GRant REcipient

Anitra L. Rice M. Ed., LLMFT is a published author, a dedicated licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, long time educator and founder of The F.O.L. Foundation. She has a fervent commitment to destigmatizing mental health within the Black community. With decades of invaluable experience, initially as an educator and now as a therapist specializing in inner-city families, her journey has been marked by profound impact and transformation. Currently advancing her skills as a trauma therapist, Anitra offers a holistic and tailored approach to healing. Anitra's passion for mindfulness and self-compassion underscores every aspect of her work, fostering environments of growth and empowerment for individual clients as well as for intimate and vast audiences. Beyond her professional endeavors, Anitra finds solace and joy in embodied movement, cherishing moments shared with beloved family, friends, and pets. She is deeply committed to fostering resilience and well-being, both within herself and within the communities she serves.

Twyla Malcom-Gyamfi, LPC, NCC is a Psychotherapist & Embodiment Coach and the owner of a thriving private practice, Twyla Rose & Co., where she empowers divorced or uncoupled women navigating seasonal transitions. Through her specialized approach, she helps client break through mental and emotional barriers to embody their authentic selves—despite generational narratives and societal expectations. With over 13 years of experience in the mental health field, including 10 years working with justice-involved populations, Twyla is also the Behavioral Health & Justice Liaison Supervisor and Jail Diversion Coordinator for the Oakland Community Health Network. In this role, she has spent the past two years fostering collaboration between mental health and justice professionals to create impactful diversion strategies. Twyla holds a Master’s degree in Professional Counseling and a second Master’s in Family Studies from Concordia University Wisconsin. Her work is driven by a deep passion for personal transformation, healing, and advocacy at the intersection of mental health and justice.

David Charles Metler is the Founder of the Swing Set Institute empowering changemakers inspired by the wisdom of childhood and is inspired to be on the board of the FOL Foundation. He has playfully worked in solidarity with leading changemakers in the U.S. and across the globe primarily at the intersection of mental health, youth empowerment, and social change across PK-20 education, parenting, children's hospital's, foster care, and juvenile detention centers. In his free time, David has had some inspiring travel adventures in over 60 countries, is a "Flyin Ostriches" travel blogger with his favorite ostrich/fiance, is in the process of running a marathon on every continent in a unique outfit, and enjoys creating and performing musical comedy with my Mom-son band.

Andre Charley, LMSW, is a clinical therapist, nonprofit leader, educator, and community advocate with over 25 years of experience in social work. He is the founder of Affecting Change Detroit, a nonprofit addressing mental health and educational needs, and Affecting Change, LLC, a private practice serving Metro Detroit since 2009. In January 2025, Andre joined Wayne State University as an Adjunct Professor in the School of Social Work, where he guides the next generation of social workers. He also is the visionary of MANifest, a mental health conference for men of color, launched in partnership with the Wayne State University Association of Black Social Workers and The Black and Latinx Male Social Work Initiative in summer 2024. Andre is particularly passionate about supporting men of color through challenges such as trauma, family dynamics, communication struggles, and life transitions. His work reflects his lifelong commitment to fostering resilience, growth, and positive change in individuals and communities.

Rick Joseph is a Teacher Leader in the Newcomer Program at Harms Elementary School in the Detroit Public Schools Community District. The NCP serves students who have been in the country less than one year. Previously, he taught 5th and 6th grade at Covington School in Birmingham Public Schools and was a Spanish bilingual educator and trainer for nine years in the Chicago Public Schools. He has a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Michigan, a master's degree in elementary education from the University of Illinois - Chicago, and a doctorate in literacy from Walden University. He is a National Board Certified teacher and served as the Michigan Teacher of the Year 2016. Rick loves to travel, read, write, run, take photographs, and cook. He and his wife Mary Beth have three grown children- Zachary, Nicholas, and Mohammed. Their family has hosted 10 exchange students from around the world.

Updates are forthcoming.