Production Team

Ebony Rao, PhD, MA, Ed.M., LCMHCS

Is the Sr. Health Program Manager for the Office of Violence Prevention and ReCAST II Program (Resiliency in Communities After Stress and Trauma). ReCAST II is a 4-year SAMHSA funded project with the purpose of building capacity for community resilience, increased access to trauma informed care, and reducing the rates of community violence. She is currently a Ph.D. student in Public Health Sciences at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.  She is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor with a Master of Science Degree in Counseling Psychology and a Master of Education Degree in School Counseling both from Columbia University. Prior to her work with ReCAST II, she was the Program Manager for the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Program and the HOPE Initiative with Mecklenburg County Public Health. She provides training and presentations throughout the community and participates on multiple community committees and boards addressing gaps in service for those with mental illness or issues of childhood trauma. Ebony additionally advocates for support of those experiencing perinatal mood disorders.

Jessica Montana, MPH, CHES

Is a Health Program Supervisor with the ReCAST II Program (Resiliency in Communities After Stress and Trauma) with Mecklenburg County Public Health.  She specializes in program development, community engagement, and data and grants management. Jessica received her Master of Public Health (MPH) in Community Health Education and is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES®). She has over 16 years of experience working with diverse populations in health care and public health systems. She has worked on multiple projects that address chronic disease, including: an Exercise is Medicine® initiative, a school garden program, an integrated health and wellness program for uninsured clinic patients, and Mecklenburg County’s Village HeartBEAT program. From 2016-2020, Jessica oversaw the Alianza Latino Drug Free Coalition. In 2018, Alianza won the CADCA Chairman’s Award for excellence in community engagement and strategic planning. Jessica is fluent in English and Spanish, grew up in New York City, and has lived in Charlotte, NC since 2014. 

Dr. Kateesha Blount, DHSc, MPH, CPH

Is a graduate of the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology. She received her graduate training and a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology from Florida A&M University. She holds a Doctor of Health Science with a concentration in Global Health from Nova Southeastern University. Dr. Blount has over 20 years of experience in public health and has served at Mecklenburg County Public Health (MCPH) for the past 10 years in various capacities within the organization. Her current role is the Health Program Supervisor with the Resiliency in Communities after Stress and Trauma (ReCAST II) program where she shares trauma-informed resources and training with clinicians and the larger community. During her free time, Dr. Blount enjoys volunteering with her church’s health ministry, watching the latest movies, and spending time with her husband and young son.  

Quaneka Falls, MHA

Is a public health leader and community strategist based in Charlotte, North Carolina, with more than 14 years of service to Mecklenburg County. She currently serves as a Health Program Supervisor with the Office of Violence Prevention, leading community-based initiatives focused on reducing violence, strengthening neighborhood safety, and promoting healing through trauma-informed and equity-centered public health approaches.

In her role, Quaneka collaborates with cross-sector partners, community-based organizations, and residents to implement prevention strategies that address the root causes of violence while advancing community well-being. Her work emphasizes community engagement, systems coordination, and data-informed public health solutions that center lived experience and community voice.

Quaneka holds a Bachelor’s degree in Community Health Education from the University of North Carolina Wilmington and a Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration. She is a proud mother of two and is committed to advancing public health systems that prioritize prevention, healing, and long-term safety for communities across Mecklenburg County.

Monay Miller, CCHW

Is a mission-driven professional with over 15 years of experience supporting youth and families across public health, social services, juvenile justice, and community-based programs. She is currently the Health Policy Coordinator for the Mecklenburg County Office of Violence Prevention and focuses on youth and young adult programming and initiatives. Prior to her work in Mecklenburg County, she worked as a Youth Development Coordinator with Communities in Schools of Charlotte-Mecklenburg at Phillip O. Berry High School. Additionally, she has worked as a life coach with The Miller Initiative, LLC, a Youth Academy Advisor for the Michigan Youth (National Guard) Challenge Program with the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, and Foster Care Case Manager for the Michigan Department of Human Services.

Throughout her career she has remained committed to advancing equity, safety, and long-term wellbeing for underserved communities. With a background that blends direct service and systems-level strategy, she bring a trauma-informed, equity-centered lens to every role she takes on. She strives to build pathways that not only meet immediate needs, but also lay the groundwork for lasting opportunity and growth. She obtained her Bachelor of Criminal Justice degree from Grand Valley State University, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is certified in Youth Mental Health First Aid, and is a North Carolina Certified Community Health Worker.  Her work in both grassroots and government settings has equipped her to lead initiatives that bridge social impact and public service—particularly in youth program development and coordination. She is passionate about creating meaningful community partnerships, developing responsive programs that foster resilience, center youth voice, and promote positive development. Her approach is rooted in relationship-building, collaboration, and a deep understanding of the complex challenges that impact young people’s lives.

