Mind Your Mind Speaks

S5EP14: Conversation with Alison Nyarko

Welcome to the Mind Your Mind Speaks Podcast!  In this episode, Executive Director Irene Barton sits down with Ali Nyarko, Cobb Collaborative’s Director of Early Childhood Programs.  Their conversation reflects our growing commitment to supporting early childhood development across our community.

 

Find the show notes on our website! 

S5EP13: Replay of Our Conversation with Dr. Jyll Walsh

Welcome to the Mind Your Mind Speaks Podcast.  In this special re-release episode, Cobb Collaborative Executive Director Irene Barton sits down with Dr. Jyll Walsh, Deputy Director of Positive Childhood Alliance Georgia, formerly known as Prevent Child Abuse Georgia.

 

As always, you can find our show notes at cobbcollaborative.org/podcast

 

Thank you listeners for tuning in!

 

 

S5EP12: Conversation with Kelly Mellen

In this special Pride Month episode, Irene Barton, Executive Director of Cobb Collaborative, is joined by Kelly Mellen—former Cobb Collaborative Communications Director, advocate, mother of two, long-time Cobb County resident, and current team member at Making Things Right (MTR).

 

Founded in 2021 by Brian Nietzel, Making Things Right is a nonprofit working to rethink and transform the Christian response to LGBTQ+ people. Their mission is to create space for honest conversation, patient understanding, and meaningful support for LGBTQ+ individuals—especially within faith communities.

 

Kelly shares more about MTR's outreach efforts, including the MTR Connect Web Series (August–December), featuring conversations with special guests. Learn more at: makingthingsright.org/connect

She also discusses MTR’s “I’m Sorry” Pride Tour, where the team attends one Pride event per month from May through October (culminating at Atlanta Pride).

Other organizations mentioned in this episode that support LGBTQ+ individuals in Christian spaces:

• Q Christian Fellowship (QCF)

• Embracing the Journey

• CenterPeace

• The Reformation Project

• The Christian Closet

  • Affirming Therapy

• Christians for Social Action

  • Oriented to Love

Stay connected with Making Things Right:

• Website: makingthingsright.org

• Newsletter

• Instagram

• YouTube

• Podcast

• See where the MTR team will be this year at local and national events

S5 EP11: Conversation with Regina White and Brandie Dudley

Welcome to the Mind Your Mind Speaks Podcast. In this special episode, you will hear a conversation between Cobb Collaborative's Executive Director, Irene Barton, and Regina White and Brandie Dudley, the leadership team at Mpowerd.

 

As always, you can find the show notes at cobbcollaborative.org/podcast.

 

Thank you for tuning in! 

S5 EP10: Conversation with Sarah Winograd and Halle from Together with Families

Welcome, Sarah Winograd and Halle, with Together with Families, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing the trauma of family separation due to poverty. 

Through their three programs:

• Family Support
• KinCare
• Apprenticeship Training

Together with Families connects underserved families with personalized support, uplifts voices with lived experience, and builds a compassionate, community-centered network.

Sarah encourages everyone to consider how they can support families, saying:

"Feel free to call or text me" at 678-644-1916.

You can also contact TwF at info@together-families.org.

 

Find Together with Families on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

 

Special Programming Note: Halle Mickel of TwF is preparing to attend law school with the goal of becoming an attorney for families like hers. If you know of a law firm or attorney open to interviewing Halle for an internship opportunity, please reach out to Irene Barton at ibarton@cobbcollaborative.org—we’d love to make the connection.

 

MYMS S EP9: Conversation with Lesleigh Sanders on Mental Health Awareness Month

Welcome to the Mind Your Mind Speaks Podcast. In this episode, Cobb Collaborative Executive Director Irene Barton and Mental Health Program Coordinator Lesleigh Sanders discuss Mental Health Awareness Month.  

 

Show Notes

• Mental Health Awareness Month was founded in 1949 by Mental Health America to increase awareness of the importance of mental health and wellness in Americans' lives.
• 1 in 20 adults experience a serious mental health condition each year (NAMI)
• In the USA, there is one mental health provider for every 550 people 
  • In Georgia, there is one mental health provider for every 1,169 residents.
  • In Cobb County, there is one mental health provider for every 899 people

Mental Health Awareness Month Toolkits:

• Mental Health America
• NAMI 
• SAMHSA

Mind Your Mind Social Media Accounts

• Instagram
• Facebook 

Thank you for tuning in and supporting the Mind Your Mind Speaks podcast.

You can find this episode and the show notes at: cobbcollaborative.org/podcast

S5 EP8: A Conversation Worth Revisiting with Lisa King

We're bringing back one of our favorite episodes!
In this conversation, Cobb Collaborative Executive Director Irene Barton sits down with Lisa King — school counselor, author, and national presenter — to explore how innovation in education can better support students and families. 
Don't miss this inspiring discussion on building stronger connections in and out of the classroom!

For full show notes and links, visit cobbcollaborative.org/podcast.

S5 EP7: Conversation with Cobb Collaborative's Kaitlyn Ball and Lesleigh Sanders on Child Abuse Prevention

In this episode, you will hear a conversation between Cobb Collaborative's Executive Director, Irene Barton, Director of Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships, Kaitlyn Ball, and Mental Health Coordinator, Lesleigh Sanders. This podcast focuses on Child Abuse Prevention Month and things we can do to better help our caregivers and children during this time. 

As always, please visit our website for show notes and links: cobbcollaborative.org/podcast

THANK YOU, for your support of our Mind Your Mind Speaks podcast. Please like and share our content on social media to help us grow our listening audience. 

S5 Ep 6: Conversation with Derrick McElry of MentalFit

Welcome to the Mind Your Mind Speaks Podcast. In this special episode, you will hear a conversation between Cobb Collaborative's Executive Director, Irene Barton, and Founder of MentalFit, Derrick McElroy.

 

In this episode, Irene and Derrick discuss Derrick's life story and the events that led him to create MentalFit, and how he and his team continue to enhance it every day.

 

As always, you can find this episode along with show notes and links on our website at cobbcollaborative.org/podcast

 

https://www.mentalfitlife.com/

S5 EP 5: Conversation with Paula

Welcome to the Mind Your Mind Speaks Podcast. In this special episode, you will hear a conversation between Cobb Collaborative's Executive Director, Irene Barton, and founder of Project Infinity, Paula.In this episode, Irene and Paula discuss Project Infinity, which provides a variety of supports to students and families experiencing homelessness across metro Atlanta. Learn about the unique challenges and also opportunities to support these students by listening to our conversation.

 

As always, you can find this episode along with show notes and links on our website at cobbcollaborative.org/podcast