Diagnosed with ALS in 2007
Founded "Corey's Crusade" to give voice to ALS sufferers
Diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2001
Became national speaker & trainer for The National Alliance on Mental Illness
Their stories of turning adversity
into advocacy will inspire you!
Browse through our collection of inspiring stories from our incredible advocates.
Dr. Jennifer Jo Brout
Sep 9, 2015 | Advocate, Misophonia/Sensory Processing Disorder
Dr. Jennifer Jo Kanter-Brout Adversity: Misophonia/Sensory Processing Disorder Advocacy: Advocates for research and improved diagnosis for those with Sensory Over-Responsivity (a subtype of sensory processing disorder) and Misophonia. "Affecting change...
Dr BJ Miller
Jun 23, 2015 | Advocate, Amputation, Near-Death Experience
BJ Miller Adversity: Triple amputee, near-death experience Advocacy: Provides palliative care to patients living and suffering with serious illness "With my dramatic adversity comes the possibility for dramatic joy. Sharing this with others makes sweet of...
Becky Fein
Jun 23, 2015 | Advocate, Sexual Assault
Becky Fein Adversity: Sexual assault Advocacy: Co-founder and director of The Powerful Voices Project; Executive Director, Verity (Sonoma County’s Sexual Assault Prevention, Intervention, and Healing Center) "Talking about my experience of sexual assault...
Vic Ojakian
Jun 23, 2015 | Advocate, Grief & Loss, Suicide
Vic Ojakian Adversity: Loss of son to suicide Advocacy: Suicide prevention and mental health awareness activist "I love and miss my son, Adam. I channel those emotions and feelings into a determination to help others seek solutions other than killing...
Woody Weingarten
May 17, 2015 | Advocate, Cancer
Woody Weingarten Adversity: Wife diagnosed with breast cancer 30 years ago, now fighting her third bout Advocacy: Book author, blogger and leader of breast cancer caregiver support group "Writing the book gave me the chance to show others going through the...
Rebecca Alexander
Apr 4, 2015 | Advocate, Usher Syndrome
Rebecca Alexander Adversity: Usher Syndrome (visual and hearing impairment) Advocacy: Has become the “poster child” for Usher Syndrome. "I realized I was willing to be the poster child for this disease because I wanted to raise awareness about this....
Holly Wright
Mar 11, 2015 | Advocate, Cancer, Grief & Loss
Holly Wright Adversity: Lost her daughter to pediatric brain cancer Advocacy: Established a foundation to financially support families nationwide who are caring for children with brain cancer "Since my daughter's passing, I have found healing in helping...
April Rovero
Feb 4, 2015 | Addiction, Advocate, Grief & Loss
April Rovero Adversity: Lost a child to prescription drug use Advocacy: Founded a nonprofit to raise awareness of prescription drug safety "Every parent who has lost a child worries that, as time goes on, they will be forgotten and they want their lives to...
David Flink
Jan 20, 2015 | Advocate, Dyslexia, LD/ADHD
David Flink Adversity: Learning disabilities – ADHD and dyslexia Advocacy: Started a national mentoring program for youth with learning disabilities “Mentoring has become a platform that allows people with learning differences to have our stories be seen...
Ro Vitale
Ro Vitale Adversity: Diagnosed with severe OCD Advocacy: Speaks, writes and sings in English and Spanish to support others with OCD Photo by: Santiago Giovanetti “There’s much beauty in being of service to someone that’s battling the same adversity....
Melody Moezzi
Oct 13, 2014 | Advocate, Bipolar Disorder
Melody Moezzi Adversity: Diagnosed with bipolar disorder Advocacy: Works to reduce the stigma of mental illness as an author, blogger, speaker “The more I speak out and the more extraordinary people I meet who are living with mental illness, the more I...
Katherine Switz
Jul 24, 2014 | Advocate, Bipolar Disorder
Katherine Switz Adversity: Diagnosed with Bipolar I Advocacy: Started a nonprofit that recruits community leaders to talk about their mental illness “It’s empowering to come out of the shadows. It’s great to see our impact on leaders and their impact on...