership and advocacy. Surviving a stroke in 2019 required her to relearn aspects of daily life, redefine strength, and embrace gratitude as a practice. Living with vitiligo has been another transformative experience that challenged her to find her voice, while society reacted to her changing appearance. These experiences inform her keynote message and fuel her commitment to creating spaces where individuals can honor their truth, reclaim their power, and speak boldly on their own behalf. 

In the political arena, Marla has played influential strategic roles across Delaware. She served as Projects Manager and Director of Constituent Services for then--U.S. Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr., and she later became the Delaware State Director for the 2008 Obama/Biden Presidential campaign. Marla has been a strategist and consultant to numerous state and local elected officials in Delaware, and she played a pivotal role in her sister Lisa Blunt Rochester's historic campaigns--both for the U.S. House of Representatives, where she became Delaware's first woman and first Black person elected to Congress, and for her groundbreaking campaign for the United States Senate. 

A gifted educator and mentor, Marla has earned multiple teaching awards, including several Professor of the Year honors and Rutgers University's Torchbearer's Award, recognizing her commitment to student success and classrooms where lived experience, civic engagement, and social justice intersect. 

Her leadership extends nationally through her service on the National Board of Directors of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), where she contributes to advancing the profession's advocacy, policy vision, and member engagement. 

Amber Graham is a first-generation college student with four degrees and two certificates. Amber grew up living on welfare as a child and was defined by ACEs Score to not be where she is today. Amber has overcome childhood sexual assault and is a domestic violence survivor. Amber knows the struggles that life brings and the importance of not becoming a statistic. 

Alchemy Green is the Founder/CEO of Holistic Harmony, as a Licensed Clinician, Motivational Coach & Speaker, Yoga Teacher, & Holistic Practitioner. She is a passionate, multi-faceted professional, whose mission is to provide premium therapeutic services that assist in connecting and healing the WHOLE self. She maintains a plethora of personal and professional experiences that supports her value in mental health care in different disciplines. 

Before she discovered her gift, she was a young military brat (both parents served). Having experienced many trials in her youth age-mid adulthood, her two daughters became her inspiration, obtaining her GED and serving in the nursing field for 13 years. Alchemy then discovered that she wanted to provide wellness services from a larger approach, gaining an understanding that mental health is highly associated with intergenerational experiences so she furthered her nursing education into mental health. On her path, she encountered many traumatic experiences, yet learned to adapt with limited family support and/or connections; she was determined to overcome. Alchemy has since succeeded as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, while working on her Doctorate of Neuropsychology and a growing holistic mental health clinic. Alchemy aims to tell her story of victory. 

Brandee El-Attar is a creative, forward-thinking, and dynamic professor and practitioner with 25+ years of experience providing clinical oversight to individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders, ADHD, and learning disorders as well as shaping programming and behavioral supports in school districts and the broader human service industry. She is a master collaborator and is particularly adept at helping individuals and their families level-up their skills during major life transitions. Her eclectic approach focuses on success for the whole person and the whole family. Integrating her knowledge of behavioral principles with effective sensory regulation, communication, social thinking skills & self-advocacy is her sweet spot. Interfacing and co-creating success with her students and their families is a passion fueled by purpose! 

Sgt. Tyrell Williams, USMC combat veteran, returned home from his third and final tour in Iraq. Less than 90 days after arriving in the States, an unknown perpetrator tragically ended his life in a hit-and-run. Forever loved and never forgotten, a veteran is selected annually to sit in Ty's place through an endowed scholarship Dayton established for her eldest son at The University of Texas at Austin in his honor and memory: https://registrar.utexas.edu/veterans/scholarships/williams.

Although Tyrell was only briefly with us, it was clear he was not yet all the way home. Over the years, veterans and family members sharing their stories of pain, challenges, and struggles repeatedly offered this theme, this experience of not being all the way home. Ultimately these stories were the catalyst for Dayton entering the Master of Social Work (MSW) program at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) and fulfilling her desire to provide pro-bono mental health services to veterans. Dayton believes it is our responsibility, as a society, to ensure every veteran arrives all the way home. Supporting our veterans in navigating their journey to wholeness and wellness demonstrates this call to action. 

Prior to entering the MSW program, Dayton became a Certified Professional Coach (CPC), authored two books - "Through the Grief: A Mother's Journey", "Dragonflies: New Beginnings for Healing from Grief and Loss", and was a radio talk show host for "A Light for the Soul that Weeps" on Voice Amercia's Empowerment channel. Through her passion to help others who are experiencing their personal healing journey through grief she offered workshops on the power of journaling as a volunteer with Hospice Care Team. 

