BOARD OF DIRECTORS
As a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, Irvington Counseling Collective’s Board of Directors serve an essential function of support in our organization’s mission. We appreciate each of them greatly, and all of the work they do to help advance access to equitable mental health support in Indiana. If you are interested in joining our Board, please apply at the link below!
Members of the Board of Directors utilize their lived experience to provide insight in Irvington Counseling Collective's growth and development. Members support community engagement efforts and build a network of mutually beneficial resources for the organization, as well as:
Provide insight as it relates to organizational, programmatic and/or staff related development.
Act as voting board member on issues pertaining to staff development, annual and quarterly financial reports, and other necessary oversights.
Champion the organization within the community: sharing the mission and vision of Irvington Counseling Collective.
Commit to attending the majority of board meetings at a rate of no less than 75% per calendar year
Volunteer to serve as board meeting facilitator and secretary on a rolling basis, ensuring that every member of the board contributes and participates equally in the non-hierarchical model of board governance
We seek applicants to the Board of Directors who share a lens of decolonization of mental health and professional environments, by way of centering the voices and lived experience of those who have been historically underrepresented in organizational design of nonprofit structures. As such, we work to center the leadership of marginalized voices from impacted communities. We prioritize collaborative, transparent and non-hierarchical models of decision making processes. LGBTQIP+, Black, Indigenous and People of Color/Culture and those who live with a disability are encouraged to apply.
OUR BOARD MEMBERS
WENDY ARNOLD, (she/her), Board President
Wendy is an experienced social worker who is person centered, strengths based, empowerment focused, and a social justice advocate. She received her Master of Social Work degree from Indiana University and has worked as a therapist and counselor for over 15 years in mostly non-profit organizations. She is a past president of the IU School of Social Work Alumni Association.
Wendy is an avid reader, appreciates time in nature, has a semi-regular meditation practice, enjoys new experiences and spending quality time with the good people and animals in her life. She feels honored to support the important mission, vision, and principles of Irvington Counseling Collective as a board member.
CHELSEA LEEDS (she/her)
Chelsea is an art therapist and mental health counselor in Indianapolis. She has worked in community mental health, medical settings, and opened her private practice in 2019. She taught graduate art therapy students and coordinated internships at Indiana University Indianapolis and has provided over a 1000 hours of supervision to graduate and postgraduate art therapists. However, her true love is forming one-on-one therapeutic relationships and walking alongside folks as they return home to themselves- unlearning internalized messages from external systems and re-examining the armour they have used to keep themselves safe.
Chelsea joined the board at ICC because she believes in the mission of making mental healthcare more accessible and equitable and believes in the importance of community-rooted organizations to achieve this. In her free time she enjoys creating art, admiring backyard birds, watching long-form video essays with her husband, and co-hosting a podcast.
ANAMIKA KRISHNAN (she/her)
Anamika is a nonprofit leader, foreign-trained attorney, and educator with over a decade of global experience in fundraising, advocacy, and community impact. She has secured several millions of dollars in foundation and federal grants, driving budget growth, program expansion, and equity-centered initiatives in youth empowerment, education, health, and human rights. Anamika brings expertise in cross-sector coalition building, policy advocacy, and international legal research.
A Two-time Author and Professor of Law, she has represented India and Asia at global forums, advancing justice through storytelling, strategy, and systemic change. She is a trained singer with a love for losing herself in books, and when she’s not immersed in stories or melodies, she’s channeling her fierce energy as an amateur boxer.
BRIANA SPURGEON (she/her), Fundraising Committee Chair
I am a queer Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in Indiana. I also live in and love the Irvington community! Professionally, I primarily offer virtual telehealth sessions, serving LGBTQIA+ individuals who have experienced trauma and attachment wounds and who are managing co-occurring mental health challenges.
I earned my Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) in May 2020 from Indiana University Bloomington, followed by my Master of Social Work (MSW) in May 2021 from Indiana University Indianapolis.
While completing my BSW, I worked as a Crisis Intervention Specialist in transitional housing for families who had survived domestic violence, helping to create a safe space for these families to heal and regain their footing. I also served as a Behavioral Health Technician in a transitional program for teens and young adults experiencing homelessness or aging out of the foster care system, teaching life skills, providing warm and inclusive support, and facilitating groups.
During my MSW program, I interned with Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS), supporting students in an elementary school setting under the supervision of a licensed clinical social worker. I worked with students from kindergarten through sixth grade—providing individual support, facilitating small groups focused on emotional regulation, and leading a strengths-based group for fifth-grade boys with behavioral challenges. Additionally, I collaborated with school staff to introduce feedback mechanisms for administration, helping ensure teachers and faculty received the support they needed to thrive in their roles.
After graduating with my MSW, I spent two years as a school-based therapist with a community mental health agency, providing individual therapy to students in grades 4 through 6, along with family therapy services. These formative experiences—alongside the mentorship of peers, supervisors, and the wisdom of my clients—have deeply shaped the clinician I am today.
Given my background and lived experiences in social work and mental health, I recognize the value and necessity of anti-oppressive practice. I deeply resonate with ICC's mission and vision to uplift the local community, specifically by providing accessible mental health care and a safe space for LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC individuals.
In my free time, I enjoy painting, playing the guitar, watching both heartwarming and thrilling TV shows/movies, decorating (especially for Halloween, since that is a pretty big deal here in Irvington), supporting local businesses, cuddling with my cats, and spending quality time with loved ones.
STEVIE CASTALDI (they/them)
Stevie is a certified recovery coach, care specialist, mentor, fatherhood engagement provider, and liaison. They are currently seeking their Masters Degree in Mental Health Counseling with a dual licensure program to be an LMHC and LCAC. They have spent most of their life working in and coordinating mental health care. Stevie brings a passionate drive to social justice, empathetic holistic care, and education. Stevie has a strong background in queer representation and advocacy. They are a lifelong athlete currently training in powerlifting but you can often find them in nature and getting lost in the woods. A lover of animals they have 7 wonderful rescued pets and enjoy spending time with their partner playing with them.