Board of Directors

PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD

Allison Schild is a passionate and dedicated advocate for change in the child welfare and recovery communities. As the Parent Engagement Manager at Citrus Family Care Network, she focuses on empowering families and fostering meaningful connections to support their journeys toward healing and stability. Previously, Allison served as the Peer Services Manager at Thriving Mind, where she implemented programs that enhanced peer support and promoted recovery-oriented practices. Her commitment to systems change and transformation is driven by a deep understanding of the challenges faced by individuals and families navigating recovery and child welfare systems. In addition to her professional endeavors, Allison is a proud mother to a beautiful little girl, which fuels her passion for creating a more supportive and inclusive environment for all families. She believes in the power of community, connection, and advocacy to inspire hope and facilitate lasting change.  Allison continues to be a fierce advocate for those in recovery and strives to ensure that every voice is heard in the pursuit of transformative solutions and justice. 

FOUNDING MEMBER

Justin is an international consultant, advocate, and peer specialist based out of Miami, FL. He has presented and trained mental health facilities and other organizations on trauma informed care practices and used his life experiences as lessons to what appropriate care should look like from a community level. Previously before his role with NASMHPD, Justin worked as a Jail Diversion Peer Liaison for the 11th Judicial Criminal Mental Health Project for 14 years. He has worked as a Certified Recovery Peer Specialist in Florida since 2008 and has extensive work experience in the community. Justin has supervised and coordinated thousands of engagements with participants with serious mental health and co-occurring issues in the criminal justice system.  He has assisted in training over 3,000 Miami Dade Law Enforcement Officers in Crisis Intervention Team Training. His passion for this work is based on bringing systems together locally and nationally while reducing stigma and advocating for the persons served. Justin has been in two PBS documentaries, The Definition of Insanity, (2020) with his experience with the Jail Diversion Program and the Ken Burns Documentary: “Hiding in Plain Sight” (2022) on youth mental health.  He was published in the Washington Post in 2015 and has many other news appearances and published articles on his recovery journey.

FOUNDING MEMBER

Larry D. Bradley attended Tuskegee University in 1978 on an academic and athletic scholarship. During his academic tenure at Tuskegee University, he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Education, and a Master’s Degree in Counseling and Human Development. 

He enlisted in the United States Air Force, serving 22 years in Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Korea, Japan, Germany, Afghanistan and Guam. While in the military, he obtained two additional AA degrees from the University of the Air Force in Security Management and Disaster Preparedness.

After leaving the Military, he obtained a position as a Clinical Therapist, specializing in trauma therapy and addiction at South County Mental Health Center in Delray, FL. Later he obtained a Senior Therapist position at Banyan Health Systems in Miami. He has also worked at the Dade County Court System, as a Clinical Court Specialist dealing with substance abuse and mental health. 

As a volunteer therapist, he addresses the psychiatric needs of individuals including vets in the Armed Services, specializing in PTSD and substance abuse. He also works at the Devereux Center, and he is the Executive Pastor at The Bridge Fellowship Church.

SECRETARY OF THE BOARD

Samira Deres is the Secretary of the Miami Recovery Project Board of Directors, and a Program Specialist at the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD), where she supports federal and state-level initiatives to strengthen behavioral health systems and expand access to recovery-oriented care. In her role, she develops research-driven content highlighting outcomes from federally-funded state projects annually, facilitates national webinars and meetings, and coordinates communications across divisions and federal partners. Previously, Samira held roles in event planning, communications, and community engagement across nonprofit, design, and corporate sectors, building skills in outreach, coordination, and strategy. She earned her BA in Political Science from New York University. Her passion for this work is rooted in advancing equitable access to mental health services and reducing stigma.

BOARD MEMBER

Earl Jonas Campos Devine is a multilingual hospitality executive with more than 15 years of leadership experience in multi-unit restaurant operations across Miami and Las Vegas.

In 2016, Earl joined Gastronomica Miami as a consultant and quickly transitioned into an equity partner role. Over nine years, he spearheaded transformative initiatives across five restaurants and a yacht charter business, including the implementation of enterprise-wide technology systems such as Toast POS, ADP, 7shifts, and Microsoft 365. He also created a sales department projected to generate $600K in annual revenue, established a full in-house marketing division, and designed governance frameworks that strengthened finance, HR, and operational oversight.

Earl holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering with a minor in Business Administration from ITESM, as well as an Executive MBA from Florida International University, where he graduated with a 4.0 GPA and earned a certificate in Consulting. He further distinguished himself at Cranfield University in the United Kingdom, where he led the only profitable team in a competitive global supply chain simulation.

Fluent in English, Spanish, and Italian, Earl is recognized for his ability to build sustainable growth, engineer operational excellence, and drive transformative results. His passion for strategic innovation and community development aligns with Miami Recovery Project’s mission of advancing recovery through peer support, advocacy, and systems change.

BOARD MEMBER

Jenny Gomez is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with more than 15 years of experience serving marginalized and underserved communities. She spent over a decade at Camillus House, where she provided clinical care and led programs focused on co-occurring treatment, jail diversion, state opioid response, human trafficking, permanent supportive housing, and street outreach. In 2020, Jenny became one of Miami’s first library social workers, helping launch a pilot program between Florida International University and the Miami-Dade Public Library System, which expanded the library’s role as a community access point through the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust. She is also an adjunct professor at FIU, teaching addiction-focused courses and providing clinical supervision to social work interns. Jenny helped contribute to the development of Better Way of Miami’s Navigation Center, which will provide low-barrier access for adults experiencing homelessness. Jenny currently serves as Director of Behavioral Health Services & Systems Integration with The Advocate Program, soon to become part of the Miami Center for Mental Health & Recovery. Throughout her career, Jenny has remained committed to ensuring that people facing the greatest barriers have meaningful access to the support they need.