We formed our organization to create an inclusive environment to bring trauma-focused therapeutic community spaces to at-risk youth and adults around the world.
TFTC Gardens Board of Directors
“Creativity is intelligence having fun.” Albert Einstein
Jayanthi Raghu is the CEO & Founder at Kryssalis Creators LLC in Durham, NC. She has a Bachelors in Sociology and a master’s in psychology, as well as a diploma in counseling from India. She has experience working with adults with Autism and Down Syndrome in Utah. She developed an interest in Technology and pursued a program at Moore College in Philadelphia. Her personal interest in technology along with a certificate program from MIT in Design Thinking helped her to establish a software services company in 2011.
Jayanthi has interest in software and is passionate about utilizing her creative thinking skills and software knowledge to impact the community in a positive way. Her passion is social entrepreneurship. She also runs a local community group for parents of teens to share knowledge on looking for signs of depression and anxiety among teens.
As CEO of Kryssalis Creators LLC, Jayanthi leads a team of software developers and analysts to conceptualize, design and develop software tools for the Department of Transportation and Healthcare. Jayanthi also works with educational institutions by building learning management systems.
“You must be the change you want to see in the world.” Mahatma Gandhi
Marsha Hill earned her Bachelor of Social Work at Fayetteville State University. Currently, she is a student at Walden University where she will earn her Master of Social Work. Upon graduation, she will obtain her Doctorate of Social Work at the University of Southern California. Marsha is a Member of the National Honors Society and National Association of Black Social Workers. With a passion to help others, Marsha is a youth mentor and social advocate.
Marsha recently has focused her attention to the TFTC Gardens. Brought on as a volunteer, Marsha loved the mission and vision of TFTC Gardens and is very excited to be a part of the team.
Jane Ann Miller has a Master of Public Health degree in community mental health administration, a BS in psychology, and fourteen years of experience in community mental health programs. She served primarily as a child mental health case manager in urban areas of Pennsylvania and rural counties in NC. As a case manager, she served high-risk children and adults and interfaced with medical providers, schools, the court system, detention centers, mobile crisis, and crisis bed programs. Other duties included being a community and state hospital liaison and an outreach therapist.
Since joining the state’s Division of Public Health’s Injury and Violence Prevention Branch in 2000, she most notably served as the state’s Project Director for the federal youth suicide prevention grant known as Garrett Lee Smith from 2008-2015. Jane has conducted countless presentations and provided guidance to citizens, professionals, and agencies about suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention.
Andrew Markoch serves as the Director of Fine Arts and Innovation for the Vance County Schools in Henderson, NC. This is his third career in education having taught instrumental music for fifteen years in Ohio and served as a building level principal/assistant principal for fifteen years in North Carolina prior to moving into this position.
Among the many hats that he has worn has been the lead administrator for a ninth-grade center both on and off of the main school campus and in this role, he was able to facilitate moving students forward both academically and socially as they transitioned through this critical learning year. Mr. Markoch is passionate about finding opportunities for students that allow them to develop their own skills and talents. He has been married to his wife Lora for 30 years and has two adult children.
Neil Donnelly is an ACMA/CIMA qualified Finance Professional with over 20 years working in various roles within Global organizations across multiple countries. Currently holding the position of FP&A Director at Victra, a $1.5bn Turnover national retailer in Raleigh, NC.
Neil has had an active involvement in supporting Suicide Prevention and advocating for Mental Health throughout his life, including volunteering for many events and charities including Students in mind, Pride, AFSP, and international Sanity Fair. Neil has served as Treasurer for Students in Mind and is currently Treasurer for the NC Chapter of The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
TFTC Gardens Leadership
“Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much.” – Helen Keller
“The success of this project is that everyone has a valuable part to play. These gardens are being built by the community for the community. They are owned by the community and valued by the community. The aim is to celebrate everyone involved every step of the way. Life is about celebrating the little things which, when gathered together, become the most valuable things – they are the essence of what creates shared happiness.” – Natasha Donnelly
Natasha Donnelly is an RN, completed her training as a Registered Midwife, has a post-graduate certificate in Education for Higher Education students, and a Sociologist with a Ph.D. in Suicide Prevention. Natasha has been actively involved as part of the healthcare team, advocate, researcher and educator in mental health settings for many years at Juvenile Justice and Psychiatric Facilities working with at-risk populations in England, Africa and now the USA. Natasha has been involved with suicide prevention since 2000. Her international work included being an Adviser for the First Suicide Prevention Strategy for England. Natasha received a Department of Health Section 64 Grant and founded the UK mental health charity Students in Mind.
