Hello!  I'm Barbara Jessen-White

I am an experienced organizational leader with a passion for improving the behavioral health of our community.  Based upon my lived experience and the experiences of family and friends, my purpose is to reduce the stigma that surrounds mental illness and to provide support to organizations who are improving the behavioral health in our community.    

As I grew in my management career in various corporate roles, I developed a deeper understanding of the importance of compassionate management. I learned to balance the needs of the employee with the needs of the company with empathy and care - knowing that employees who are mentally healthy and who feel supported will do best for themselves and the organization.  This passion grew to founding a peer support organization on the campus of a large corporate employer to support employees both through mental health initiatives and assistance finding mental health resources.  Guiding this Mental Health Ally team was a career highlight and I am proud of the positive impact it had at the corporate campus where I worked.  Making the decision to retire from a corporate leadership role has allowed me to focus on what is most important - our community health and wellbeing.  My goals are to support nonprofits in our community with a focus on behavioral health and to help other workplace environments create employee led organizations to support their peers.

When I am not working to further the cause of our wonderful Upstate South Carolina nonprofits, I can be found volunteering with my therapy dog, Finley Faith.  Finley and I are an Alliance of Therapy Dogs certified team and we enjoy bringing comfort and smiles to people in all circumstances.  For many, seeing the nonjudgmental face of a sweet dog opens the door to a new connection, allowing them to share their struggles with someone who listens and cares.  Studies have proven that interaction with pets can significantly improve our mood and feeling of wellbeing.  I see this amazing impact every time Finley and I have visit people at cancer centers, hospitals, and behavioral health centers.  A willingness to listen and offer the support of a comforting dog can make a difference in the day, possibly life, of someone struggling with anxiety, depression and general stress.