Advisory Committee
Julia received her masters in occupational therapy from Boston University in 2012. Since then she has worked in various settings with children and families who have experienced complex trauma. She has loved working in community based mental health, overseeing a therapeutic preschool program, consulting at Head Start and other preschools, and in non-public K-12 schools.
Julia is a graduate and current faculty mentor in the UC Davis-Napa Infant Parent Mental Health Fellowship. Through this fellowship, she is trained in the most current theory and practice regarding early childhood and family focused mental health.
Her goal is to hold a culturally humble and justice-oriented stance in all of her client and training interactions. She has woven her experience as a black woman and cultural humility trainer into all consultations and trainings to highlight the ways that our individual, family, workplace, and community cultures impact the way each of us see and do our work.
Julia has an extensive amount of certifications and trainings including Bruce Perry’s Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (practitioner & trainer), Cultural Humility Trainer, the Neurosequential Model of Reflection & Supervision, and more!
Julia Bantimba OTR/L (she/her)
Desiree is an artist, cultural organizer, and founder of The Artist Assignment, a cooperative-rooted creative consultancy dedicated to transforming the systems that shape the lives of artists. Born and raised in Portland, Maine, Desiree brings over a decade of experience working with nonprofit organizations, museums, and community-based initiatives, supporting programs that center arts, wellness, and collective care.
Her strengths include program development, community partnerships, artist advocacy, and governance rooted in equity and collaboration. Desiree has served in advisory and leadership roles across arts and cultural organizations and is especially interested in models that integrate mental health, creative practice, and youth engagement.
An auntie on a mission to be the good ancestor she never had, Desiree believes in learning through movement and care. Roller skating backwards and surfing taught her how to work through fear, build resilience, and stay present—values she brings into her board service and community work.
Desiree Lester (she/her)
Cave is 19 years old and graduated from Next STEP in 2025. He is currently enrolled in the General Studies program at CMCC, with plans to transfer and pursue a career in radiology.
Cave was a participant of Skate To Relate his junior and senior year of high school which helped him build confidence and see himself beyond the labels he grew up with in foster care. Through skating, he found a sense of normalcy, belonging, and the motivation to believe in a bigger future for himself; the skateboard truly became the wings that led him there.
This experience inspired him to become involved in advocacy through the Youth Leadership Advisory Team (YLAT). As a YLAT ambassador, he used his voice to help train new caseworkers and CASA volunteers while also teaching other in foster care skills like strategic sharing.
Cave is now on the Skate to Relate team as a youth advocate and his leadership skills continue to help lift youth voices and support positive changes across the community. Cave loves skateboarding and learning new skills because they have empowered him to push through tough moments. His biggest motivation comes from the people he meets on his journey and the chance to make them feel supported, welcomed, and heard.