Stronger Than Stigma

Stronger Than Stigma Stronger Than Stigma® (STS) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit headquartered in Jacksonville, FL and dedicated

Stronger Than Stigma® was started by four college students determined to change the way the world views mental health issues. They saw a problem with society and its stigmatization of those diagnosed with mental illnesses. If mental illness is considered a weakness, then people are less likely to embrace a diagnosis and seek treatment. Dealing with mental illness is hard enough; navigating society

's negativity is a burden no one should have to bear. The goal is to empower young adults struggling with mental health issues to continue their personal battles against their illnesses, and in the process prove that no one is alone in this struggle.

Meet our Mental Health Champion, Dr. Kent Wenger! He's been a member of our Advisory Council since Stronger Than Stigma®...
05/14/2025

Meet our Mental Health Champion, Dr. Kent Wenger! He's been a member of our Advisory Council since Stronger Than Stigma®'s inception in 2013. He's kind of a celebrity in STS lore...he is our resident "Myth-Buster." After wowing an audience of 70 students at our first-ever event at UF in Gainesville, we kept him on speed-dial. A captivating speaker, an amazing listener, and an all-around encouraging human is who this person is. He saves lives daily, but that might not even come up in conversation. Thank you, Dr. Wenger!!

Read more about what makes him awesome:
Dr. Wenger is a private practice psychiatrist in Gainesville, FL and staff psychiatric consultant to the VA in Lake City, FL. He graduated from the University of California, Irvine's College of Medicine and did his residency at the University of Florida (Go Gators!). He's also a diplomate on the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. He specializes in mood, anxiety, psychosis, and the human equation, using psychotherapy integrated with psychopharmacotherapy, with a special interest in hypnotherapy.

Read more about what makes him awesome:
Dr. Wenger is a private practice psychiatrist in Gainesville, FL and staff psychiatric consultant to the VA in Lake City, FL. He graduated from the University of California, Irvine's College of Medicine and did his residency at the University of Florida (Go Gators!). He's also a diplomate on the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. He specializes in mood, anxiety, psychosis, and the human equation, using psychotherapy integrated with psychopharmacotherapy, with a special interest in hypnotherapy.

Meet our Mental Health Champion! We are excited to honor Dennis Chan for his dedication to Stronger Than Stigma® over th...
05/14/2025

Meet our Mental Health Champion! We are excited to honor Dennis Chan for his dedication to Stronger Than Stigma® over the years. This man has the biggest heart and has been in our corner since Day 1. He used to host our Board Meetings, feed us, and made us feel like part of the family. His unwavering commitment to mental health and to STS in particular is amazing. Thank you, Dennis!!

Read more about what makes him awesome:
Dennis Chan has been cooking since he was old enough to stand on a stepstool and watch his grandfather prepare meals in the family’s restaurant on the Southside of Jacksonville.

Seeing his grandfather add a unique twist by marrying modern American flavors with traditional Chinese ingredients fascinated young Dennis. And his food-centric upbringing sparked a passion for cooking that led him to the University of Florida and then the Culinary Institute of America. Following international travel, working in guest relations at the WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT, Managing restaurants, and an internship at Chef Ming Tsai’s Blue Ginger in Boston, he returned to his hometown and embarked on a successful career as a chef and restaurateur. He launched Blue Bamboo in 2005 and has been delighting a devoted clientele ever since.

Chef Dennis, also the bestselling author of Hip Asian Comfort Food, and Let’s Eat, is the 2018 winner of General Mills’ Neighborhood to Nation Recipe Contest and a frequent volunteer for community events such as Caring Chefs, which raises money annually to benefit Children’s Home Society. He and his wife Elizabeth are the proud parents of two boys.

