Taking Care of Each Other!
Meet the TEAM!
What a team! A big thinker, a community collaborator and connector, a detailed planner, a lift-off strategist, an experienced mentor, a licensed mental health counselor, and several generous donors!
Our Growing Team!
Welcome to Dr. Maria Clapp, Our Newest Team Collaborator!
We are delighted to announce that Dr. Maria Clapp has joined the LOM team as an innovator, community connector, content translator, mental health professional, and grant writer.
Meet the Founders of LOM!
Amy Falk Weinberger, MSEd
Amy Falk Weinberger, MSEd
Amy Falk Weinberger, MSEd
Amy is a community change agent bridging education and mental health wellness. She creates relationships with students and promotes creative supportive problem solving to students. She has taught or mentored 5000+ students in her 35+ year career. Her passion is to heal education in our local communities and beyond through relationship bui
Amy is a community change agent bridging education and mental health wellness. She creates relationships with students and promotes creative supportive problem solving to students. She has taught or mentored 5000+ students in her 35+ year career. Her passion is to heal education in our local communities and beyond through relationship building, creative conversations, and intentional listening. Amy has had enjoyed a full career as an educational entrepreneur, mentor, and community builder. She and her husband hail from St. Thomas, USVI after Hurricane Hugo and have been married 32 years. They have three grown children and 2 adopted dogs!
Jordan Stonecypher
Amy Falk Weinberger, MSEd
Amy Falk Weinberger, MSEd
Jordan has been a student/mentee of Amy's since she was 8 years old while she was a student in the Sarasota County Public Schools system. She has earned her B.S. in psychology from Lynn University, and she is currently completing her M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Lenoir-Rhyne University. Her passions are art, connecting wit
Jordan has been a student/mentee of Amy's since she was 8 years old while she was a student in the Sarasota County Public Schools system. She has earned her B.S. in psychology from Lynn University, and she is currently completing her M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Lenoir-Rhyne University. Her passions are art, connecting with nature, and helping students find their voices so they can feel inspired and hopeful. Jordan resides in Asheville, North Carolina.
Bob Cohn
Amy Falk Weinberger, MSEd
Bob Cohn
Amy met Bob, our funder, at the community mental health event (One Thing I Wish You Knew) at the Jewish Federation in 2018. During their conversation, Bob asked Amy if she could create a mentor program in the school setting. Amy enthusiastically responded, "Yes, I can do that." Because of Bob, The Lean on Me Project has grown exponentiall
Amy met Bob, our funder, at the community mental health event (One Thing I Wish You Knew) at the Jewish Federation in 2018. During their conversation, Bob asked Amy if she could create a mentor program in the school setting. Amy enthusiastically responded, "Yes, I can do that." Because of Bob, The Lean on Me Project has grown exponentially to take the lead in bridging the gap between education and mental health. You never know who you will meet!
The Lean On Me Project & NAMI
The Lean on Me Team is delighted to be part of the NAMI Family. Our collaboration allows us to share resources, talent, and creativity together and with the community.
Meet the NAMI Team!
Colleen Thayer MA, APR, CPRC – Executive Director NAMI
Colleen Thayer MA, APR, CPRC – Executive Director NAMI
Colleen Thayer MA, APR, CPRC – Executive Director NAMI
Colleen’s experiences are focused in public relations/affairs and political advocacy. Her previous work before joining the NAMI Sarasota and Manatee Counties affiliate is with Florida Legislature, a regional community mental health agency, and the Southwest Florida Water Management District. Collen holds an undergraduate degree in Politi
Colleen’s experiences are focused in public relations/affairs and political advocacy. Her previous work before joining the NAMI Sarasota and Manatee Counties affiliate is with Florida Legislature, a regional community mental health agency, and the Southwest Florida Water Management District. Collen holds an undergraduate degree in Political Science and master’s degree in Management and Leadership. She is also Accredited in Public Relations and a Certified Public Relations Counselor. Colleen is grateful to have the opportunity to provide leadership for the affiliate and strengthen the voice of peers and family members in our community.
