Farewell Letter from the President of the Board

Dear NAMI Mississippi Members:

Serving as your Board President for the past four years has been an honor and a privilege. I am so proud of the work you all have done, and continue to do, to serve fellow peers and families across the state. In recent years, we’ve seen an expansion of our affiliates across the state, new partnerships with other organizations and agencies, and an expansion of our services for at-risk youth. All of that even as you continue to invest time and effort into support groups which provide a safe space for working through the challenges of living with mental illness and education programs that develop skills to help our members and fellow Mississippians thrive.

Having completed my second term on our Board of Directors, I am taking some time away to focus on my own mental well-being, but I leave with an abundance of optimism. We have an energized and dedicated Board of Directors, a skilled State Office staff, and a virtual army of dedicated volunteers and stakeholders.

On Saturday, July 25, our new Board elected Mary Harrington of Oxford as your new president. Mary is a brilliant, dedicated advocate for our organization and has served as vice-president for the past two years. She has excellent organizational and leadership skills that will continue to add significant value as she leads our organization.

Earlier this year, the Board hired Sitaniel Wimbley as our Executive Director. Having worked with Sitaniel since she first started with NAMI Mississippi in 2016, I am confident in her commitment to giving her all to continue building an organization that is responsive to the needs of our communities and advocates for the needs of Mississippians living with mental illness and their families.

I hope that I have served you well in my time as president. It has been a humbling experience for me. I’ve had the opportunity to witness first-hand the dedication of our local affiliate leaders, our board members, and our teachers and volunteers. I’m so glad to be part of an organization that shows such love and service to our fellow citizens and speaks up to address not only our own needs, but the needs of Mississippians across our state.

With a grateful heart,

Brett Mayfield, Outgoing President

NAMI Mississippi Board of Directors (July 2016-June 2020)