Meet our next Mental Health Champion! We are excited to honor Marvin Carter for his dedication to Stronger Than Stigma® ...
05/14/2025

Meet our next Mental Health Champion! We are excited to honor Marvin Carter for his dedication to Stronger Than Stigma® over the years. Without even knowing who we were and what we stood for, Marvin put in HOURS to make a long-distance dream of ours a reality. Quite literally, TLR NYC would not have happened without you, Marvin! We are eternally grateful to you and to the angels who brought you into STS' life in the nick of time!

Read more about what makes him awesome:
Born in New Haven, Connecticut and grew up in Roanoke, Virginia. Graduated from high school and began working with Roanoke City transportation department. Met my beautiful wife in 2007 and relocated to Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina. Attended North Carolina Dental School and began working in the dental field. Spent the majority of my career in both transportation and dentistry. Started Axe and Ladder in 2022, living out every little boy's dream of having a fire truck. Continue to provide care and comfort to people in dentistry and fun and laughter to those on the Firetruck (rent it for all your firetruck party needs)!

Meet our Mental Health Champion! We are excited to honor Dr. Chelsea Toler (she got her PhD, y'all!!) for her dedication...
05/13/2025

Meet our Mental Health Champion! We are excited to honor Dr. Chelsea Toler (she got her PhD, y'all!!) for her dedication to Stronger Than Stigma® over the years. This woman jumps in to help with her whole heart and it's evident in everything she does...case in point: she's flying in to be present for us and to receive her award IRL. The warm & fuzzies are alive and well. Thank you for being who you are and for taking STS with you wherever you go!

Read more about what makes her awesome:
Passion for supporting impact movements and accelerating impact journeys through community building and education has been the driving force behind Chelsea Toler’s career. Chelsea has always been excited about lifelong learning and helping the learner’s journey to ensure they have access to the mentorship, capital, technology, and support tools they need to succeed. Chelsea serves as the President of her Family’s Foundation focused on supporting sustainable philanthropy, next gen education, and intergenerational impact collaborations worldwide. Their newest initiative is focused on launching Logic Centers for Peace, Purpose, and Prosperity alongside some of the world’s leading philanthropic families. Chelsea also serves as the Co-Founder for Logictry focused on elevating a global network of top experts elevating human reasoning in the era of AI.

Chelsea grew up in Austin, TX where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Texas. Chelsea received her PhD in Professional Adult and Community Education with a research focus on next gen women inheritors. Chelsea has been able to help move $100+ million towards impact initiatives in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and served as the first fundraising team member for I Live Here I Give Here where she helped to raise $20+ million in 24 hours for 750 nonprofit organizations as a part of the Amplify Austin Day campaign.

It is most important to Chelsea that unparalleled next gen leaders like Gabrielle Magid have access to the mentorship, education, technology, expertise communities, capital resources, and platforms necessary to reach their full potential and to share their purpose with the world.

Meet our Mental Health Champion! We are excited to honor Mr. Daniel Davis for his dedication to Stronger Than Stigma® ov...
05/13/2025

Meet our Mental Health Champion! We are excited to honor Mr. Daniel Davis for his dedication to Stronger Than Stigma® over the years. Having a mentor, advocate AND friend in the business community is special. Daniel has shown unwavering support for STS and its innovative approach to mental health, especially for next gens. Just ask him to pitch what we do... you'll be sold! Thank you for everything, Daniel--you rock.

Read more about what makes him awesome:
Daniel was named President and CEO in 2013 and his focus on promoting business-friendly policy, growing an entrepreneurial culture and reaching out to our entire community has led to significant membership increases during his tenure.
Prior to joining the Chamber, Daniel was executive director of the Northeast Florida Builders Association (NEFBA), Florida’s largest local membership trade association representing the building and construction industry in Duval, Clay, Nassau and St. Johns counties.

Daniel previously served on the Jacksonville City Council and was elected President of the Council in 2007 – the youngest person to serve in this capacity. He also served for four years in the State House of Representatives representing District 15, which encompasses parts of Duval County.

Daniel serves on the board of several local and statewide organizations, including Space Florida, First Coast YMCA and the Monique Burr Foundation.

