Who We Are

Jewell H Gooding MBA, MA, NCC is the Executive Director for Silence the Shame, Inc, mental health education and awareness non-profit. She is a National Certified Counselor with 20 years of experience in mental health services and supports. Mrs. Gooding holds a BS in Psychology from Tennessee State University, MA in Mental Health Counseling from Roosevelt University, and MBA from Georgia. She practiced as a clinician for seven years, working with children and their families with child welfare and juvenile justice involvement. Ms. Gooding has also worked with adults with substance use disorders and chronic homelessness. She found her passion working with teens and young adults as they transitioned into adulthood. She established and managed transitional living programs and served as the subject matter expert while working as the Program Development Manager for the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. Mrs. Gooding served as the Executive Director for Mental Health America of Georgia, one of the State's leading mental health advocacy organizations. As a non-profit leader, Mrs. Gooding provides consultation and education on mental health policy, programs, and campaigns to support prevention, promotion, and health integration at a national, state, and local level. Mrs. Gooding serves as Board Vice-Chair for Black Girls Smile participates in several statewide coalitions to improve behavioral health access, services, and support. When she is not advocating in Georgia communities, she is invested in her husband of 18 years and her three boys to build leaders for the next generation.  

Taimere Wood is a Certified Nonprofit Professional and has been in the nonprofit sector for more than 12 years with the mindset that it's everyone's responsibility to give back to the community. She graduated from Clark Atlanta University with a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice. She initiated her nonprofit career working for the Crime Stoppers Greater Atlanta program at the Atlanta Police Foundation. While there, she was able to work and understand all facets of a nonprofit organization before developing an interest specifically in nonprofit operations and taking on the Business Operations Coordinator position. Her interest and education led her to believe that she could make a more significant impact in the community by supporting individuals to thrive, which led her to Mental Health America of Georgia in 2015. As the Operations Director for Silence the Shame, she hopes to continue her community impact worldwide as the organization envisions expanding globally.

Maegan-Charjoi Pringle, MPH serves as the Creative Director for Silence the Shame, overseeing the quality, integrity, and management of the organization’s branding. In her role as Creative Director, Maegan-Charjoi curates national campaigns (i.e. billboards, social media, digital PSA, etc.) to increase visibility and community engagement with the organization.

With over five years of experience in programming, she has been instrumental in building curriculum, piloting innovative programs, and educating communities on a national scale. Maegan-Charjoi's strategic approach includes developing detailed process models to curate unique and intentional user experiences tailored to specific audiences.

Maegan-Charjoi earned her Master’s in Public Health with a concentration in Behavioral Science and Health Education from Emory University Rollins School of Public Health in May 2018. Growing up in Flint, Michigan, she witnessed firsthand the impacts of poverty and generational trauma, which fueled her passion for researching and developing solutions for underserved communities.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of South Florida, where she also expanded her knowledge by studying abroad in Florence, Italy, focusing on mental health disorders. This experience inspired her to pursue further education to address mental health issues from a public health perspective.

During her time at Emory, Maegan-Charjoi served as Vice President of the Association of Black Public Health Students, empowering communities of color to engage in research and advocate for environmental justice. She continues to give back through volunteer work, including homeless outreach and providing fresh foods to low-resource communities.

Nicholas Farthing, MA, PPS, is a laid-back Los Angeles native with over 8 years of experience as a youth mentor and community advocate in education and non-profits. He holds a bachelor's degree in Sociology from the University of California, Riverside, and a master's degree in School Counseling from Loyola Marymount University. Nicholas's journey began with AmeriCorps' City Year Los Angeles, where he developed a passion for empowering young individuals, especially in black and brown communities. He later served as a graduate assistant in an Upward Bound program, helping first-generation students navigate college. Nicholas also served as Program Director for Camp Ubuntu, a nonprofit supporting community engagement and mental health. As he transitions to Silence the Shame as Program Director, Nicholas is eager to bring his enthusiasm and innovative programming skills to effect positive change.

Niea Bullock, a native of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, grew up with a heart for giving back. Driven by a passion for community involvement, Niea has taught dance, volunteered in the community, given back to those in need, and mentored college students. She earned her bachelor’s degree in social work from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, setting the stage for a career dedicated to making a difference.

As an AmeriCorps and Civic Leadership Graduate, Niea has embraced the challenges of addressing the nation’s most pressing issues through these rewarding programs. She has empowered herself to tackle critical community needs like mental health, homelessness, food disparities, and employment retention. Recently in her career journey, Niea became a Certified Adult Mental Health First Aid instructor, enabling her to empower others to support themselves and those around them through their mental health journeys. Her true passion lies in educating, connecting, and creating safe spaces for those who struggle to find their own. Niea aspires to be the best leader and role model she can be in the Atlanta-Metro community.

Niea firmly believes that everyone deserves a chance to succeed. She draws inspiration from Booker T. Washington’s powerful words: “Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has to overcome while trying to succeed.”