16 · NAMI MISSISSIPPI
Sylvionna Horton
Marketing & Outreach Specialist
Laykin Register
State Level Youth Engagement Coordinator
Jordan Mahoney
MEET THE STAFF
Sylvionna Horton is a native of Jackson, MS. She is a senior psychology major at Tougaloo College where she also serves as Miss Tougaloo College 2020-2021. Sylvionna aspires to become a clinical psychologist and have her own practice in Jackson. Due to her personal experiences and witnessing how many people are affected by mental illnesses without having the knowledge of proper resources and information, she developed an interest in mental health advocacy. She has hosted many events on her campus that are centered around the importance of mental health and self-awareness for her fellow classmates. She also has a YouTube channel titled “Sweet Talks with Sylvi” where she gives advice and encouragement to students that are facing some of the same challenges that she has during her high school and college experience. Sylvionna wishes to continue to bring awareness and change the stigma about mental health in her community. In her free time, she enjoys reading, watching Netflix, and hanging out with family and friends. Laykin Register is a native of Laurel, MS. Prior to NAMI MS, she served as Youth Peer Support Specialist in a System of Care grant called Crossover XPand, where she worked with youth and young adults ages 3-21 who were in child protective services and/or the juvenile justice system, or at risk for either one. She also served as a CPSS Ambassador for the MS Department of Mental Health. She was on the team to help develop and train the first modules for the youth and young adult peer support training certification. When Open Up Mississippi was first developing, she had the opportunity to be in the group that developed the name, mission and vision statements, and press conferences. She was a key speaker as a peer support specialist for the 2019 Mental Health Awareness Day at the Capital in Jackson, MS. She is currently living with multiple mental health diagnoses. Some of which include: Major Depressive Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and Conversion Disorder. Because of these things, she has devoted her life to youth and young adult mental health. She also enjoys reading, cuddling with her two dogs, and being surrounded by her family and friends. Jordan Mahoney is a native of Minneapolis, Minnesota but has been living in Mississippi since the age of five. While in Mississippi, Jordan has been involved in various community organizing events and activities. Jordan has attended school at Mississippi State University as a business major with a concentration in marketing. She is passionate about digital marketing and launching her business ventures through social media platforms to empower others. Jordan enjoys coloring, listening to music and playing with her puppy, Jayce. She lives in Ridgeland, MS.
Program & Activity Development Specialist
Yasmine Ware is a junior at Madison Central High School. She enjoys singing, songwriting, acting, spending time with friends and family, and she even has a podcast called “Yasmine’s Warehouse.” She is beyond excited to combine her creativity with her passion for mental health advocacy through her role of Graphic Designer of Open Up Mississippi.
Yasmine Ware Graphic Designer
Learn more about Open Up Mississippi at openupms.org.