Janna Knisley is a 30-something millennial, passionate about mental health, trauma-informed care, her fur babies, and comfort food. Professionally, she works with medical students during their clinical years, navigating course schedules, faculty engagement, and more. Personally, she is an advocate for mental health care, fertility and family planning, and is passionate about helping others navigate grief. She lives near Milford with her husband of 12 years, their two dogs, two cats, and three chickens. Janna loves to read, look her up on Goodreads! 

Kathleen (Kate) Wood's life changed forever in her early 30s when she became a cancer caregiver. Through chemo, radiation, multiple surgeries, and ER visits, she provided unpaid care for her husband, Keith, who is now almost ten years in remission. As a result of this trauma, she sought help through therapy and began playing flute again to refill her empty emotional stamina tank. Now as a Provider Services Executive for Delaware Hospice, she uses the knowledge she gained through caregiving to educate seniors, their caregivers, and the general public on the support available to individuals and families affected by serious illness. 

Latoya Harris is a graduate of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore with a Bachelors in Biology, Walden University with a Masters in Healthcare Administration and a Certificate in Conflict Management and Negotiation. Latoya is a devoted server to individuals of all walks of life. She works as an In-Home Counselor for Wraparound DE. This profession allows her to provide counseling services to children and families. Outside of her career, she is a community advocate. Her heart for service and volunteerism led her down a path of non-profit ownership. In March of 2021, she founded Cornerstone Community Center, a non-profit organization developed to bring necessary information and resources to families in the Bridgeville area. As the CEO of Cornerstone, she works to provide mental, emotional, and physical health awareness, financial literacy, and educational resources to the members of her community. In December of 2021, she and her family were awarded the Governor's Outstanding Volunteer Service Award for their volunteerism and civic engagement. In January of 2023, Latoya was named the Delaware State Mother of the Year by the American Mothers, Inc. She is a proud wife, a loving mother of three beautiful girls, a compassionate friend, and a community activist. Latoya takes pride in her ability to manager her roles in life with grace and integrity.

Dr. Michelle R. Ratcliff embodies a remarkable blend of hands-on social work experience and academic prowess, making her a dynamic force in her field. Her dedication to serving diverse populations, from homeless individuals to pregnant teens and victims of abuse, underscores her commitment to addressing the multifaceted challenges faced by families and communities. As a trauma-focused clinician, she brings empathy and skill to her work, ensuring that those she serves receive the care and support they need to heal and thrive. 

In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Ratcliff's role as an Associate Professor at Delaware State University allows her to impart her wealth of knowledge and practice experience to the next generation of social workers. Through her teaching, mentoring, and advisement, she not only equips students with the necessary skills and knowledge, but also instills in them the importance of compassion, advocacy, and self-care in their future careers.

Dr. Ratcliff's dual role as a practitioner and educator enables her to bridge theory and practice, enriching both her academic research and her work in the field. By enhancing program capacity, facilitating parenting education, and promoting health sexuality among teenagers, she actively contributes to the betterment of communities and the empowerment of individuals. 

Overall, Michelle R. Ratcliff's tireless dedication, unwavering compassion, and comprehensive skillset make her a true asset to both the social work profession and the academic community. She has a BS in Psychology and African Studies from the University of Pittsburgh, a Master of Social Services from Bryn Mawr College, and Doctor of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy from Eastern University.

Dr. Miranda Coverdale is a Licensed Masters Social Worker with nearly 20 years of experience working in the human service field. During that time, she worked primarily with people living in the community with severe, persistent mental illness, addiction, and/or co-morbid medical issues like HIV/AIDS, but also has experience working with residents in group homes and inpatient services (for mental health and addiction). Dr. Coverdale also has over ten years working in higher education, first as an adjunct instructor, and now as the Mental Health Resource Coordinator for Delaware Technical Community College's Wilmington Campus. 

Nina Morales-Perez, PhD, CA, is currently a sexual assault therapist with ContactLifeline, Inc. Nina has a BS in criminal justice, an MS in psychologym and a PhD in forensic psychology. She began her survivor advocacy journey four years aho when she decided to make a life change during the COVID-19 pandemic after working as a paralegal for many years. She has worked in the movement against domestic and sexual violence as a survivor advocate at a Georgetown, DE community center that helps mostly the Hispanic community. She is currently a therapist working with teens and adults who are survivors of sexual assault.