Dr. Da’Mond Holt is an author, researcher, clinician and national trauma expert, Certified Traumatologist through Traumatology Institute, and a Certified Mental Health Specialist, Trauma Crisis Specialist through the American School Counselor’s Association, and a Licensed Restorative Practice/ Justice Trainer through IIRP. He is a Board-Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner through American Academy of Functional Health and American Association of Drugless Practitioners and member of the Institute of Functional Medicine.
Dr. Holt is also the trauma expert and part of this year’s faculty for the 2023 Judicial Conference of the Arizona Supreme Court. He will be responsible for training the AZ Judiciary in Trauma-Informed Care for the courts.
Dr. Holt is Amen’s University Licensed Brain Health Trainer. His work and research are an asset-based approach to trauma that has a strong focus on resilience above trauma instead of a deficit-based approach. Chronic Stress, Complex Trauma, PTSD, and Long-Term Grief can have neurological and psychological effects that can impair brain development in children, adolescence, and adults. We must ensure that individuals with trauma are supported with the latest and most robust strategies for not just surviving trauma but thriving above trauma.
“Trauma may not be your fault, but certainly it is our responsibility to heal from it. If we don’t heal from our trauma, we will bleed on people that didn’t cut us. Hurting people, hurt people.” ~ Dr. Holt
Dr. Da’Mond Holt also the founder, president, and CEO of Fresh Start International. Fresh Start is a faith-based non-profit organization that helps at-risk youth in the school to prison pipeline and the formerly incarcerated adult population to rebuild, redevelop, and restart their lives with providing felony-friendly job, and housing. Plus help people with felony records to restore their voter’s rights, expunge their convictions, and resolve pending warrants. Last year, Dr. Holt and is organization was able to serve 1,000 people at his lost Fresh Start Expo event without no being arrested or brought into custody. The Fresh Start Expo is Tucson’s largest public safety event.
Dr. Holt is the host of FRESH START SHOW/PODCAST with Dr. Holt. A show and podcast that discusses the struggles of the formerly incarcerated and the need for justice reform every Saturday mornings at 7:30am on 106.3 FM THE GROOVE.
Finally, Dr. Holt is the Senior Pastor of the Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church in Tucson, Az and an accomplished published author with three books.
Heysha Rodriguez is a Behavior Interventionist, originally from Puerto Rico, and has been in Georgia for 12 years. With a Bachelor’s in Psychology from the University of Puerto Rico and a Master’s in Educational Psychology from the University of Alabama, Heysha has gained vast amounts of experience working with diverse populations inside and outside the academic setting. More importantly, Heysha has had over eight years of hands-on experience in educational settings working in multiple Georgia school districts. Within this role, she helped create a positive school environment for students and staff through the management of PBIS programs that earned a distinguished rating for several consecutive years, successfully implemented positive behavioral interventions, and effectively trained personnel to implement these. Additionally, Heysha has created successful programs for behavior management and social skills that use research-based interventions and supports. Her knowledge of Functional Behavior Assessments and Behavior Intervention Plans has assisted in increasing school-wide appropriate behaviors.
Heysha is passionate about working with cultural minorities. Being a cultural and racial minority has allowed her to understand and help culturally diverse students in the academic environment, school administration, and their parents. Outside of work, Heysha loves experiencing nature. She is an avid trail runner and hiker and enjoys rock climbing and camping. Her husband and Dobermann, named Jäger, often accompany her on these adventures.
Throughout my career in education, I have worked as both a building level and district level administrator. Within these roles, many years of my work focused on classroom management and behavior interventions. I earned my Educational Specialist degree through Georgia Southern University. Currently I provide district and organizational level consulting and training in various content including: Mindset, Restorative Practices, PBIS, Trauma-Informed Care and Behavior Management.
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Jimmy began working in the field of mental health and substance use over 20 years ago. He has always had a passion for working with people in reaching their goals and potential. His career has consisted of being involved in serving individuals in community mental health and staff development. Earning a degree in Criminal Justice from East Carolina University, he began his career as a counselor working for the Division of Youth Service (DYS). In this role he worked as a counselor for adolescents in the NC juvenile detention centers. While there, he became certified as a NC criminal justice instructor. Jimmy provided training for the detention center and training school staff. His training areas were suicide wareness/prevention, documentation and crisis management. Making a decision to transition into working in the NC community mental health and substance system, Jimmy returned to East Carolina to earn a degree in Social Work. Jimmy has held both clinical and administrative positions in outpatient treatment, community based services, school settings and 24-hour residential programs. Since 2014, Jimmy has served as the Director of Training and Staff Development for PORT Health Services. In 2022, he began a new role as Director of Behavioral Health Care Management while continuing to be involved in staff training. Jimmy has been involved with Mindset Safety Management for over 5 years as an instructor. For the past 3 years, he has brought his experience with training, staff development, program development and behavioral health to his role as an instructor trainer for Mindset Safety Management.
With a background in special education and degrees from the University of Georgia, David delivers the MindSet Safety Management Curriculum in order to certify trainers in districts across the nation. In addition, he provides district and organizational level consulting and training in various content including: Behavior Management, Collaborative Teaching, Data Analysis, Restorative Practices, PBIS, Trauma-Informed Care, and Tier I Teacher Coaching.
David’s most recent role as Coordinator of Behavior Supports for a diverse Title I school district adds to experience in leadership and teaching roles across various settings and specialized programs within public schools. He’s also worked in emergency shelters, therapeutic residential settings, and a school which is part of the Georgia Network for Educational and Therapeutic Support (GNETS).
David is married to Kathryn, an inspirational educator in her own right. They have four children and reside in Athens, GA.