Meet Our Presenters:
Liz Canada
Liz Canada (they/them) is the Advocacy Director at Planned Parenthood of Northern New England and Planned Parenthood New Hampshire Action fund. Liz helps lead New Hampshire’s Reproductive Rights Coalition, which includes incredible organizations and individuals who work hard - and care deeply - about abortion rights and access in the Granite State. Liz previously worked in public education, beginning as a high school English teacher and college instructor in Denver…before students or teachers had smart phones. After teaching, they became a College Advisor, working with seniors on their post-high school plans, including helping them complete the FAFSA. They were the first full-time hire at a Boston nonprofit that focused on family engagement, where Liz coached educators, school leaders, and school districts in how to build positive relationships with their students’ families. They’ve written many education policy memos and reports, some that were fun, some that were not. They have their B.S.Ed in Secondary Education English from Bloomsburg University, their M.A. in English from Seton Hall University, and their M.Ed. in Education Policy and Management from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. They also host a podcast called New Hampshire Has Issues.
Dr. Steven Durost
Steven Durost, PhD, LCMHC, REAT, TEP, TSM Level II Trainer is the Executive Director & Owner of C.R.E.A.T.E! Center for Expressive Arts, Therapy and Education in Manchester, N.H., U.S.A, which employs 25+ counselors and arts-based therapists. C.R.E.A.T.E! is the recipient of the 2010 New Hampshire National Alliance for Mental Illness Award for Systems Change. Steven has been awarded the Heroes of Justice Award by the YWCA Crisis Services for his work with the Male Sexual Abuse Survivor's Group and for being a first responder for human trafficking. Steven is one of the first dozen people in the world to earn a Doctorate in Expressive Art Therapy through Lesley University in Cambridge, MA. and is also adjunct faculty at Lesley University. In learning about trauma work, Steven conducted research, taught courses and created groups in South Africa, Israel, New Zealand, and Australia. Steven is a Registered Art Therapist with the International Expressive Art Therapy Association, and he is the recipient of the 2014 ASGPP's Zerka T. Moreno Award for outstanding achievement in psychodrama. Steven is the only fully trained TSM Psychodrama Level II Trainer and has taught workshops around the world in China, Singapore, Sweden, Denmark, Greece, Croatia, India, and the United States. Steven is also an international show kite flyer and a professional Master's bodybuilder in the 50+ category.
Dr. Samantha Dutra
I have an earned doctorate in education from Endicott College in Higher Education and Leadership. I have been an instructor both online and on ground at Middlesex Community College, Endicott College Van Loan School, Lasell University, Fitchburg State University and Bay State College. I currently teach online for Southern New Hampshire University. In addition to this, I am the Professional Development Coordinator for the New England College Personnel Association. My recent political interests include my position of elected town meeting member for Arlington, member of the equal opportunity committee in Arlington as well as member of the league for women voters of Arlington. I also have participated in many endeavors on capitol hill during representative meetings to voice concerns about the Medicare issues, opioid crisis and community impact.
I have graduated with my Masters in Education, specializing in mental health and addictions counseling from Cambridge College. This educational preparation has enhanced the versed knowledge I acquired in my work experience. I have, conjointly, 20 years of experience in successfully counseling a versatile population, handling a case load of up to 100 clients, and in employee training and supervision - in both counseling and research environments. I had worked in an agency setting for over 10 years. I also provide the licensure supervision to those therapists working towards their licensure. In addition to this, I have been employed as an assistant faculty member for several years by Cambridge College, assisting the Chair of Human Services and Chair of Juvenile Justice. Currently, I am in private practice in Arlington, Massachusetts.
Throughout my career, I have naturally sought out multiplying levels of responsibility, which harbored the advancement of my leadership skills. I was honored to be selected as a guest presenter to speak at the 21st annual conference with the Association for Nontraditional Students in Higher Education (ANTSHE) at Johnson Smith University in North Carolina. I was also selected to present my dissertation results at Harvard University for the International Journal of Arts and Sciences at their annual conference in May 2020. I also have had the liberty to train and supervise other employees in organizational/ customer service, counseling and research techniques. As a leader in many educational and professional roles, I direct both by example and by facilitating a desire to learn and establishing positive, respectively beneficial working relationships in the process. Additionally, I have been frequently recognized for producing work of top-notch quality, working effectively and efficiently within timelines - always with the goal of making a positive impact on the agency and its clients/consumers. A few of the institutions I have worked within include Boston Medical Center, Tufts Medical Center, Department of Mental Health and Department of Development Disabilities.
Gretchen Grappone, LICSW
Gretchen Grappone (she/her/hers), LICSW, is a New York City-based training consultant and clinician specializing in structural change and she is guided by the important work of the Center for Institutional Courage and the Intersectionality Training Institute. Over the past two decades she has worked in clinical, research, educational, and training settings and has always emphasized the importance of providing effective services for people with mental illness and substance use disorders through an intersectional lens.
She has worked as a cognitive behavioral therapist and dialectical behavioral therapist at The Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester in NH, and as an implementation monitor and trainer for a national evidence-based practice implementation project at Dartmouth Psychiatric Research Center. She has facilitated intersectional stigmatization reduction trainings in a variety of healthcare settings in the United States and has served as a subject matter expert on stigma reduction, behavioral health, trauma-informed care, and vocational services interventions for grants funded by SAMHSA, the Endowment for Health, the Department of Veterans Affairs, American Medical Women’s Association, and Ryan White HIV funding.