Chantel Lowery, DrPH, CHES

Dr. Chantel Lowery is a Health Program Supervisor for the Child Fatality Review Team in Mecklenburg County Public Health (Charlotte, North Carolina). She has worked in the field of public health for over 10+ years, received her Doctorate in Public Health from Loma Linda University, Masters from the University of Southern California, her Bachelors of Arts in Human Development from the University of California, San Diego and is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES). Within the Child Fatality Review Team, Dr. Lowery collaborates with prominent leaders in Mecklenburg County to review child fatality cases in Mecklenburg County with the goal of producing prevention recommendations to be implemented within the community.

Rosie Brown-Cooley

Rosie Brown-Cooley is a grants coordinator for Mecklenburg County Public Health (MCPH) for the Health Program Manager of Community Grants. She also provides administrative support to the Office of Violence Prevention (OVP)/ Resiliency in Communities after Stress and Trauma (Re-CAST II) team. 

Although new to the Public Health sector Ms. Brown- Cooley has vast experience in executive administration, office management, customer relations, and external partnership building. 

During her free time Ms. Brown-Cooley enjoys line dancing, flag worship at her church, and spending time with her five grandchildren of whom she has a set of identical twin girls.

Carla Carlisle

Is a passionate mental health advocate, author, and speaker committed to uplifting youth voices and building emotional resilience. She served as the Show Director for This Is My Brave: CharMeck Youth Show 2024, guiding young storytellers in sharing their powerful lived experiences through poetry, music, and spoken word. Carla first took the stage herself in This Is My Brave Boston 2023, sharing her personal journey as a parent navigating trauma, healing, and hope. Through her award-winning books My Big Notebook and My Epic Flow, and the accompanying school-based curricula and workshops, Carla helps young people build healthy coping skills and foster self-awareness. She’s led hundreds of workshops in schools, detention centers, and community settings, always centering the voices and needs of youth.

Carla’s deep alignment with This Is My Brave comes from her belief that storytelling can save lives—and that every young person deserves to feel seen, heard, and supported on their mental wellness journey.

Sylvia Stitt Smith

Sylvia is a dedicated community leader and advocate with extensive experience in trauma, wellness support, and youth initiatives. Losing her youngest son, Sam, to gun violence in 2019, widened her focus to addressing violence prevention. Sylvia frequently collaborates with local and national organizations and has addressed government bodies on the impact of gun violence. She is in her fourth year as a member of the planning committee for Atrium Health Youth Violence Prevention Conference.  She is an Advisory Board member for Mecklenburg County's Way Forward Strategic Plan and is the founder of S.I.S.T.E.R.S Assembly: Survivors Impacting Survivors Through Empathy and Resilience, and Comfort in the Cloud Grief Support Group.

She served as Director for This Is My Brave CharMeck 2024 Show, “Healing from Community Violence”. Her life’s experience inspired writing, with works published in the North Carolina Bards Poetry Anthologies.

Sylvia is active as a keynote speaker, panelist and moderator, and has been featured in Mecklenburg County’s Live Well initiative. She holds a BA in Communication Studies from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, certificates in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University and Learning and Development from UNC-Charlotte, and is an ordained Elder in the Presbyterian Church. A native Charlottean, Sylvia enjoys spending her time gathered around family and quiet moments in nature.

La Becky Roe

La Becky Roe is an award-winning educator, speaker, and advocate, and the Founder and Executive Director of Let’s Talk About It–The Autism Center, Inc. With more than 20 years of experience and lived expertise as the parent of an adult son on the autism spectrum, she is committed to amplifying voices, reducing stigma, and building inclusive communities.

In 2024, La Becky served as the Show Director for This Is My Brave CharMeck, where she helped bring powerful, real-life mental health stories to the stage creating a space for truth, healing, and human connection through storytelling.

A retired New York City police officer, La Becky holds a Master of Science in Education, Criminal Justice & Human Services with a concentration in Applied Behavioral Analysis and Crime Prevention, along with a postgraduate certificate in Autism Spectrum Disorder Across the Lifespan. She is also a certified PEERS® provider and a sought-after speaker whose work spans education, public safety, and community advocacy.

A proud graduate of Leadership Charlotte (Class 46), La Becky also serves as a facilitator with the Mecklenburg County Crisis Intervention Team. Her work has been featured across regional and national media, including Pride Magazine Charlotte, and she was named Advocate of the Year by Queen City Nerve Magazine for her impact-driven leadership.

