A Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Addictionologist, Dr. Porteus has extensive experience in health and behavioral health integration, evidence-based practice and clinical research and evaluation. He also has extensive experience in program development, including outpatient, residential, and systems-level interventions (e.g. creation of trauma-informed initial assessment for NY State Office of Mental Health psychiatric facilities). His clinical practice includes addiction and compulsive behavior, trauma practice, integrated behavioral health, primary care, and behavioral health treatment across all levels care.

As a trainer, Dr. Porteus has conducted training in Motivational Interviewing, behavioral interventions around compulsive behavior, PTSD, complex trauma, and co-occurring disorders treatment and built the Outpatient Drug Treatment system for the Republic of Vietnam.

Dr. Porteus brings unique perspectives to the understanding of addiction, health care, supply and demand reduction, and our current opioid epidemic. He began his work with WellSpace Health as Clinical Director in 2002. He has been Chief Executive Officer since January 1, 2011. He has received accolades for his systems integration work, bringing a ‘blanket of care’ comprised of a network of Federally Qualified Community Health Centers to a region with a historically tattered ‘safety net.’

In his tenure as CEO, Dr. Porteus has overseen a ten-fold expansion of the patient population (5,000-70,000 persons served in the FQHC CHCs) across multiple regional Health Centers.

Cassandra H. B. Jennings is the President & CEO of St. HOPE and currently serves as Chair of the St. HOPE Public Schools Board of Directors.

Previously, she served as President and CEO of the Greater Sacramento Urban League. Before that, she served as Senior Advisor to Mayor Kevin Johnson of the City of Sacramento, advising on key policy initiatives including arts, homelessness, housing, volunteerism, public safety, health, and community issues.

Cassandra spent six years as the Assistant City Manager for the City of Sacramento and over 20 years with Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency, including six years as Deputy Executive Director. She has provided great leadership in housing, community, and economic development throughout the Sacramento Region.

Cassandra currently serves on the boards of Sacramento Region Community Foundation, Golden 1 Credit Union, Norwood Avenue Housing Corporation, Shasta Housing Corporation, Metro Chamber of Commerce, Mondavi Center Advisory and Sacramento Steps Forward. She is also an active member of St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church and the Sacramento Chapter of The Links, Inc.

Cassandra received a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of San Francisco and a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies from the University of Maryland, College Park. She and her husband, Rick, have been married 45 years and enjoy spending time with their adult children, their spouses, and six grandchildren.

Prior to leading Hope Cooperative from 2016 through 2023, Erin spent over 25 years in the food business as a sales and marketing professional. In 2008 she co-founded and served as Executive Director for a non-profit substance abuse treatment program for teens in Placer County.

After successfully merging that program into a larger non-profit, Erin found her niche in the non-profit world. Erin holds a Masters Degree in Marriage and Family Counseling from San Jose State University and Bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Sociology from San Diego State University.

Erin serves on the Board of Sacramento Steps Forward as well as the MHSA Steering Committee. She is driven to expand housing resources for the most vulnerable and recognizes that the only real end to a person’s state of homelessness is a home.

Joseph Smith has spent the last 20 years either experiencing unsheltered homelessness, recovering from homelessness, or working in the nonprofit sector as an advocate and service provider for people experiencing homelessness.

Joseph works at Hope Cooperative as the Program Director for the Outreach & Engagement Center and the Homeless Outreach Program. Before this, he served as the Advocacy Director for Sacramento Loaves & Fishes.

Hope Cooperative’s mission is to transform the lives of those living with mental health challenges, substance use disorders, and homelessness by supporting their independence, promoting their housing stability, and empowering them to make positive changes in their lives.

Joseph has served on the Sacramento Continuum of Care since 2020 and is the Co-chair of the Point-In-Time Count Committee and the Coordinated Access System Committee.

Additionally, Joseph serves on the Board of Directors for Sacramento Street Medicine and was appointed by Sacramento County Supervisor Patrick Kennedy to the South Sacramento Community Planning Advisory Council in 2021 and was elected as Chair of this committee in 2024.

Joseph has been a resident of Sacramento County for nearly 30 years and lives in South Sacramento with his wife, Christine, and their dogs, Jethro and Swayze.

Evan Schmidt is the Chief Executive Officer of Valley Vision, one of California’s most respected triple-bottom line nonprofits leading regional and statewide initiatives that advance livability.

Evan has shaped Valley Vision’s growth and direction since joining in 2014 and has served as CEO since 2020. She has a strong record of success as a researcher, collaborative problem-solver, and leader and uses those talents to ensure Valley Vision remains a stable and influential force in California.

