The Healing Trust Welcomes a New Leadership Cohort

A native Nashvillian driven to serve the community, Tasha Kennard has developed and implemented innovative solutions that simultaneously closed gaps for the underserved while caring for and lifting entrepreneurs. Today, she serves as the CEO of Thistle Farms and is focused on expanding the organization’s ability to serve, love and champion women with
traumatic lived experiences by providing a safe place to live, access to job training and meaningful employment and a lifelong sisterhood of support.

She previously served as the Executive Director of the Nashville Farmers’ Market and led efforts to revitalize the 200-year-old beloved institution, including a $7 million renovation; establishment of small business incubation programs; and a statewide food security program that doubled the buying power for EBT customers, and secured $1 million in grant funding during the pandemic.

Stacia Freeman

EPIC Girl

Stacia Freeman moved to Nashville in September, 1996 after completing her education in Speech and Audiology. She worked tirelessly to address laws and programs which helped identify children with hearing loss early to ensure that they had the best chance of achieving their educational and life goals. In 2005, she was awakened to the issue of human trafficking and left the health care field to lead a global non-profit dedicated to the rescue and restoration of victims of sexual exploitation. Stacia became concerned that many of the efforts for these victims were futile given the extent of their trauma and in many cases their past childhood experiences.

In 2015, working collaboratively with juvenile court and other agencies in Davidson County serving vulnerable girls, she began developing a secondary prevention program to help address root causes of negative consequences such as trafficking.

Shannon Wagner

Nashville Conflict Resolution Center

Shannon Wagner is a nonprofit management professional with more than 17 years of experience. She currently serves as the Executive Director of Nashville Conflict Resolution since April 2024. Her background is primarily in fundraising across a diverse array of nonprofits including social services, education, and the arts. Motivated to incorporate conflict
management and strategic leadership into the nonprofit sector, she graduated with her Master’s degree at Lipscomb University in Conflict Management in 2023.

She is the fundraising chair of Nashville Emerging Leaders Board of Directors. She is Rule 31 trained mediator, aspiring
peacemaker, and facilitates workshops on conflict management. In her personal life, she loves to read, is an avid gardener, naturalist, and proud mom to Monte and 3 canines.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-wagner-857a6a155/
Org Web: https://www.nashvilleconflict.org/

Rasheedat Fetuga

Gideon’s Army

Rasheedat Fetuga, a former Metro Nashville Public School teacher and beloved community member, is a visionary leader who gathers youth in vulnerable communities to build peace. She is the Founder and CEO of Gideon’s Army, a Nashville-based grassroots organization led by youth and families impacted by the school-to-prison pipeline, disproportionate minority confinement, mass incarceration, and street violence. Rasheedat started Gideon’s Army after her student, Lamar Hughes, was killed at sixteen.

Under Rasheedat’s leadership, Gideon’s Army has achieved significant milestones, including launching a Restorative Justice campaign in Metro Nashville Public Schools and Davidson County Juvenile Court. This resulted in district-wide adoption of Restorative Practices, a revised student handbook, and restorative diversions in juvenile court. Their Driving While Black
Report, created in collaboration with 60 community and academic partners, led to a 90% reduction in traffic stops across the city, the establishment of a police oversight board, and independent investigations of officer-involved shootings.

Kara James

The FIND Design

Kara James’ story is a testament to the power of transformation, purpose, and resilience. Born in Pontiac, Michigan, Kara faced significant challenges early in life—her father’s incarceration and the weight of systemic hardships shaped her childhood. As a teenager, she relocated to Tennessee, where she encountered racism and adversity that could have defined her. Instead, she chose to rise, channeling her struggles into fuel for a greater mission.

After a successful 15-year career in corporate leadership, Kara felt a deeper calling—one rooted in empowerment, healing, and justice for Black girls and girls of color. In 2014, she co-founded The F.I.N.D. (Families in Need of Direction) Design, a nonprofit organization with a powerful purpose: to create healing spaces for girls navigating systemic oppression and personal trauma. Under Kara’s leadership as Executive Director, The F.I.N.D. Design has directly impacted over
3,000 girls across schools and juvenile systems.

Kara’s work does more than provide services—it transforms lives. Through initiatives that center healing, sisterhood, emotional intelligence, and the understanding of self-worth, Kara has laid the foundation for these girls to thrive. She connects the dots between individual healing and community transformation: when Black girls are emotionally well, supported, and rooted in their power, it strengthens families, communities, and generations to come.

