September 19, 2023
United Way's Women's Leadership Council hosted a luncheon at the Johnson Controls Volunteer Center featuring a panel discussion among subject-matter experts and community leaders about youth mental health; what our young people are experiencing, how adults can best support them, and what United Way is poised to accomplish with our Empowering Minds initiative. Following the panel, our guests participated in a kit-packing event, creating mental wellness kits for young people in our schools and community.
PANELISTS
Tim Baack
President and CEO
Pathfinders
Tim Baack MS, LPC is a strong advocate on behalf of marginalized youth and families – particularly BIPOC and LGBTQ+ young people. He is an appointed Commissioner for the City of Milwaukee’s Community Collaborative Commission and serves on many local boards and advisory councils, including United Way’s Youth Mental Health Advisory Council. Additionally, Tim supports the work of United Way in his role as Co-Chair of Pride United and as a member of the Campaign Cabinet in the Nonprofit Division.
In 2012, Tim received national recognition by President Obama as one of thirteen Champions of Change for his advocacy work relative to youth and young adult homelessness and housing instability.
Since 2013, Tim has been the President and CEO of Pathfinders, a Milwaukee-based nonprofit organization whose mission is Empowering Youth - Changing Lives.
Martina Gollin-Graves
President and CEO
Mental Health America of Wisconsin
Martina Gollin-Graves, MSW, APSW is committed to advocacy efforts that support expanded access to community-based mental health services for our most vulnerable community members. She started with of Mental Health America of Wisconsin (MHA) 18 years ago as an advocate for parents involved in the child welfare system that are living with a mental illness.
Mental Health America of Wisconsin is a statewide agency providing mental health and suicide prevention education, advocacy, and support for individuals, families, businesses, and community organizations across the state of Wisconsin. Martina’s work is driven by MHA’s commitment to promoting mental health as a critical part of overall wellness with a core belief that there is no health without mental health.
Today, Martina Gollin-Graves, MSW, APSW is the President and CEO of Mental Health America of Wisconsin.
Linda Hall
Director
Wisconsin Office of Children’s Mental Health
Linda Hall has spent her career focusing on public policy to increase children’s well-being and support for families. Since being appointed by Governor Evers in 2019 to lead the Wisconsin Office of Children’s Mental Health, she has had the privilege of collaborating with state and mental health leaders, youth with lived experience, and parent partners to improve the children’s mental health system and highlight how the community can support the well-being of children.
Linda has been able to pursue these policies through the National Governors’ Association, federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Wisconsin Legislative Fiscal Bureau, and the Wisconsin Association of Family & Children’s Agencies.
Currently, she is the Director at the Wisconsin Office of Children’s Mental Health.
Kathryn Yang
Peer Advocate
Pathfinders
Kathryn Yang has a passion for helping youth and young adults who have faced adverse living situations. She is a full-time student at MATC with a focus on Human Services.
Kathryn works Pathfinders as a Peer Advocate in New Paths through Americorps.
Moderator-Lynn Sprangers
Chief Inspiration Officer
54 Hands Productions
Lynn Sprangers spent nearly twenty years as a journalist, including Chief Political Reporter for WTMJ-TV in Milwaukee and co-host of the Weekend program on PBS Wisconsin. Among her many awards, Lynn has received a prestigious duPoint-Columbia award for a program highlighting women in politics. She has also been honored as a Woman of Influence by the Milwaukee Business Journal for her efforts in supporting and elevating women in her community.
Lynn has held executive roles with the Milwaukee Brewers, Milwaukee County Executive's Office, Mount Mary University and the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts. Lynn was a co-producer of the 2020 PBS documentary America's Socialist Experiment, which looked at Milwaukee's unique, nearly half-century run as a city led by Socialist mayors.
Currently, she is the Chief Inspiration Officer for 54 Hands Productions and is at work on two new documentaries.
Thank you to our event sponsor:
