2022 Programs
Sonoma County Forum offers an exciting array of speakers including leaders in business, education, health care, the arts, and local government. Our speakers provide an excellent way to gain knowledge of the community and learn about its vast resources.
For information about past speakers click here.
Upcoming Speakers
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February 3, 2022
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Mary-Frances Walsh, Executive Director, NAMI Sonoma County
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Mary-Frances Walsh
NAMI Sonoma County is a nonprofit affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Based in Santa Rosa since 1984, the community organization’s mission is to help individuals and families affected by mental illness to build a better quality of life. Its free peer-led programs include a Warmline, educational courses, support groups, presentations that raise awareness, and advocacy for local policies and services that positively impact access to and quality of mental health services throughout Sonoma County.
Mary-Frances Walsh earned a master’s in Health Care Administration & Policy at The Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, and then held positions in hospital administration in New York City and Chicago. From there, she went on to spend many years living in Singapore, Hong Kong, Westport, Connecticut, and Amsterdam, raising three children off and on again as an expatriate family. In 2014, she and her husband relocated to Sonoma County, to be closer to family roots in Alexander Valley. And in 2015, she joined the NAMI Sonoma County team and has served as its executive director for the past four years. She is also a family member, committed to making mental health understood as integral to health and something we all need to know enough about to feel comfortable asking for help with when needed.
Mary-Frances Walsh earned a master’s in Health Care Administration & Policy at The Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, and then held positions in hospital administration in New York City and Chicago. From there, she went on to spend many years living in Singapore, Hong Kong, Westport, Connecticut, and Amsterdam, raising three children off and on again as an expatriate family. In 2014, she and her husband relocated to Sonoma County, to be closer to family roots in Alexander Valley. And in 2015, she joined the NAMI Sonoma County team and has served as its executive director for the past four years. She is also a family member, committed to making mental health understood as integral to health and something we all need to know enough about to feel comfortable asking for help with when needed.
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February 17
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Jayne Burns, Board President, Artstart
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Jayne Burns
Founded in 1999, Artstart provides mentoring and stimulating arts work experience for Sonoma County youth, while creating publicly and privately commissioned art for our community. The non-profit organization has mentored more than 2,000 Sonoma County teens within the schools and through personal instruction at the art studio in Santa Rosa. Artstart’s mission is to inspire talented youth to communicate through visual arts, preparing them for careers in the arts.
Jayne Burns, Artstart Board President, brought an award-winning community beautification project to Artstart in 2008, which led to her serving on the Board. Before focusing on volunteer work with local non-profits, Jayne had a 30-year career in media, advertising, marketing and management. Born and raised in New Jersey, Jayne moved to Sebastopol 40 years ago. She and her husband, John, have two grown children.
Jayne Burns, Artstart Board President, brought an award-winning community beautification project to Artstart in 2008, which led to her serving on the Board. Before focusing on volunteer work with local non-profits, Jayne had a 30-year career in media, advertising, marketing and management. Born and raised in New Jersey, Jayne moved to Sebastopol 40 years ago. She and her husband, John, have two grown children.
2022 Program Schedule
DATE |
Speaker |
Thurs. Jan. 6 |
Teri Sloat, "The Importance of Sharing Our Stories" |
Thurs. Jan. 20 |
Alegria De La Cruz, Director, Sonoma County Office of Equity |
Thurs. Feb. 3 |
Mary-Frances Walsh, NAMI Sonoma County |
Thurs. Feb. 17 |
Jayne Burns, Artstart |
Thurs. March 3 |
TBA |
Thurs. March 17 |
Katherine Rinehart, Sonoma County Archives |
Thurs. April 7 |
Janet Gracyk, Historic American Landscapes |
Thurs. April 21 |
TBA |
Thurs. May 5 |
TBA |
Thurs. May 19 |
TBA |
Thurs. June 2 |
TBA |
Thurs. June 16 |
TBA |
Thurs. July 7 |
TBA |
Thurs. July 21 |
Ella Wen, Youth Poet Laureate of Sonoma County, California Poets in the Schools |
Thurs. Aug 4 |
Joe Madigan, Nelson Staffing |
Thurs. Aug 18 |
TBA |
Thurs. Sep 1 |
TBA |
Thurs. Sep 15 |
Simone Kremkaw, Sonoma County Library History & Genealogy |
Thurs. Oct 6 |
TBA |
Thurs. Oct 20 |
TBA |
Thurs. Nov 3 |
TBA |
Thurs. Nov 17 |
TBA |
Thurs. Dec 1 |
TBA |
Thurs. Dec 15 |
Holiday meeting (for members only) |
Meetings are held on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month at 8am at the Epicenter, off of Piner Road,
west of Coffey Lane in Santa Rosa.
Guests are welcome, but proof of a valid COVID-19 vaccination is required and masks must be worn inside (except while eating).