Natasha has been an active collaborator in many statewide multi-disciplinary initiatives in North Carolina. In 2002, Natasha received The Mind Millenium Fellowship, a lifetime achievement award by the Millenium Commission, for her work in the field researching mental health issues, suicide prevention and strategies for young people. In 2003, she received The Star People and the Scarman Trust Awards for her work with young people living with mental health issues. Natasha is passionate about designing initiatives to promote Trauma-Focused care and has been involved in therapeutic designs of indoor and outdoor spaces since 2004.
In 2014 Natasha began researching the concept of Trauma-Focused Sensory Gardens and in 2016 took the idea to Juvenile Justice! In 2017 Natasha approached NC State University and was directed to Anne Spafford and her students. They joined the project to add horticultural expertise to North Carolina’s first Trauma-Focused Therapeutic Garden for Juvenile Justice settings. Natasha is proud to be a Board Member of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and an advisor for the Legacy Committee for the new Dorothea Dix Park in Raleigh, NC.
“We change the world by changing ourselves.” Lucia Rene
Anna Campbell has a BA in Communication/Public Relations and is currently earning her MBA in international business affairs. She has 18 years of social entrepreneurship experience and has served within numerous community organizations focused on economic development, mental health awareness, and community development. As a business professional and volunteer, she has provided business development resources, project management services, and community outreach organization. During Anna’s time volunteering with the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention (AFSP) in Fuquay-Varia from 2014 to 2018 she was trained to provide immediate assistance to individuals expressing signs of mental health distress and suicidal behavior.
Emily Cornell is currently a student at Wake Young Women’s Leadership Academy and an Early College student at St. Augustine’s University. Is a certified specialist in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. Is a cadet in the Civil Air Patrol, a member of Future Business Leaders of America, and of National Honor Society. She is very dedicated to helping and serving her community in any way possible and hopes to better it for the future. And is super delighted to be working as an intern for us, and hopes to educate the world on what we do here at TFTC Gardens.
“In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he thinks” – John Muir
Riley Hickman is a recent Duke University Graduate working in the RTP area as an AmericaCorps member while building a small landscape and garden business as he prepares for continued education and research. During his undergraduate studies in chemistry and biology, he became enthralled with the relationships between plants and humans, particularly the physiological health benefits associated with green spaces. He is more than excited to be a part of the TFTC gardens team and will be aiding in garden design, consultation, and implementation.
“The need for connection and community is primal, as fundamental as the need for air, water, and food.” Dean Ornish
Juliette Holden has a Masters of Science in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management with an emphasis in Therapeutic Recreation. Juliette has over a decade of experience working with adolescents in a state run PRTF as a LRT/CTRS (Licensed Recreational Therapist/Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist) where she ran trauma responsive social and life skills groups. Juliette also earned her Bachelor of Science in Equestrian studies with an emphasis in teaching/training. Juliette has been certified with the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International for over 20 years and is a Credentialed Therapeutic Riding Instructor at the Advanced level as well as a Mentor and an Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning.
Juliette blended her passion of helping and building relationships with troubled youth and her passion for horses and understanding of the importance of natural settings to mental health when she collaborated with the North Carolina Therapeutic Riding Center to launch an Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy pilot program and provided ongoing Therapeutic Riding to the residents from the PRTF. Since then Juliette has moved into educating the next generation of Therapeutic Riding Instructors and currently holds a faculty position at St Andrews University. Juliette is also the Program Director of the St Andrews University Ride Like A Knight Therapeutic Horsemanship program. Juliette has been a supporter of the gardens since working alongside Natasha Donnelly at the PRTF.
“Rather than being your thoughts and emotions, be the awareness behind them.” -Eckhart Tolle
Madalyn Miller holds a Masters of Arts in Adolescent Psychology and a Bachelor’s of Science in Recreational Therapy. She has worked with adolescents in the only state run Residential Psychiatric Treatment Facility as an LRT/CTRS (Licensed Recreational Therapist/Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist) where she runs trauma informed groups in areas such as life skills, stress and frustration management, social skills, as well as, teaching the adolescents how to cope effectively in a positive manner rather than engaging in maladaptive behaviors.
Trauma informed care is a different approach that takes in to account what someone has been through and creating interventions to be used without re-traumatizing that person. Madalyn has been working with Natasha Donnelly since 2013 on creating a place for adolescents to be able to cope better with their traumas that were aesthetically pleasing and calming, with a focus on adolescents who are in out of home placement. Madalyn has been a supporter of the Therapeutic Gardens from the very beginning and is excited to see it become a reality.
Michael S. Williams fosters community engagement through his work as a consultant and through the Black On Black Project, a nonprofit he founded that works with artists on exhibitions and events that unpack issues affecting the community.
Williams spent 15 years in media at The News & Observer in Raleigh where, among several roles, he was the curator of ArtsNowNC and managing editor of the triangle.com and Triangle Today publications.