Akisha Brown is the founder and CEO of Fight for Your Life. She earned an Associates of Arts in Accounting from Fayetteville Technical Community College in 2020. She is currently pursuing a Bachelors of Arts in Business Administration at UNC Pembroke. She has over 20 years of experience in Financial Services holding multiple roles in the banking industry.  She has six (6) children, Imani, Jameel, Jamaal, Kameron, Keith Jr. and Keigan and several grandchildren. She enjoys spending time with her family, crafting, gardening and reading.  

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In 2022, she lost her 22-year-old son, Jameel Holmes, a first responder who served as an EMT, and a Firefighter in the NC Army National Guard and for the City of Wilson. A few months later, she lost her loving husband of 15 years, Keith Brown. Keith was a Dental Assistant Instructor/Technician who provided services to many organizations including the NC Army National Guard ensuring the dental and deployment readiness for Soldiers. Both losses were the tragic result of suicide.

 

“Originally, I wouldn't discuss the details surrounding Jameel’s death. I was concerned that his suicide would overshadow his service in the community, that his death would become the gossip around town. However, when we lost Keith shortly thereafter, also to suicide, I realized suicide was indeed a bigger problem that needed to be addressed and talked about it. Fight for Your Life was created as a result of these tragedies. My personal goal is to spread awareness of suicide, to make suicide a topic of conversation and to ultimately save lives and prevent the heartache and pain suffered by the family and friends of those who’ve lost the battle to suicide.”

 

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”  Genesis 5:20 

 

Felisha Jefferson is a Registered Nurse with more than 20 years of Nursing and healthcare delivery experience in a variety of clinical and community settings. She received a certificate in Adult Mental Health First Aid issued by the National Council for Behavioral Health in March of 2021. She has answered a calling to participate in initiatives designed to help eliminate the stigma associated with mental health challenges, to educate the community regarding how to identify early warning signs of suicidal ideation, and how to intervene promptly and effectively when individuals are in a crisis situation.  She has made a personal commitment to serving the community by providing an avenue by which education, tools, and resources can be shared and accessible to individuals in need.

 

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”  Proverbs 3:5-6

 

Linda Boone is a retired clinical researcher with more than 40 years of experience in medical research, laboratory budget management, and laboratory science. She completed the QPR Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Program on January 21, 2023. Her goal is to help eliminate the stigma of mental health, to help friends and families identify the warning signs of suicidal ideation and to help provide valuable resources for individuals and/or families in crisis.

 

Mykayla Hamilton is a graduate from North Carolina Central University, where she received her degree in Business with a focus in Hospitality and Tourism Management. Mykayla is a resident of Dallas, Texas, where she is currently working in Talent Acquisitions for a major Tax firm. While at North Carolina Central University Mykayla was crowned Miss Residential Life 2016-2017. She also was a Student Ambassador for Spiritual Development and Dialogue, member of the National Society of Minorities in Hospitality (NSMH) and a member of the Chancellors Information Technology Planning Committee (ITPC). While in Dallas, Mykayla was a member of Circle of Friends, a LHS mentoring program for kids with disabilities and also an active volunteer for over 5 years with Community Partners of Denton County, Inc. As a volunteer for Community Partners, Mykayla helped coordinate the annual Walk against Child Abuse each April during Child Abuse Awareness month, as well as, assist with annual Thanksgiving Basket giveaway. Mykayla was also the Community Impact Chair for the North Texas Jack and Jill Teens - where she coordinated food drives and food bank volunteers, and other activities to promote teens to volunteer in the local community. 

 

Keigan Aabel-Brown has led several initiatives geared at supporting the mental and behavioral health of economically disadvantaged and exploited communities in West Virginia. Keigan received his master's degree in clinical social work from Marshall University and has dedicated his professional career to serving historically oppressed and marginalized populations in West Virginia through public education and system change. He is also an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. Previous to his commitment to West Virginia, Keigan served as a training and technical assistance specialist for the Office for Victims of Crime and the Office on Trafficking in Persons, building capacity in service provision for individuals who were victims of crime or had lived experience with human trafficking. Keigan loves to travel and enjoys hiking and reading.

 

Imani Holmes is a Human Resource Specialist for the North Carolina National Guard as an Active Guard Reserve (AGR) Soldier. She also serves as an Equal Opportunity Leader and Suicide Intervention Officer for the organization. She has completed a magnitude of training tailored to suicide prevention and intervention to include Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) and Ask, Care, Escort - Suicide Intervention (ACE-SI). She has a drive to constantly educate her peers and subordinates.