Gretchen co-wrote the chapter “Recovery Perspectives” in Evidenced-Based Mental Health Practice: A Textbook and has written about stigmatization from her perspective as both a social worker and someone with lived experience of depression for the Journal of Mental Health, Behavioral Health News, and the NAMI Advocate. She advocates for anti-racist, LGBTQ+ affirming, recovery-oriented services and work environments, and is committed to addressing disparities in care with the goal of health equity for all.
Kaitlin Jones
Kaitlin Jones, MSW, CPS, earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from the University of New Hampshire in 2010. She began her career in the nonprofit sector, providing comprehensive wraparound services to individuals and families in need. In 2016, Kaitlin pursued her Master’s Degree in Clinical Social Work at Bridgewater State University, completing the program while continuing to work in the field. After graduation, she shifted her focus to clinical practice, delivering in-home family therapy services.
In 2017, Kaitlin transitioned from the nonprofit world to public education, joining Rochester Middle School as a Student Assistance Counselor. There, she provided substance misuse prevention and early intervention services to students. She earned her Certified Prevention Specialist (CPS) credential in 2019.
In February 2022, Kaitlin became the first Police Social Worker at the Dover Police Department—and the first in the state of New Hampshire to hold such a position. She was promoted to Social Work Unit Supervisor in 2023.
Kaitlin describes feeling more energized in her career than ever before, grateful for the opportunity to develop and shape the Social Work Unit from the ground up. She is proud to be part of a forward-thinking, trauma-informed, and collaborative police department and hopes to inspire other law enforcement agencies to integrate social work into their approach to public safety."
Jermaine Moore
Jermaine Moore is a trusted partner to organizations committed to developing courageous leaders, inclusive teams, and thriving workplace cultures. As the Founder and Principal of The Mars Hill Group, Jermaine brings over two decades of experience in leadership development, team performance, and I&B (Inclusion and Belonging) strategy. He works closely with executives, boards, and staff across industries, from finance and healthcare to education and tech, designing multi-layered programs that blend coaching, training, and organizational strategy. Jermaine’s signature approach integrates mindset work, inclusive leadership, team development, and practical I&B frameworks that move organizations from awareness to action. He is especially known for guiding long-term culture transformations, designing experiential learning sessions, and equipping leaders to model authenticity, clarity, and care in their decision-making. Beyond his consulting work, Jermaine is a board member for the Diversity Workforce Coalition.
Lynne Schmidt
Lynne Schmidt LCSW, is the queer, neurodivergent, disabled, grandchild of a Holocaust survivor, and a therapist with a focus in trauma and healing. They obtained their MSW in 2020 from UNE with Trauma Informed and EFT-1 Certificates. They are the 2025 Maine Arts Fellow for Literary Arts and the author of Dying Dog Poems, The Unaccounted for Circles of Hell, and Dead Dog Poems which was the 2020 New Women's Voices Contest winner, and Gravity, which has been listed as One of the Best Breakup Books of All Time by Book Authority. When given the choice, Lynne prefers her pack of animals to humans.
Sara Sullivan, MA, LCMHC
Sara Sullivan, LCMHC (She/Her) is a mental health clinician and educator who is dedicated to the creation of safer, affirming spaces for LGBTQ+ folks of all ages. Recognized nationally as Counselor of the Year by the American Mental Health Counselors Association, Sara is deeply committed to her clients and to her profession. Sara created and developed the mentoring program within the NH Mental Health Counselors Association and served on the board of directors for more than a decade. In partnership with New Hampshire Outright, Sara founded the Queer Youth Resilience (QYR) project which is an initiative to increase access to informed mental health care for LGBTQ+ clients by training and supporting mental health clinicians. Prior to becoming a clinician, Sara was a participant, Board Member, Program Director, and interim Executive Director for various Outright organizations across New Hampshire. Sara currently runs a private practice in Greenland, New Hampshire where her specialties include EMDR, neurodiversity, and LGBTQ+ informed therapy.
Jennifer Wolfe (Hagstrom), LICSW
Jennifer Wolfe, BS Edu, MSW, LICSW (she/they) is a creative leader, trainer, clinician, supervisor, artist, and change-maker. They provide LGBTQIA+ and NeuroDivergent Affirming clinical psychotherapy, clinical supervision, professional training, and creative expression workshops for helpers and healers. Committed to inspiring self- advocacy for clients and colleagues, Jennifer strives to walk the walk, not just talk the talk and believes that “Role Model” is one of her most important titles. Across multiple mediums Jennifer inspires folx to break cycles of pain and live free, authentic, and joy-filled lives! Jennifer is based in Southern New Hampshire with their kiddo, animals, family (bio & chosen), and friends. Connect with them at KindnessCornerTherapy.com & KindnessCornerStudio.com!
Angela Zhang
Originally hailing from Virginia and now living in Lebanon, NH, Angela Zhang earned her B.A. in Geography at Dartmouth College in 2012 and her Master of Social Work at the University of New England in 2018. From 2017 to 2024, Angela served as the Programs Director at LISTEN Community Services, where she managed a team of service coordinators, a food pantry, and a community dining hall. She now works part-time at the Dartmouth Health Center for Advancing Rural Health Equity and at the Upper Valley Haven. In these roles, she works to deepen community engagement around issues such as poverty, homelessness, and racism. Angela is a founding member and co-chair for Upper Valley Equity and Anti-Racism (UVEAR), which brings together leaders of color to advance racial justice through community-building, advocacy, and leadership development in this region. She also teaches in the undergraduate Social Work program at Plymouth State University. In her spare time, she volunteers as a crisis line advocate and a board member for WISE. In 2022, Angela was named the NH Social Worker of the Year by the New Hampshire chapter of the National Association of Social Workers.