National Consumer Advisory Board (NCAB) Steering Committee
The NCAB Steering Committee is responsible for organizing HCH consumers to have a voice in national issues involving the health care of people experiencing homelessness. To accomplish this work, the committee meets monthly by Zoom and twice annually in person.
To contact NCAB’s leaders, please email ncab@nhchc.org.
Deidre Young
Chair
I am a Houston-based advocate whose life and work are rooted in resilience, compassion, and community empowerment. With lived experience of homelessness and a lifelong journey through mental health challenges, I have transformed personal adversity into a platform for advocacy and healing.
After securing stable housing, I committed myself to giving back to the very community that uplifted me. I have spent over a decade volunteering with the National Health Care for the Homeless Council’s National Consumer Advisory Board, and have served more than 14 years with the Change Committee of Healthcare for the Homeless Houston Clinic. My work also includes collaboration with the Coalition for the Homeless in Houston, where I continue to amplify the voices of those often left unheard.
I am an advocate for individuals with mental health disabilities and a proud supporter of the LGBTQ+ community. My advocacy is grounded in lived experience, empathy, and a belief in the power of storytelling to drive systemic change.
My philosophy is simple yet profound: Live one day at a time and make the best out of each moment. Through leadership, service, and unwavering dedication, I am working with others to help to reshape the narrative around homelessness, mental health, and fairness.
Richard Glen Johnson, Jr.
Co-chair
Rodney Dawkins
Co-chair
Rodney Dawkins is a consumer advocate who fights for many causes, including housing, healthcare, workforce development, and human rights. Rodney believes that people with lived experience should be at the table to help improve healthcare and services for their communities. He is an advocate and mentor for people from underserved communities to make sure they have access to the resources they need to live to their fullest potential. Rodney worked as a community health worker for seven years. In his free time, he enjoys singing, dancing, and is a lifelong birdwatcher.
Mira Peraja
Peer Advocate
Charlotte A. Garner
Member-at-Large (3-year)
Charlotte A. Garner is a formerly homeless individual who is dedicated to using her lived experience in the arena of advocacy on behalf of those who suffer from the plight of homelessness. She arrived in Houston in December 2006 with 32 cents in her pocket and the clothes on her back. Upon being referred to Healthcare for the Homeless-Houston, she received total comprehensive care. Charlotte credits HHH with facilitating her entire journey of restoration to achievements she had only vaguely thought could be ascertained.
Charlotte has been a part of her local cab for 12 years and serves as its chair for the last 5 of those years. She has maintained continuous participation during the covid19 pandemic in voter’s registration drives, patient satisfaction surveys and virtual fund raisers. This staunch passion transcended her local HHH and led her to join NHCHC.
She is a member of the Research Committee and participated in webinars, the mobilizer and project for a doctorate student all surrounding the issue of racial equity in healthcare. Ever willing to be a voice for the voiceless, she has volunteered to be a part of the process to facilitate the development of the newly established Advocacy Committee.
Her personal development has led her to expand her education earning an A.A. in Human Service Technology and a B.S. in Psychology. She is in her final semester for her Masters in Nonprofit Management with a projected graduation date of May 15, 2021. Charlotte willingly uses all her talents for the cause including her poetic prowess. Her favorite declaration is, “Thanks for the opportunity to serve.”
Kendall Clark
Member-at-Large (1-year)
Kendall Clark has been advocating for health care for the homeless for more than three decades. As a person with the lived experience of homelessness, Kendall has devoted himself to assisting those in need, including advocating for the advancement of health care for the homeless policies and practices and for clients with HIV/AIDS.
Kendall has worked as a Medical Case Manager at Betterself Community Care, as the Director of Health & Wellness Program at St. James Social Service Corporation, and as a Behavioral Health Assessment Manager for North Jersey Community Research Initiative (NJCRI). He has served as a member of the City of Newark, New Jersey HIV Services Planning Council and the City of Newark Mayor’s Commission on Homelessness, as well as a member of the Board of Directors for City of Newark Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC).
Gayle Dorsky
Member-at-Large (2-year)
Hi, I am Gayle Dorsky, I am involved with the National Consumer Advisory Board (NCAB) and I work on the Care for Homeless Consumer Advisory Board (CAB) in New York City (NYC). I do advocacy for domestic violence for, Voices of Women (VOW) NOW, New York. I sit on the board for HIV research at Cornell clinical trials, and recently I joined, In Our Own Voice (IOOV) that represents NAMI, National Alliance for Mental Illness in New York State and NYC. On my days off, I enjoy watching movies, art, and long walks.
Mamie Gathard
Regional Representative 9 & 10
I'm a person with a disability who loves to help people out in my community and make sure their voices are heard and not left out. I love to hang out with people, listen to their stories and let them know there are still nice people around.
Warren Magee
Regional Representative 1 & 2
Warren Magee has been a member of Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program (BHCHP) Consumer Advisory Board since 2014. He is also an active member of the program’s Quality and Efficiency Committee, an internal working group focused on assuring the highest quality care for all patients. Born and raised in Boston, Warren has a long history of giving voice to the voiceless.
He was born with cerebral palsy and also suffered a significant spinal cord injury in his 20s. When he unexpectedly lost his housing, he began confronting the intersecting challenges associated with being both disabled and homeless. After suffering a stroke in a local shelter, Warren received medical respite care at BHCHP’s Barbara McInnis House.
He has dedicated the past 15 years to advocating for the needs and rights of both people experiencing homelessness and those with disabilities. He has served with the Massachusetts State Rehabilitation Council, appointed by former Governors Mitt Romney and Deval Patrick, and chaired its Unserved/Underserved Population Committee.
He has spent over a decade advocating for funding for programs in the Commonwealth that support and protect people with disabilities. In addition to his advocacy efforts, Warren is passionate about web design and graphic arts, and has over twenty years of experience with computers.
Tina Hayes
Regional Representative 3 & 4
Jonda Crum
Regional Representative 5 & 7
Jonda is a woman in long-term recovery who has been personally impacted by the justice system and homelessness. She utilizes her past experiences while working in the recovery field and holds a strong desire to advocate for individuals who are currently working to overcome similar challenges, while striving to create awareness and remove the stigma and shame associated with them. Jonda is genuinely kind and compassionate, and a true professional with the ability to work individually and collaboratively.
Myra Nagy
Regional Representative 6 & 8
I am an older Black woman. I have gone through homelessness, managed loss/grief, suffered trauma as a result and I’m recovering from substance misuse and behavioral health conditions. As an artist, I am maneuvering through these struggles with counseling and creative therapies. I think doing things for others is more therapeutic than taking the medicine that keeps me sleepy, so I keep myself busy. For example, I make art and textile items that I sometimes sell. I volunteer at a day shelter to teach sewing as a way of doing service for others.
I have volunteered my lived experiences to advocate for those voices unheard. I sit on several boards, meetings, and panels. I have been working as a peer in several capacities. I care about people who are going through similar struggles and want to help in any way that I can. I strive to show people of all colors, ages, experiences and struggles that it is possible to move forward in life. Sharing my experiences may help people more than keeping it all bottled up to fester inside.
Steering Committee Mentors
Valarie Dowell (3-year)
Cincinnati, OH
Amy Grassette (2-year)
Worcester, MA
Vacant Positions
- Peer Mentor (1-year position)
Regions for Regional Representatives
