Our team.

Fatimah Hanif

Fatimah Hanif is the Founder and Executive Director of the I Maintain Foundation, dedicated to bringing vibrational wellness, emotional healing, and accessible sound-based practices to trauma-impacted communities. A certified Vibrational Wellness Specialist with expertise in sound healing, mindfulness, and trauma-responsive care, Fatimah blends ancestral wisdom with modern wellness to support individuals of all ages. She is passionately committed to helping children, families, and communities build emotional strength, regulate their nervous systems, and maintain their peace for generations to come. Learn more here.

Dr. Terrence Elliot (Doc T.)

Dr. Terence “Doc T” Elliott is an Emeritus Professor of Black Studies and Music whose work bridges academia, cultural scholarship, and sound-based community healing. With a doctorate in Educational Leadership and advanced training in creative arts, music, and Black Studies, he has served in senior academic leadership roles, taught transformative courses on Hip-Hop, humanities, and social justice, and mentored generations of students. A longtime A2MEND board member and published author—including a pioneering Hip-Hop e-textbook—he now brings his scholarship into practice as a certified sound therapist and Kemetic Reiki practitioner, offering immersive healing experiences that support stress relief, balance, and collective well-being.Learn More Here

Dr. Jeffrey Proulx

Dr. Jeffrey Proulx, PhD, is an Assistant Professor at Brown University and an affiliated leader with the Brown Mindfulness Center. His work focuses on developing culturally responsive mindfulness and contemplative programs that support health, resilience, and well-being in underserved, Indigenous, and historically marginalized communities. Grounded in public health, psychiatry, and community-based research, Dr. Proulx integrates mindfulness science with cultural wisdom and lived experience to address stress, trauma, and health inequities. His scholarship and teaching emphasize making mindfulness accessible, relevant, and impactful beyond traditional clinical settings, with a strong commitment to equity, inclusion, and community partnership. Learn more here.

Dr. Caitlin Elsaesser

Dr. Caitlin Elsaesser (she/her) is an Associate Professor at the University of Connecticut School of Social Work and a licensed clinical social worker whose work centers youth, community wisdom, and collective healing. Trained at the University of Chicago, she partners with communities to co-create accessible, trauma-informed wellness practices grounded in mindfulness, internal family systems, creative expression, and critical race and feminist frameworks. A mindfulness practitioner since 2014, Caitlin brings a grounded, compassionate approach to her CDC-funded research with Hartford youth and violence-prevention partners, supporting young people in navigating stress, social media conflict, and pathways toward resilience, authenticity, and connection. Learn more here.

Jameelah Hanif

Jameelah Hanif is a nationally recognized ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) expert, children’s mental health advocate, and founder of Watch Me Grow, Inc. With deep roots in trauma-informed care and child development, she leads impactful programs that empower families, educators, and communities to create safe, nurturing environments where children can thrive. As CEO of Watch Me Grow Child Care and Watch Me Grow Consulting, her work spans education, advocacy, and policy change across Vallejo and the greater Bay Area. Honored with numerous awards—including Impact Warrior, Champion for Children, and 2023 Woman of the Year. Jameelah’s leadership continues to advance resilience, healing, and hope for children and families. Learn more here.

Ricki Leigh

Ricki Leigh Flores serves as the Director of Community Engagement at the I Maintain Foundation, bringing extensive experience in community outreach, team leadership, and event coordination across the Bay Area and Northern California. Her professional background includes managing regional teams, coordinating large-scale public events, and cultivating strong relationships with organizational partners and stakeholders to support effective, community-centered programming. Her work is grounded in collaboration, operational excellence, and a deep commitment to creating accessible, well-structured programs that align with the Foundation’s mission to promote wellness, education, and sustainable community engagement. Learn more here.

Nyada Batieste

Nyada Batieste is a Senior Manager at Included Health and the founder of Hun-Tea, a wellness brand inspired by a long lineage of medicine women and healthcare professionals. A self-taught herbalist and community-centered entrepreneur, Nyada blends ancestral herbal knowledge with modern wellness to create accessible, mood-boosting herbal drinks. Through Hun-Tea, she offers intentional beverages designed to help people connect, decompress, and experience moments of calm and balance in everyday life. Learn more here,