The Shield

Join us for a meaningful conversation with Jamella Stroud, a somatic yoga therapist and founder of Sacred Soma Yoga and Therapy. Jamella takes a calm, grounded approach to helping people heal, especially those dealing with trauma, mental health challenges, or growing up around Substance Use Disorder. Her work is all about reconnecting with the body and finding peace through movement and breath.

We talk about her Exhale to Excel Yoga Program for students, her healing retreats in Bali, and what it means to truly listen to your body. Jamella reminds us that even in the chaos, there’s power in slowing down—and that sometimes, healing starts with simply remembering to breathe.

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Elizabeth Norman, Executive Director of Fellowship House, has dedicated over 12 years to helping individuals prepare for recovery and rebuild their lives. Fellowship House is a nonprofit organization that provides comprehensive recovery programs for people struggling with alcoholism, drug addiction, and co-occurring mental health disorders. In this episode, Elizabeth shares the heart behind the work and the importance of meeting people where they are—offering support and resources that lay the foundation for long-term recovery.

As Fellowship House approaches its 60th anniversary, Elizabeth reflects on her journey through the organization and how it has grown to meet the changing needs of the community. From starting her career there to becoming Executive Director, she discusses what it means to be part of this powerful mission and how others can get involved to support and expand its impact.

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Dr. Tamika Holmes is the Founder and Executive Director of Community Care Development Network, a nonprofit rooted in her personal journey. Growing up with challenges that shaped her perspective, Dr. Holmes was inspired to create a space where families feel seen, supported, and empowered to thrive.

In this episode, Dr. Holmes shares how her experiences led to building a strong community resource. She also discusses the services offered by Community Care Development Network and how the power of support and connection helped her become the leader she is today.

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Shaheed Tawheed is a hip-hop artist, advocate, and co-founder of Knowledge, Rhythm, and Understanding (K.R.U.), a foundation that teaches children and teens the core elements of Hip Hop, including deejaying, emceeing, breakdancing, and graffiti art. Shaheed’s love for music and hip-hop, combined with his life experiences and strong family foundation, have shaped him into the man he is today—and he aims to inspire others through his work.

Tune in as Shaheed discusses the importance of using the elements of Hip Hop to teach young people about mental health and positive coping skills. He also highlights how hip-hop is more than mainstream media's portrayal—it's a movement for advocacy and empowerment, showing the power of using your voice to make a difference.

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Join us for an inspiring conversation with Shane Herring, our Champion for the Cause, and Tim Cross, the CEO of Expedited Transport Agency (ETA), the presenting sponsor for the 2025 End Addiction Walk. In this episode, we discuss why they’re passionate about supporting this walk, their personal journeys through battling substance use disorder, and the impact of recovery. Tune in to hear how their dedication is shaping this year’s event and strengthening community connections in the fight against addiction.

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Lindsay Gray is the Executive Director of Bundles of Hope, a nonprofit focused on providing essential resources to mothers and babies in need. What began as a mission to supply diapers has blossomed into a community-driven effort, with Lindsay’s passion and background in nursing at its core. Under her leadership, Bundles of Hope has grown to provide over 10,000,000 diapers, expanding its reach to offer other essential products based on direct feedback from the community.

Tune in as Lindsay shares her story and discusses the significance of caring for both the mother and child, showing how Bundles of Hope’s work goes far beyond just providing diapers—it's about offering holistic support, building a stronger community, and ensuring mothers and babies have the essentials they need to thrive.

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Kelly Greene is the Founder and Executive Director of Food for Our Journey, a nonprofit dedicated to providing food and essential services to the unhoused community. What started as a passion project quickly grew into a vital resource, thanks to Kelly’s faith, dedication, and background in youth ministry.

Tune in as Kelly shares her journey and talks about the importance of taking the time to listen, understand, and build genuine relationships—because their work is about more than just food; it’s about community and compassion.

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Dr. Angela Sullivan is an Assistant Professor and Assistant Dean for Admissions and Enrollment Management for UAB’s School of Public Health. She is also the Board President of the Alabama Suicide Prevention and Resources Coalition (ASPARC), an organization that provides suicide prevention trainings statewide. Angela is a strong advocate for suicide prevention, and through her research, she works to learn more about the factors that lead to suicide and how to prevent it. As part of her advocacy for suicide prevention, she is also passionate about helping others change the language they use when discussing suicide. 

To learn more about ASPARC: https://asparc.org/

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Join us for a conversation with Homewood’s Fire Chief, Brandon Broadhead, who has been vital to the implementation of APC's ONEbox initiative in Central Alabama! 

Chief Broadhead discusses how he became interested in becoming a first responder and his passion for helping others.  In addition to being an advocate for the accessibility of Naloxone, Chief Broadhead is a strong advocate for mental health wellness for not only his first responders, but for all citizens. APC connected with Chief Broadhead through the implementation of APC’s ONEbox initiative. Chief Broadhead was pivotal in making the initiative successful, and has worked to install more than 40 ONEboxes in the City of Homewood as an addition to their AED program.

To learn more about ONEbox visit https://apcbham.org/onebox/ 

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Join us as Dr. Sherri Huff with Birmingham City Schools (BCS) discusses her role in launching wellness initiatives in BCS and helping promote the mental health and wellbeing of all BCS students. 

In addition to being an APC Board Member, Dr. Huff also serves as the Program Specialist for Birmingham City Schools’ Physical, Health, and Driver’s Education programs. Dr Huff is a staunch advocate for mental health wellness for BCS’ students. When it comes to implementing prevention education and mental health education in BCS, Dr. Huff has been pivotal. She discusses why she thinks addressing mental health in BSC’s students is important, and the potential for all BCS students to be successful. 

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