Kandace

Health Guide
Director of Clinical Programming
Nashville, TN

Kandace had her first child at 19. As a single mom in the rural south, it was challenging for her to find community and feel supported. She decided to go to nursing school in order to give her children the best life possible. That’s where she started to learn about living a healthy lifestyle and the impact it can have on mental health. She believes that by making small, healthy choices each day, we can all take control of our lives and well-being. Kandace knows that as people, we all want someone to believe in us. She’s a big proponent of believing in the people that we serve, “all of the issues that they experience are real and they are difficult, but there is hope.” 

Kandace believes that what is unique about firsthand is that its method has the potential to become a movement- serving individuals, while also providing job opportunities to those same individuals once they move into recovery. When Kandace learned that Samir, firsthand’s CEO, was truly committed to removing the stigma of mental illness and learned about what he was driven by in order to create firsthand, she knew it was a perfect fit for her. The most rewarding part of working at firsthand for Kandace has been getting to know the firsthand guides she works with, “they have a healing energy that is electric and wonderful to be around.”