Daniel is married to his wife of 27 years, Rebekah Davis and they have 4 children.

Meet our Mental Health Champion! We are excited to honor Eboné Holloway for her dedication to Stronger Than Stigma® over...
05/13/2025

Meet our Mental Health Champion! We are excited to honor Eboné Holloway for her dedication to Stronger Than Stigma® over the years. She is a gift to all who know her and being a Mental Health Advocate is part of her DNA; she's been "all in" since learning about STS' unique mission that focuses on millennials (and all the next gens to come!). Eboné camped out TLR NYC showing her support daily, helped rally the community and even made sure her Mama got to experience the magic. We love you, Eboné, and we'll be singing your praises here in JAX on Thursday! Thank you for everything!!

And anotha' one! We're thrilled to honor Kedgar Volta as our next Mental Health Champion. Kedgar has been on the frontli...
05/13/2025

And anotha' one! We're thrilled to honor Kedgar Volta as our next Mental Health Champion. Kedgar has been on the frontlines of all things Stronger Than Stigma® for years. He speaks "Gabster" very well and has the ability to translate her feelings and ideas into reality. Together STS and Castaño Group have revolutionized the mental health space by bringing joy, awe, and humor to life in an immersive experience that fosters dialogue. If you've ever stepped foot in The Living Room™, you've felt the magic only a STS x CG partnership can create. Kedgar is a renaissance man and there's nothing he can't do. The whole team loves you, Kedgar! Thank you for everything!!

Read more here:
Kedgar Volta was born in Cuba, and studied at the Superior Institute of Design in Havana before immigrating to the United States in 2008. Since living in Florida, Volta draws inspiration from a dual cultural perspective, creating multi-media and photographic works that represent disparate lives and environments, while serving as narrative that reminds us of our common humanity. The work also reflects his understanding of art as a vehicle to bring form-shaping movement to the fragmented reality of our internal landscapes, in order to offer a sense of purpose and meaning through the prism of the self.

Volta is founder and creative director of the experience design company, Castano Group in Jacksonville, Florida. He has participated in several group and solo exhibitions throughout Florida and was selected for the Crystal Bridges Museum of Art's 2014-15 State of the Art: Discovering American Art Now exhibition currently traveling throughout the country.

Next up:Ms. Pat Hogan RN, LMHC! We're fairly certain she invented  ; her wisdom, candor, & care shine through in every c...
05/12/2025

Next up:Ms. Pat Hogan RN, LMHC! We're fairly certain she invented ; her wisdom, candor, & care shine through in every conversation. She's an invaluable member of our team and a Champion, no doubt.[word limit😢]

Read more here:
Pat Hogan is a registered nurse and licensed mental health counselor. She received her BA degree from the University of Florida and her master’s degree in counseling from Nova University. Pat has worked in health and wellness promotion including several years with Johnson & Johnson Health Management Inc. as an account executive. She has been in private practice and most recently worked in the Employee Assistance Program field doing crisis and short-term counseling for companies and corporations.

Hogan has also served as a senior advisor to the organization Stronger than Stigma , a nonprofit designed and dedicated to Next Gen mental health advocacy. She is a leader with the American Children’s Campaign, a Florida focused child advocacy charitable organization with a 56-year history dating back to its origins. Hogan is a member of its citizen led Leadership Circle of Uniting for Children & Youth which combines research and policy in agenda setting. She is also intricately engaged in the Even Justice initiative spearheading reforms across systemic siloes where children with mental health needs go unrecognized or untreated and are unnecessarily involved in the dependency or justice system. Hogan’s early involvement launched the Even Justice effort.

Among her many professional distinctions and affiliations, Hogan served as a member of the Sheriff’s Task Force for the JSO Crisis Intervention Project and as an advisor and founder of the Mental Health Advocacy Project for Jacksonville Legal Aid, Inc. She is a past board member of Planned Parenthood of Northeast Florida, the WJCT Board of Trustees, and a co-chair of the first capital campaign for the Mali Vai Washington Youth Foundation. She also served on the executive board of the Jacksonville Community Council, Inc. where she chaired the Implementation Task Force for the multi-year Mental Health Study. She is a member of the American and Florida Mental Health Counselors Associations.

