Aisha Pope, LCSW, is ecstatic to be one of the tri-chairs of the Birth Of Brilliance Conference. She has worked in San Diego County's Children's Behavioral Health System of Care for the last 20 years.  Aisha has provided therapeutic services and clinical supervision in a variety of settings including outpatient, inpatient, residential, community/home based, private practice, and now telehealth. She currently works for San Diego Center for Children as a Program Director in the Foster Family Agency Stabilization & Treatment (FFAST) Program, and has a private practice, Roots & Wings Consulting, where she specializes in supporting BIPOC, youth 0-5, couples, and those needing support with parenting. She also currently co-chairs the county's CYFSOC Early Childhood Mental Health Subcommittee.  Aisha is proud to be a Registered Provider in Child Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) and a Certified Positive Discipline Trainer. She is passionate about helping families to grow their connections to each other and community, reach their goals, and improve their resilience.

Dr. Joy Angela DeGruy is a prominent researcher, educator, and author who has spent over 30 years studying and working in the field of social work, with a focus on the impacts of racism, trauma, and slavery on African Americans. For over two decades, she served as an Assistant Professor at Portland State University’s School of Social Work and now serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Joy DeGruy Publications Inc.


Dr. DeGruy holds multiple advanced degrees and is renowned for her acclaimed book "Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome – America’s Legacy of Enduring Injury and Healing," which examines historical trauma in African American communities. Dr. DeGruy lectures extensively, has presented her work globally, and has received prestigious awards including the American Psychological Association's Presidents Award in 2023. Her scholarship is highly influential, with over 1,700 citations of her seminal book. In addition to her research and writing, Dr. DeGruy has developed evidence-based models to support communities of color.

Nat Nadha Vikitsreth, LCSW (she/her) works as a nationally award-winning decolonized therapist and facilitator, a trans rights activist, and host of the Come Back to Care Podcast. She founded Come Back to Care to help anyone who loves and raises children to heal as they get free.

Melanie Morones, MFT/ATR/ECMHS, (she/they) is humbled to be in such amazing company as one of the tri-chairs of the Birth of Brilliance Conference. Melanie began her career in early childhood mental health in south central Los Angeles providing intensive mental health services to youth and their families, as well as participating as a facilitator in the Early Intervention Training Institute. There she was selected to be in the first cohort to complete and join the rosters of the CPP (Child Parent Psychotherapy) family. Melanie enjoys facilitating trainings and conversations in effort to support reflective practice, program development and ensure youth and families receive appropriate trauma-informed care. She holds an adjunct faculty position at Loyola Marymount University, providing group and individual Clinical Art Therapy supervision to emerging providers within the graduate program. Melanie is the Early Childhood Mental Health Clinical Director at the YMCA San Diego. Hailing from the smallest of rural towns in the White Mountains of Arizona, she is well versed in seeing the impact of racial (and other) inequities on youth and families. Her roots, combined with intentionally sought diverse professional experiences have cultivated a frame of compassionate curiosity & cultural reverence that is the foundation of both her clinical work and approach to life.

Precious has spent 15 years in education as a K-12 educator and administrator where she is working to advocate for students who require additional supports and services. Precious is a member of the local chapter of the National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa Inc., a sorority of educators and counselors who provide mentoring and professional and professional development.