John Durnell

Loaves & Fishes

John is the Executive Director for Loaves & Fishes, a non-profit food ministry located in Clarksville, TN. John is an award-winning business strategist and entrepreneur with 30+ years of experience. He excels in leading business operations, product development, and revenue growth strategies.

John is an expert in product and project management, strategic planning and analytics, P&L management, brand/business growth, team building and coaching, organizational management, budgeting and forecasting, and marketing and research. He brings these experiences and skills to the Loaves & Fishes team to accelerate growth in the operations, fundraising and volunteer network. He is also an engaged mentor, recruiter, and trainer who repeatedly turned around underperforming teams.

John’s notable accomplishments include manufacturing operations and regulatory leadership of a Class III medical device company, achieving FDA approvals and ISO quality system certification. John founded his own consumer products company, ProMark which was one of 100 licensees with the NFL becoming a trusted and creative product development partner. As
COO of a publishing company, John was awarded business book of the year for the “100 Years of Chevrolet” legacy history of the company.

John has his undergraduate degree from Purdue University in Industrial Design and has completed the Executive MBA coursework at Denver University.

John lives in Hopkinsville, KY with his wife and enjoys close proximity to his children and grandchildren.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-durnell/
Org website: https://loavesandfishestn.org/

Joel Bigelow

Endure Athletics

Joel Bigelow is the founder and executive director of Endure Athletics, a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving homeless children and youth through free after-school programs, nine- week summer camps, and various enrichment activities throughout the year. For the past nine years, Joel has passionately led the organization, focusing on empowering young lives and fostering community support. Under Joel’s leadership, Endure Athletics continues to grow, providing essential resources and hope to children in need.

Joel has been married to his wife, Jeannie, for 18 years. Together, they proudly parent their four teenage daughters: Carsen, Lauren, Brooke, and Bailey. In addition to their immediate family, Joel and Jeannie welcomed Jason into their home as his legal guardians three years ago, enriching their family dynamic and further exemplifying their commitment to nurturing and
guiding young people.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joelbigelow/
Org website: https://endureathletics.org/

Drew Freeman

Drew Freeman has been the Chief Executive Officer at Safe Haven Family Shelter since 2023. Prior, he was the Executive Director at the YMCA of Middle Tennessee for 9 years. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Melissa Branchau

Community Helpers of Rutherford County

Melissa Branchau has devoted her career to strengthening and empowering small businesses and nonprofits through extensive financial expertise for nearly two decades. From 2005 to 2024, she owned and operated a successful consulting practice, guiding a diverse range of clients toward sustainability and strategic growth by offering support in budgeting, grant
administration, systems-building, and fiscal planning. Throughout this time, she helped organizations streamline operations, ensure compliance, and leverage data insights to serve their missions more effectively.

Drawn by her passion for community service, Melissa joined Community Helpers of Rutherford County (CHORC) in 2021. She initially handled the Financial Manager role, enhancing the organization’s financial infrastructure and promoting a culture of accountability. Her dedication and leadership led her to serve as Interim Executive Director from November 2022 until January 2023, at which point she officially assumed the role of Executive Director. Today, Melissa champions CHORC’s commitment to uplifting neighbors in need and fostering long-term resilience within the community.

A formerly single mother to twins and a domestic violence survivor, Melissa’s personal experiences inform her warm, empathetic leadership style and unwavering commitment to serving others. She credits her family as her greatest inspiration—recognizing that, under different circumstances, she might have turned to CHORC for assistance herself. Grounded by a deep sense of compassion, Melissa continues to work tirelessly to ensure that those facing hardship have access to crucial resources and a supportive path forward.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mbranchau/
Org website: https://chorctn.org/

Amy Shurden

St. Luke’s Community House

Amy Shurden is the CEO of St. Luke’s Community House, a beacon in the Nashville community serving the basic needs of people of all ages for 100+ years. Prior to her promotion to CEO in September 2024, Amy served as Chief Development Officer leading the fundraising and marketing efforts at St. Luke’s since March 2020. Amy has over 20 years of experience in
fundraising, marketing, and community relations within the nonprofit sector, including more than a decade in senior leadership roles. Amy holds a Bachelor of Science in Communications from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and participated in the Leadership Peer Circle Program at The Healing Trust in 2019.

LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyshurden/
Org website: https://www.stlch.org/

The Healing Trust Welcomes a New Leadership Cohort

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