La Becky leads with both conviction and compassion using her voice and vision to transform stories into strength, and communities into spaces where every person is seen, valued, and empowered.

Susan Crawford, MSCJ, BSJA, CDAC-i

Community Engagement & Criminal Justice Professional

Susan Crawford has worked in Mecklenburg County for more than a decade, dedicating her career to supporting vulnerable populations through advocacy, outreach, and recovery-oriented services. She holds a Master’s in Criminal Justice with a focus on Criminal Behavior and a Bachelor’s in Justice Administration with a concentration in Corrections and Interrogation.

She is a certified NCPSS Supervisor and has been recognized for her leadership and service, receiving the Crisis Intervention Team Member of the Year Award (2022) and the Northeastern University Community Engagement Specialist of the Year Award (2024). Susan is also a team member for This is My Brave Production Team (2024-2026), where she can bring resources and community connection together as the Resource Organizer.

Currently, Susan serves as the Director of Business Development and Community Relations at Amara Wellness Services, where she builds partnerships and drives community-based initiatives. She also supports the non-profit Always Willing to Serve, furthering her commitment to improving access, care, and support for underserved populations.

Dr. Vernessa Bowles, PhD

Is employed by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools as the district Mental Health Program Manager. She has been working in the field of mental health for over 20 years providing therapy to children, adolescents, and adults. She has experience in the assessment, intervention and mental health counseling of children, adolescents, and adults. She has worked in community mental health centers, school districts, and juvenile detention centers.  Dr. Bowles also operates One Touch Psychological Services, PLLC in Charlotte and surrounding areas.   

Dr. Bowles is also an accomplished author. She has written two children’s books, Gabby the Great Tries Out and Gabby the Great Goes to the Beach which are about a young girl who has cerebral palsy. Dr. Bowles is the mother of 17-year-old Trinity who triumphs over cerebral palsy. In her leisure time, Dr. Bowles enjoys listening to music, reading and traveling.

Andrea Weaver MA, LCMHC, LCAS-A

Is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and a Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist Associate in the state of North Carolina. She graduated with her Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 2018 and began serving the Charlotte community soon after. She has worked with a variety of clients in both inpatient and outpatient mental health and substance use treatment since 2019. She has a passion for working with client's who have experienced trauma as well as clients living with substance use disorders. Andrea had the privilege of being a cast member for the 2018 production of This Is My Brave Charlotte and is thrilled to be a part of the team giving others the chance to share their brave.

Jennifer Moxley

Is a Communications Strategist and Founder of Sunshine Media Network which helps clients be the best person to tell their stories, especially by uplifting and amplifying women and minority experts and entrepreneurs. With a 27 year career in news media, she uses her video and live TV production skills and storytelling to also train, mentor, and hire other underrepresented people in the industry. 

She founded She Dreams In Color Foundation in 2022, after spending $8,000 out of pocket for her own life-changing mental health therapy, to help marginalized women have access to care they deserve. The nonprofit uses storytelling, interviews, and community events to support their mission of destigmatizing mental health needs and seeking care. After her own perimenopause mental health crisis, Jennifer refocused her personal efforts to reach women who are 45 to 54-years-old, the number one age demographic women die by suicide.

Jennifer is a founding Board Member of Homes of Hope Transitional Housing, was Vice-Chair of the HUD Continuum of Care for the Piedmont region which addressed funding for homelessness, has served on boards and volunteered with countless nonprofit organizations in the region. 

She is a member for the #WeHearHer Advisory Council organized by the Seek Her Foundation which is a peer-led think tank, driven by research, and focused on women's mental health. 

Jennifer is QPR trained and certified in Mental Health First Aid.

Alajne Overton, BSW

Is a Public Health Intern with The Office of Violence Prevention and ReCAST II at Mecklenburg County. She is a Master of Social Work Student at The University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Dena Zoumboulis

Is a Public Health Intern with ReCAST II at Mecklenburg County. She is a rising senior studying Psychology at the University of South Carolina where she is a Mental Health Ambassador. In this role, she actively works to raise awareness about mental health by sharing her personal story to a variety of organizations, sharing valuable campus resources, and collaborating with campus organizations to reduce stigma and create an environment where students feel comfortable seeking help. Dena's long-term goal is to pursue a career in the healthcare field, where she can combine my passion for psychology with her dedication to making a meaningful impact on others' lives.

Jada Davis

Is a Public Health Intern with the Office of Violence Prevention at Mecklenburg County. She is a rising junior studying Human Health Sciences with a minor in Information Technology at the University of North Carolina Greensboro. Jada is passionate about working with healthcare data to improve patient outcomes and support smarter healthcare decisions. She is always motivated to learn, grow, and take on new challenges in healthcare technology.