Meet our Mental Health Champion! We are excited to honor Mr. Jay Handline for his dedication to Stronger Than Stigma® ov...
05/11/2025

Meet our Mental Health Champion! We are excited to honor Mr. Jay Handline for his dedication to Stronger Than Stigma® over the years. He stumbled into The Living Room™ in JAX in 2019 and he's been by our side ever since. Jay is impossible to sum up in a few words...you can't put him in a box, and why would you want to? He's a ninja! Thank you for everything, Jay!

Read more about what makes him awesome:
Jay's career has had an entrepreneurial focus with involvement in the creation of several successful businesses and teams in Health, Sports and Entertainment. He has significant experience in digital development, consumer and professional engagement, strategic technology planning, and SaaS solutions and platform creation.

He has extensive knowledge in the Health, Sports and Entertainment industries along with the "players" and uniquely positioned to assist business owners and executive management in developing and planning for successful business growth.

Jay is an experienced and diverse business development consultant who creates customer value and drives profitable growth by innovatively improving the health of organizations and the population they serve.

Meet our Mental Health Champion! We are excited to honor Mrs. Delores Barr Weaver (our Queen / the GOAT) for her dedicat...
05/11/2025

Meet our Mental Health Champion! We are excited to honor Mrs. Delores Barr Weaver (our Queen / the GOAT) for her dedication to Stronger Than Stigma® over the years. Fun fact: she gave STS our first grant in 2018 to underwrite The Nobody's Happy Comedy Tour. The idea of comedy for mental health cracked her up and it's been big love ever since. We're grateful for you and your continued support, Mrs. Weaver!

Read more about what makes her awesome:
Delores Barr Weaver has an extraordinary legacy of philanthropy in Northeast Florida since moving to Jacksonville as co-owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 1993. Since her historic gift of $50 million in 2012 establishing the Delores Barr Weaver Legacy Fund, she has partnered with The Community Foundation on her philanthropy through numerous, multi-million dollar gifts, including the Foundation’s largest-ever gift of $61 million in 2023. She has established designated funds for more than four dozen nonprofits, including 20 that receive ongoing annual support through the Delores Barr Weaver Forever Event Fund, est. 2015. Today, her grantmaking exceeds $220 million, with support for more than 300 organizations in Northeast Florida and beyond.

Allow us to introduce you to the recipients of the 2025 Mental Health Champion Awards 🏆👏🙌🫶 These humans have all moved m...
05/08/2025

Allow us to introduce you to the recipients of the 2025 Mental Health Champion Awards 🏆👏🙌🫶 These humans have all moved mountains and shown up for us in their own unique ways over our 12 years of existence. We feel lucky to know them and grateful to work together on our mental health mission of making sure everyone feels the power of knowing they’re not alone. Come cheer on these rockstars at our Concert + Conversation event on Thursday, May 15th at 7:30pm. 🎟️ Ticket link in bio.🎟️ See you there!!

Concert + Conversation 2025 is gonna be 🔥🔥🔥 Check out this line up! Check out this venue! Check out our partners in all ...
04/30/2025

Concert + Conversation 2025 is gonna be 🔥🔥🔥 Check out this line up! Check out this venue! Check out our partners in all things music!

The ticket link is LIVE 🎟️ (link in bio) Grab yours and get ready to feel things! 🧠🫶

Thursday, May 15th
Doors: 6:30pm
Program: 7:30-9:30pm
Blue Jay Listening Room

+ the Mental Health Champion Awards🏆 super excited to honor the people who’ve gone above and beyond to make sure we succeed.

Address

2457 South Third Street, Jacksonville Beach, FL
Jacksonville Beach, FL
32250

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