Recently, we sat down to interview Peer Mentor Johanna, a valued member of The NAN Project team who has brought so much authenticity and dedication to her role since joining in February 2025. Her presence in schools and within our programs continues to make a meaningful impact, as she connects with students through both her lived experience and her genuine care for others.

Beyond her work with NAN, Johanna has a unique mix of passions and interests that reflect her nurturing spirit. She is a master gardener who enjoys the patience and care it takes to grow and sustain life, and she also shares her home with her family, including a pet bearded dragon!

We’re grateful to have her as part of The NAN Project team, and we’re excited for you to get to know her more through her interview below.

Can you introduce yourself?

“My name is Johanna. My friends and family call me Jo or Joey. My pronouns are she/her. I started working for The NAN Project in February of 2025.”

How did you find your way to The NAN Project?

“In 2025 I attended Bunker Hill Community College majoring in Human Services. My advisor, who was also my professor, had known a lot about me due to personal topics I had to write essays on. My classmates and I were all looking for internships that were a requirement for the program. My professor recommended The NAN Project to me and said she thought I would be a great fit because of my background.”

“Once I did my research and went to training, I knew right away it was an organization I wanted to be a part of.”

What makes mental health advocacy so personal for you?

“For me growing up in my household feelings weren’t discussed. There was no emotional stability. I had to internalize a lot of my feelings and process what I was dealing with the best way I knew how.”

“Mental health was not talked about at home or in school. This made it extremely difficult to understand what I was feeling and to determine if it was a normal emotion. I wish that more talks were had so that self-expression and vulnerability could have been normalized in school and home.”

Did you always see yourself working in this field?

“I never imagined myself working in the field of mental health. I was going to school to be a teacher. I fell on very hard times and became homeless. Once I got back into permanent housing, I changed my major because I saw how much other people worked hard to help me in my time of need. I wanted to be a source of help for others.”

“Being able to work for The NAN Project and travel to different schools is a win win for me because I can engage with students but also share my story to give hope to those who may feel a sense of hopelessness.”

What are some of the moments that stay with you after a presentation?

“I love it when students come up after class is over and express their gratitude for The NAN Project sharing their personal stories.”

“I also appreciate those who have been courageous enough to approach me and share that they are currently having a difficult time or have gone through a rough time at one point in their life and are getting help that they need.”

What have you noticed while visiting schools?

“I love visiting the various schools and seeing how supportive the teachers, guidance counselors, and staff are to their students. I would love to eventually be able to go to the schools from my community because I know those students live in rough neighborhoods and witness traumatic events daily. Those students also need support and need to be given hope and resources just like many others.”

If you had heard a NAN Project presentation as a student, what do you think it would have meant to you?

“I would have felt like I could relate to a lot of the situations and feelings the peer mentors have gone through. I would have felt a sense of relief and not have felt so alone.”

What advice would you give your younger self?

“Speak up sooner than later.”

“I was so afraid to express myself and tell someone I was abused. But looking back there were adults in my school who I felt very connected to. I was just so afraid of being judged and blamed because mental health was not discussed freely in school.”

Who inspires you the most?

“My children inspired me the most.”

“I look at my children, and I cheer them on through every stage of their lives. I motivate them and I try to lead by example so that I can be that safe space and trusted adult they need.”

What’s next for you?

“I just graduated in May of this year, so my plans are to take a few weeks to myself with my children and give myself a much-needed break.”

“In the meantime, I have signed up to volunteer at the food bank. My first day there was really fulfilling to be of service to others. I am considering going back to school, but I haven’t made up my mind on that just yet.”