The New Jersey Cross Town Mental Health Coalition is a collaborative effort bringing together 14 communities to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and increase access to mental health support.

Debbie Merrick has over 25 years of leadership experience in corporate strategy, technology, and community advocacy, including senior roles at J.P. Morgan Chase and Arthur Andersen. She now applies that expertise to mental health, founding the NJ Cross-Town Mental Health Coalition and leading regional initiatives like Paint the Town Green to expand wellness education and reduce stigma. She is also the Co-Founder of the Mindful Generation, a Foundation with a mission to "Nurture a Mindful Generation empowered with awareness, resilience, and connection—through advocacy, education, and the cultivation of social-emotional strength, balanced technology use, and holistic wellness". She lives in New Jersey with her husband and three children.

Ray Freaney enjoyed a 45-year career in the chemical and pharmaceutical industry, most of it as a Plant Manager. A Rotarian for more than 30 years, he launched the End Hunger 3.6 program in 2016, which has provided over 2 million meals worldwide, and served as Rotary District 7475 Governor in 2019–2020, supporting 84 clubs and 2,000 members. He later helped found the Rotary Club of Mental Health Advocates, where he continues to connect people and organizations while working tirelessly to reduce stigma.

Ryoko Sadoshima is the Marketing and Social Media Director for the NJ Cross Town Mental Health Coalition, where she built the digital infrastructure that connects fourteen towns in support of mental health awareness. From designing the Paint the Town Green banner and yard signs to developing the website, social media strategy, and weekly newsletters, Ryo created the communication systems that make coalition-wide collaboration possible. A former professional dancer with Pennsylvania Ballet and Sarasota Ballet, she combines artistic creativity with user experience strategy to help organizations build their presence and engage their communities. Available for marketing, design, and UX strategy projects: ryokosdesigns@gmail.com