Prior to Valley Vision, Evan led research and evaluation projects across the U.S., helping organizations become more impactful. She also advanced major regional community initiatives and conducted research at UC Davis in community development and environmental planning. Evan’s experience in community development, economic development, community engagement, and more spans decades. Evan was recognized as one of the region’s 100 Most Notable Business Leaders in 2021, a Sacramento Business Journal Woman Who Means Business in 2023, and has authored scholarly publications and contributed thought leadership in a variety of regional and statewide media outlets.

Ashley is the System Director, Community Health, Integration and Housing for CommonSpirit Health, focused on addressing housing insecurities, homelessness and food insecurities across our national footprint.

Her priorities include the homeless health initiative which concentrates on transforming health and our communities by strengthening the continuum of care for those experiencing housing insecurities through innovation, partnership and lasting impact. 

Ashley has over 18 years of experience developing and implementing programs that target the underserved and uninsured populations both nationally and internationally. Prior to Dignity Health, she was responsible for overseeing various programs, grant development and implementation, as well as community relations, with a focus on public and nonprofit safety net agencies. 

Ashley developed the California Endowment-funded Community Health Navigator Program under their state-wide Building Healthy Communities Initiative; she implemented and managed the Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in Auburn, CA and in Long Beach, CA; and provided direct case management services for the Skid Row Families Demonstration Project which removed families from Skid Row in Los Angeles and placed them into housing under the Housing First model.

Rachael is a visionary leader and the CEO and Founder of Rachael Brown Consulting.

With a passion for community development and economic growth, she delivers strategic solutions that foster business innovation and enhance community well-being.

Prior to launching her consulting firm, Rachael served as Executive Director for the Power Inn Alliance, where she implemented transformative strategies to elevate the district’s profile and economic vitality. She integrated emerging industries, including cannabis, and promoted workforce development for local manufacturers, creating a cohesive community network that strengthened regional collaboration.

With nearly 20 years of experience in commercial development, including tenure at an architecture civil engineering firm, environmental remediation, and at the Elk Grove Economic Development Department, Rachael has been instrumental in attracting significant investments and driving regional growth through strategic partnerships.

A Sacramento native and alumna of California State University, Sacramento, she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design and a Master of Science in Urban Land Development. Rachael is also a Senior Fellow, Class XIV, of the Nehemiah Emerging Leaders Program, enhancing her leadership skills. Renowned for her relentless drive and exceptional problem-solving abilities, Rachael is committed to making a positive impact in Sacramento and beyond.

Brian, the Community Health Lead for Kaiser Permanente in Greater Sacramento, manages Kaiser Permanente’s grants program across four counties and leads innovative community-clinical partnerships focused on homelessness prevention and recuperative care, mental health access, safety net support, and healthcare workforce development.  

He previously served as the Executive Director of The Green House in North Sacramento and worked as a policy advocate and community organizer on issues related to criminal justice reform, affordable housing, and immigrant rights. 

He and his wife Christie have two daughters and have lived in the Tahoe Park community of Sacramento since 2006.

Amber, Vice President of Medi-Cal Strategy, Execution, and Engagement, oversees Northern California. In this role, Kemp leads strategy development and implementation of key Medi-Cal initiatives on a statewide basis and ensures Health Net has an impactful presence in local communities by leading and collaborating with stakeholders to improve the health and well-being of Medi-Cal members. Kemp has more than 15 years of leadership experience in developing and operationalizing Medicaid and Covered California policy. Her most recent leadership roles included serving as Vice President, State Medicaid Policy, for the California Association of Health Plans; Vice President, Health Care Coverage, with the California Hospital Association; and roles with the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) director’s office, and the Board of Equalization under member Betty T. Yee.  Kemp serves on the Sacramento County Health Authority Commission, Sacramento Commission on the Status of Women and Girls, and on the board of directors of Sacramento Steps Forward and the Greater Sacramento Urban League. Kemp has a master’s degree in business administration from Mills College in Oakland.

Ashleigh is an Associate Clinical Social Worker with a diverse background, having gained experience in the medical field, non-profit sector, higher education, and research.

She works in private practice and is also an integral part of the School Services Team at CommuniCareOLE Health, providing teens and young adults with mental health services, SEL skill-building, and case management. Ashleigh is a storyteller with a deep love for community and for what her peers call “heart work.”

Her expertise spans program development, facilitation, project management, and relationship building. Ashleigh is a Sac State alum (Stingers Up!) who graduated from Smith College with her Master’s in Clinical Social Work. She is passionate about BIPOC and Queer liberation, decolonizing mental health, disability, and social justice, as well as mutual aid and community wellbeing.