Taylor Walker, MS – Program Coordinator for NAMI
Colleen Thayer MA, APR, CPRC – Executive Director NAMI
Colleen Thayer MA, APR, CPRC – Executive Director NAMI
Taylor graduated with a bachelor’s in social work from Western Illinois University in 2018 and in 2019 she obtained her master’s in social work from University of Illinois at Chicago with a focus in organization and community practice. In addition, she earned her certification in human service management. Taylor has provided mentoring ser
Taylor graduated with a bachelor’s in social work from Western Illinois University in 2018 and in 2019 she obtained her master’s in social work from University of Illinois at Chicago with a focus in organization and community practice. In addition, she earned her certification in human service management. Taylor has provided mentoring services to youth via the Lean on Me Project, and has experience in facilitating drug and alcohol prevention classes for school aged children. She also completed a practicum with the Center for Housing and Health in Chicago and has knowledge in HMIS and homeless services. As a recent college graduate, she was surrounded by many peers struggling with a mental illness that feared seeking treatment in fear of judgment. Her role as program coordinator offers the opportunity to support peers and families and continue to break the stigma surrounding mental illness.
Sarah Miller, CRPS – Family Peer Navigator
Sarah Miller, CRPS – Family Peer Navigator
Sarah Miller, CRPS – Family Peer Navigator
Sarah is a mental health consumer, family member, and advocate, passionate about sharing the mental health resources and information which have personally benefited her own family. Sarah worked with NAMI Pinellas for four years as a Program Manager and Contract Manager before taking a role with the local Managing Entity, Central Florida
Sarah is a mental health consumer, family member, and advocate, passionate about sharing the mental health resources and information which have personally benefited her own family. Sarah worked with NAMI Pinellas for four years as a Program Manager and Contract Manager before taking a role with the local Managing Entity, Central Florida Behavioral Health Network where she worked as a Family and Youth Coordinator on the Children’s Mental Health System of Care grant to expand youth and family supports throughout Circuit 6 and educate providers on the value of youth and family voice. Through this opportunity she received her certification as a Recovery Peer Specialist for families, as well as a certification to teach High Fidelity Wraparound and Wellness Recovery Action Planning (WRAP), both evidence-based programs and practices. Sarah enjoys connecting with others who have similar challenges to offer support and hope for a better tomorrow.
Laura Granack – Administrative Assistant
Sarah Miller, CRPS – Family Peer Navigator
Sarah Miller, CRPS – Family Peer Navigator
From a young age Laura was taught to help others whenever she could. She obtained her undergrad from UNC-Wilmington and holds a M.S. from Michigan State University. Schoolwork led her to education and curriculum design- and this led to working with high school life skills students. Laura quickly saw how resources, diagnosis, and good s
From a young age Laura was taught to help others whenever she could. She obtained her undergrad from UNC-Wilmington and holds a M.S. from Michigan State University. Schoolwork led her to education and curriculum design- and this led to working with high school life skills students. Laura quickly saw how resources, diagnosis, and good support systems play a critical role in overcoming challenges.
Meet the 1331 Scholarship Team!
Janjay Gehndyu - Founder and CEO
Dr. J has taught students in Manatee and Sarasota County for 14 years ranging from college to elementary students. With extensive experience in STEM education, Dr. Gehndyu mentors students to be creative problem solvers who have the ability to overcome challenges. Dr. Gehndyu has taught courses from AP chemistry to biology, his data driven approach has produced many successful students in these courses who either earned AP credit or a passing score on their FSA biology test. He believes all students with the right guidance can make great accomplishments. Dr. Gehndyu’s award winning dissertation on learning styles has allowed him to create a database useful for helping students succeed on the SAT and ACT test. His research based approach has helped many students not only enter higher education but complete their degree requirements within 4 years or less. Dr. Gehndyu has worked with over 40 high school aged students who have all earned bright future scholarships. When Dr. Gehndyu is not devoting time to help young adults succeed for the future; he loves spending time with his wife Jackie and their two young children Ellie and Emmitt.
Jackie Gehndyu, M.S. - Exceptional Student Educator
Jackie is the Exceptional Student Education Specialist for Academic Empowerment Agency. Jackie has over 10 years experience teaching and mentoring students of all backgrounds. Most of her experience has been with the underserved and underprivileged population at Visible Men Academy in Bradenton Florida. At this Title 1, all boys school, she has taught grades K-5, been a Reading Coach, English Language Learner Liaison, Response to Intervention (RTI) Specialist, and Exceptional Student Education (ESE) Specialist. Jackie received her Bachelors degree from Palm Beach Atlantic University in Psychology. She then furthered her education and received a Masters Degree from the University of South Florida in Elementary Education. The combined degrees have empowered her with the understanding that teaching children does not require just an academic mindset, but supporting the whole child including their unique personalities and learning styles. Jackie and Dr. Gehndyu have been married for 10 years and reside in Bradenton Florida with their two children, Ellie and Emmitt.
Thank YOU for Believing & Collaborating!
Our Partners
