S. BROOKE BRIGGANCE (she/her)

Program Director / Trainer

Brooke comes from a multi-sector background in health, direct impact programming for children, youth and families, and non-profit work. She began her career in healthcare in the Department of Neurology at SUNY Stony Brook in New York, and has experience in administrative leadership and public education advocacy and reform. She served as the Executive Director of an education foundation and has worked as a consultant assisting in projects ranging from school district redesign, community engagement and best practices for non-profits. She currently serves as the Program Director for the Cypress Resilience Project and as Deputy Director for the FACES for the Future Coalition – both programs at Public Health Institute in Oakland, CA. Brooke has a B.A. in World Religions and Comparative Religions from SUNY Stony Brook.  She is a Certified Grief Recovery Specialist, a Certified Mental Health First Aid Instructor (Adult, Youth and teen), and a Certified Trainer in Trauma Informed Systems and Practice.

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JASMINE NAKAGAWA (she/her)

Deputy Director / Trainer

Jasmine is the Deputy Director for Cypress. As a former special education teacher and parent of 3 who has spent the last 20 years working with underrepresented youth, Jasmine cares deeply about the wellbeing of young people and the adults who support them. She holds a BA in Studio Art from Mills College, an MBA from the Lorry I. Lokey Graduate School of Business, and an Education Specialist teaching credential. She is a Certified Grief Recovery Specialist and a Certified Mental Health First Aid Instructor in the Adult, Youth, and Teen curricula. She recently completed a Trauma Informed Specialist Certificate at CSU East Bay. Outside of work, Jasmine is actively involved in the Diablo Japanese American Club, and enjoys painting, cooking, crossfit, and spending time outdoors with her 3 children.

KAREN LANE (she/her)

Program Manager / Trainer

Karen is the Program Administrator for Cypress. She is responsible for its fiscal management and contracts, overseeing the program’s MHFA certification process, and supporting course scheduling.  She brings many years of program administration experience in corporate, higher education and non-profit organizations.  Karen received a BA in Human Development from Cal State East Bay.  She is currently a hospice patient support volunteer and served as a volunteer crisis counselor for 3 years at two bay area county crisis hotlines. She is also a Certified Mental Health First Aid Instructor.

KARINA DE LEON MONTES (she/her/ella)

Bilingual Spanish MHFA Trainer

Karina is a Mental Health First Aid Instructor for Cypress, specializing in the Adult and Spanish curricula. She holds a Master’s in Social Work from Columbia University and a BA in Psychology from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Karina believes everyone deserves equitable access to mental health resources. She is very passionate about ensuring community members have the skills to support each other during challenging times.

ZELIG KOMULA (they/them)

MHFA Trainer

Zelig holds a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies from California Institute of Integral Studies where their studies revolved around Philosophy, Literature, and Pedagogy. Through their career, Zelig has had experiences in community and patient education, having focused primarily on the experiences of disabled and transgender & gender non-conforming (TGNC) people. In their professional and personal journey, Zelig has taken great care to center mental health as a living, breathing practice that touches all aspects of our lives. In their free time, you can find Zelig writing poetry, cooking something savory, taking a water aerobics class, or organizing their fragrance collection. 

EMELIE MORALES (she/her/ella)

Bilingual Spanish MHFA Trainer

Emelie is a mental health first aid instructor at Cypress. She holds a BS in Psychology from the University of Idaho. Emelie is passionate about ensuring everyone has access to essential services and daily support, and she loves teaching others how to advocate for themselves and navigate available resources. In her free time Emelie loves baking and listening to TED talks.

GEORGE CRUZ (he/him)

MHFA Trainer

George Cruz brings over 15 years of experience as a first responder, including his roles as a firefighter, flight paramedic, and EMS educator. As a dedicated advocate for mental health, George combines his professional expertise with personal insight to support those in high-stress professions, including first responders and trauma survivors. Currently pursuing his Master of Social Work at Western Kentucky University with a focus on trauma-informed care, George's passion lies in reducing the stigma around mental health care and providing accessible resources to those in need. When not working, George spends time traveling, coaching youth sports, and volunteering. 

SHUNIQUA GUSS (she/her)

MHFA Trainer

Shuniqua serves as a Mental Health First Aid Trainer. She has a background in Human Resources and has spent the better part of her career serving in several nonprofits – as 3x AmeriCorps alum, serving two years with City Year, Inc. in Boston, supporting the personal and professional development of Greater Boston high school students and supporting the leadership development of staff and members within the program. Several years later she served as a National Preparedness and Response member with the American Red Cross in Louisiana, supporting both local and national disasters. Shuniqua also served a short stint in the Dominican Republic as a Youth Development Promoter, and her “Boots on the Ground” approach is modeled after her great-grandparents, who lived lives of service!

Shuniqua holds a Master of Science degree in Leadership, with an emphasis in Adult and Organizational Learning from Northeastern University’s College of Professional Studies in Boston, MA, various certifications across Human Resources and is gearing up to continue her doctoral studies in Industrial and Organizational Psychology. Her heart beats being in the sweet spot between the wonder of children and the wisdom of the elderly.

MICHELE DAWSON (she/her)

Training Coordinator

Michele Dawson manages the day-to-day processes of our mental health-related trainings.  She supports instructors and students to resolve any challenges and ensure a positive and successful experience from beginning to end.  Having witnessed the effects of mental health crises, she is excited to contribute to this worthwhile endeavor.  Her educational background includes a Bachelor's and Master of Science in Landscape Architecture. As a greater New Orleans resident, she enjoys attending festivals with friends, traveling, the beauty of vinyl records, foreign television dramas/anime, and knitting. 

JESSICA FORRISTER (she/her)

Operations Coordinator

Jessica received her BA in English Literature from John Cabot University.  She has worked in multiple different industries, and this breadth of experience provides a useful and unique perspective when working through complex challenges.  She is excited to focus all that knowledge on the Cypress Resilience Project and help people help other people.  In her free time, she enjoys working with animals, singing, writing, cooking, juggling, and exploring the natural beauty of the outdoors.

JESSICA LEATHERMAN (she/her)

Administrative Assistant

Jessica serves as the Administrative Assistant at Cypress Resilience Project. Her lifelong passion for helping others initially led her to a career as a Massage Therapist. After many years in that field, Jessica transitioned into administrative support, where she strives to make a meaningful impact by combining her administrative skills with her dedication to serving others. Outside of work, she enjoys spending quality time with her family and pets, exploring Colorado’s stunning outdoors, hunting for hidden treasures in antique shops, and savoring a good cup of coffee.