OUR TEAM
Nicole Jarred is a communications strategist who is passionate about building community-driven campaigns for social change. Nicole brings innovative leadership and marketing expertise to all her projects. A hallmark of her work is the successful engagement of the target audience, particularly underserved and/or inappropriately-served populations (i.e., cultural and ethnic communities in California, youth and young adults, mental health consumers, veterans, and system-involved persons) in meaningful and authentic roles in the campaign development and implementation process.
For more than 15 years, Nicole has lead public health and social justice efforts in the nonprofit and public sectors, both in Washington D.C. and her native California. Nicole’s past work has addressed a diverse array of issues, including youth development, community health/wellness, environmental justice, LGBTQ+ rights, immigration, school climate, and mental health.
Lisa Smusz is a creative problem-solver with a knack for combining data and out-of-the-box thinking to produce measurable outcomes. Lisa brings nearly 25 years of senior-management-level experience in developing, executing, and evaluating community mental health initiatives on local, statewide, national, and international projects. She currently provides consulting services to campaigns across California, with a focus on stigma reduction and culturally responsive approaches to promoting mental health in diverse communities.
In addition to her role as CEO of The Social Changery, Lisa was an Instructor at California State University, East Bay for more than 20 years, where she taught a variety of courses related to mental health, women’s studies, and social justice. She is a subject matter expert in stigma reduction as well as innovative approaches to improving mental health and delivering behavioral health services.
Lisa is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPC 298) with post-graduate training from the Integrative Psychiatry Institute and Harvard Medical School / Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health. She holds a Master of Science in Educational Psychology/Counseling from California State University, Hayward, and a Bachelor of Science in Bio-Psychology from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.
Jasmin Flores is a socially-minded communications and marketing professional with a passion for making a difference in the lives of others. She began her career working on social marketing campaigns in the public health space for local government and community-based organizations. Jasmin brings a wealth of experience in project management and in building campaigns that are both equitable and effective.
In addition to her communications and marketing background, Jasmin is a seasoned public relations practitioner who has managed large local and national media relations efforts and developed integrated social media strategies. She has experience from both the private sector and the social justice arena, providing a well-rounded approach to serving The Social Changery’s clients. Jasmin also contributes her expertise to the Equity Council for the City of Sacramento, where she works to advance racial equity and social justice initiatives in the community.
Noelani Dennis is a seasoned project manager specializing in youth development, youth justice, and substance use prevention. With a solid background in state-wide digital marketing campaigns, social media management, event planning, community outreach, and media relations, Noelani now focuses on managing projects that address critical issues impacting youth and their communities.
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Noelani’s career began with a local government agency, where she played a key role in advancing equity and inclusion initiatives. She then contributed to a team dedicated to enhancing state-wide education funding for California students. Committed to improving community outcomes, Noelani brings a service-oriented approach to her work, ensuring that projects align with the values of inclusion and diversity. Her experience spans nonprofit work, client relations, and strategic communication, all of which support her current role at The Social Changery.
Emily Gerofsky, MPH, is a public health, communications, and technology professional passionate about developing programs and interventions that improve outcomes for underserved and vulnerable populations. She began her career managing statewide public health campaigns for the California Department of Public Health and working to increase access to education and enhance outcomes for California community college students by designing and implementing systems change initiatives. Working alongside industry-leading human-centered design and behavioral science experts, with the support of national philanthropic organizations, Emily served on the advance team for California’s first online community college and led initiatives to redesign the California Community College application process.
Emily brings a high level of project management expertise and serves as the unofficial Social Changery spreadsheet wizard. This allows her to see the big picture while simultaneously digging into details that allow for the successful management of large-scale, complex projects. Emily holds a Master’s in Public Health with a concentration in Social and Behavioral Science from the University of Florida. Emily uses this combination of experience and education to design upstream solutions to big problems while keeping the experience of the communities served at the forefront.
Riley Casentini is a communication specialist with a talent for effective written delivery. Beginning her career with The Social Changery as an intern, she loved it so much, she decided to stay! With her passion for literary accessibility, culturally competent analysis, and attention to detail, Riley ensures that every writing project is clear, concise, and impactful.
Riley brings to The Social Changery, experience in event management, research, and social media content development. In addition to her passion for professional writing and a dedication to social equity, Riley assists in a variety of roles and projects to close gaps and ensure project success.
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Jeanine Gaines (Citizen Potawatomi Nation) is a seasoned communications professional specializing in outreach and stakeholder engagement in unserved and underserved communities. With a strong integrated communications background, she has successfully served diverse audiences through targeted events, collateral development, and various media channels. With over 10 years of experience, Jeanine has led cross-cultural behavioral health and suicide prevention projects at a statewide level.
Jeanine's commitment to community empowerment led her to co-author "Ignite: Sparking Community Change Through Social Marketing," a culturally responsive social marketing curriculum for tribes and tribal organizations in collaboration with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Tribal Training and Technical Assistance Center. In addition to her work at The Social Changery, she actively contributes as a board member for Earth Mama Healing, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering and mentoring black youth. Furthermore, she serves as the Vice Chair of the Parks and Community Enrichment Commission for the City of Sacramento.
Interested in partnering with us or joining our team?
Contact us using the form below or email us directly at info@thesocialchangery.com