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Resilience Wellness Association
Our Vision
A world that guarantees equitable access to mental health and wellness services.
Our Mission
To provide mental health and wellness services that empower individuals and unite communities.
Who We Are
Resilience Wellness Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to providing equitable access to mental health and wellness services for veterans, people with a history of substance use, and individuals with a less than fortunate background.
Located in Knoxville, Tennessee, we strive to listen to the needs of our community and provide the resources and support needed to drive long-lasting societal change. Many groups of people are faced with barriers and challenges that limit their ability to access mental health and wellness services. At Resilience Wellness Association, we work to eliminate these barriers by addressing the specific challenges that underserved and underrepresented groups are facing. We aim to address the needs of those who are most in need of stability, and prioritize individuals who are transitioning back into society from alcohol and drug rehab, prison, mental health facilities, and other living situations.
At Resilience Wellness Association we strive to carry out our mission to provide mental health and wellness services that empower individuals and unite communities. In doing so, we are confident that we will achieve our vision of a world that guarantees equitable access to mental health and wellness services.
Who We Serve
Resilience is dedicated to being a helpful resource and support system for individuals with
various backgrounds, circumstances, and mental health needs. In order to best support the
community, we focus on supporting people who are faced with unique challenges that prevent
them from receiving mental health care. Our dedication to equity means that we analyze the
challenges that are specific to each individual in order to find the best solution. By prioritizing
those who are the least likely to have access to mental health and wellness services, we
cultivate a community in which each person is equally valued with the goal of creating a more
equitable mental health system.
The primary groups we serve include:
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Veterans
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People with a history of substance use
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Individuals struggling with mental health issues
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Those with a less than fortunate background
We strive to remove the unique barriers that prevent individuals within these groups from
receiving mental health and wellness services. Our Resources & Support platform is there for
people who are looking to get help for themselves or others who are struggling. The platform
is geared toward simplifying the process of getting help by providing a comprehensive list of
resources.
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The resources we provide include:
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crisis support hotlines
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drug and alcohol treatment centers
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transitional living facilities
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therapy and counseling services
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group support meetings
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treatment referral services
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and more
Our News platform is dedicated to providing easily accessible mental health information. The platform provides comprehensive mental health information, helpful tips and tricks, mindfulness exercises, and personal success stories from community members who have overcome challenges.
Leadership Team
Alexander J. Iman
Executive Director
As the Executive Director and founder of Resilience Wellness Association, Alex Iman is dedicated to the advancement of the organization’s mission to provide equitable access to mental health and wellness services that empower individuals and unite communities. In 2021, he earned a BA from Wofford College in Chinese and Spanish with a minor in Government. Alex founded Resilience due to his personal struggles with accessing mental health services. His personal experience motivates him to create positive change in the community by expanding access to mental health and wellness services. In addition to leading Resilience, Alex works as a Cultural Analyst at Oak Ridge National Laboratory where he analyzes demographic and sociocultural data in support of high-resolution population modeling research that aims to better describe the complex, spatiotemporal relationships between humans and their built environment.
Blake Venable
Treasurer
Blake Venable is an accountant, small business owner, and mental health advocate. He is the owner of Blake’s Bookkeeping and Business Branding of whom manages the finances and marketing for over 80 companies, including 7 nonprofits. He is also the co-owner of CMJ Painting LLC which is located in Maryville, TN. Blake enjoys utilizing his business and financial expertise to help individuals put their business ideas into action. In addition to his passion for working with small businesses, Blake is passionate about helping people recover from substance use. As someone with over 11 years in recovery, he utilizes his personal experience to empower others to make personal lifestyle changes that put them on the path to healing.
Board Of Directors
Board Member
Paige Keisler Collins, LMFT, RYT
Paige Keisler Collins is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Certified Mental Health Integrative Medicine Provider, and Trauma-Informed, Registered Yoga Teacher. She is the founder and owner of Mind Body Knox. Paige is passionate about destigmatizing mental health and demystifying holistic health. Paige enjoys incorporating physical practices, such as yoga, meditation, breathwork, and nutrition into her mental health work. She currently works in outpatient with families and clients of all ages utilizing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Her specialties include stress management, anxiety, panic disorder, ADD/ADHD, Autism Spectrum disorder, and family transitions. She also enjoys working with members of the LGBTQ+ community. She also teaches yoga and coping skills at an in-patient residential facility.
Kellye Hudson, DNP
Dr. Kellye Hudson is a board certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner and licensed marriage and family therapist. For over 24 years, Dr. Hudson has been a strong advocate for community mental health services. She has experience providing direct clinical care for individuals and families across the life span, and working at the administrative level supervising, creating, and implementing policies and initiatives within a community mental health organization.
Board Member
Lynn M. Smith, LCSW
Board Member
Lynn Milora Smith is the founder and director of The Center for Mindfulness, LLC at Mind Body Knox. Lynn is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker specializing in individual psychotherapy and maintains a private practice in Knoxville, Tennessee. She has over 20 years of experience in counseling and social work with an expertise in the treatment of trauma and stress. She is a qualified Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction teacher and Certified mPEAK performance enhancement coach. Lynn currently serves as the co-coordinator and therapist consultant for the East Tennessee Trauma Recovery Network and is a faculty member of the EMDR Institute.
Hansen Sale
Board Member
Hancen Sale is the Governmental Affairs and Policy Director for the Knoxville Area Association of Realtors. Prior to joining KAAR, Hancen was a research assistant at the Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy, providing research assistance for the Center's state and federal research portfolio including work with the National Science Foundation and the University of Tennessee’s Coronavirus-19 Outbreak Response Experts. In 2019, he served as a research assistant to Dr. Marianne Wanamaker for the White House's American Workforce Policy Advisory Board.
