Unique Experiences & Resources for Families
Our programs nurture and strengthen resiliency through evidence-based approaches such as the "7 Cs for resilience", which focus on:
coping, confidence, connection, character, contribution, control and competence.
We even focus on a few C's of our own, throughout everything we do, like creativity and culture!
CHARM also provides free online resources for promoting health and strengthening resiliency.
Resiliency-building Camp & Supports
We host a fun summer camp as well as provide basic needs, resources, and follow-up supports for children and adults grieving a death or separation from a close family member. We also provide personalized, transformative sessions which offer first-hand experiences that awaken joy, empower healing, and strengthen resilience for participants. All at no-cost to families.
Education & Civic Engagement
We train students, parents, and school personnel (preschool - university) to enhance their social and emotional skills and resiliency through the Choose Love Movement, Nurtured Heart Approach®, and more. We also work with local organizations and universities to support their community service and border/rural service learning efforts in meaningful ways.
Leadership
Dr. Heidi Lee Pottinger, DrPH, MPH, MA (she/her/ella) is the Founder & Executive Director of CHARM.
A native of Nogales, Arizona, she has been recognized by the American Public Health Association for her work evaluating an integrative wellness program in a pediatric hospital setting, by the University of Arizona (U of A) for her research in service to society, and by the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce as a "Top 40 Under 40". CHARM was also a 2019 recipient of the "Frances McClelland Spirit Organizational Award" from the Frances McClelland Institute for Children, Youth, and Families and a 2023 "Community Impact Award" awarded by Arizona State University's School of Social Work!
Dr. Pottinger is an Assistant Research Professor at ASU's Global Center for Applied Health Research in the Office of Community Health, Engagement, & Resiliency (OCHER) in Tucson. She is also an Assistant Research Professor at the U of A's Department of Pediatrics. She previously served as a Director of Clinical Investigations at the U of A College of Public Health in the Department of Health Promotion Sciences and as Director of Clinical Research for the Muscular Dystrophy Association national headquarters.
As a proud mother of two and propelled by her lived experiences and training, she has a great passion for strengthening resilience in children and families. Dr. Pottinger is a certified trainer in the Nurtured Heart Approach® and a certified Reiki practitioner. Her direct experiences with love, healing, and interconnectedness with loved ones who passed away were the inspiration for Camp Druzy.
Board of Directors
Dr. Audrey "Amparo" Russell-Kibble, DNP, RN, FNP-C, FAANP (she/her/ella) is the Immediate Past Chair of CHARM's Board of Directors. She grew up on the U.S.-Mexico Border in Nogales. Retired from the University of Arizona (UA) College of Nursing, currently Adjunct Faculty, Dr. Russell-Kibble continues to inspire student involvement in the care of the migrant community. Recognizing a gap in the care of migrant children and wanting to help the children integrate into their sponsoring communities, she, together with a student of hers, innovated a unique model of caring for migrant children to include Trauma Informed Care.
Her research accomplished an ethnography focusing on Mexican American parents’ perceptions of cultural influences on grieving the death of their child. That study arose from her personal and clinical observations of the need for those providing care to learn the importance of knowing the cultural concepts underpinning grief in this population. Dr. Russell Kibble has provided numerous lectures at UA College of Nursing and Department of Family & Community Medicine on the topics of Loss, Grief, Bereavement, Death and Dying, End-of-Life Care, and Spirituality. She emphasizes the importance of caring and acceptance of the hard-won blessings that accompany grief.
Dr. Russell-Kibble earned a Doctorate in Nursing Practice from The University of Arizona in 2011 and was an assistant clinical professor there for almost 9 years. In 2008 she was recognized as one of Tucson Nurses Week’s Fabulous 50 Nurses, and in 2016 was inducted as a Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.
Debbie Gonzales, RN, MA, CRC (she/her/ella) is the new Chair of CHARM's Board of Directors, having previously served as our Vice-Chair. She is a long-time Santa Cruz County (SCC) resident with extensive experience working in community schools across Nogales, Patagonia, and Rio Rico and in service to the community through her capacity as a nurse, parent, elected leader for the Patagonia Parent Teacher Club,
as a substitute teacher, and most recently as a member of the NUSD28 School Board.
A former frontline nurse during the early HIV-AIDS pandemic, she has hard-earned experience caring for patients and their grieving families. Debbie earned a master's degree in rehabilitation counseling from UA's Department of Disability and Psychoeducational studies and is a certified rehabilitation counselor.
Mrs. Gonzales also has over 45 years of community service experience working to forward the work of organizations like the SCC 4-H Youth Development Program, the SCC Juvenile Court, Community Youth Corps, Team Anonymous, Southern Arizona Veteran's Admin Health Care System, Susan G. Komen, and many other local causes including as a volunteer for
CHARM's Camp Druzy 2022.
She is trained in Character Counts, domestic violence community response training, infant adoption, learning disabilities and social skills, healthy workplace environments, and more. A proud grandmother of 10, Debbie looks forward to continuing to serve families in the community in her new role leading CHARM’s board of directors.
Tiffany Mihelish, MS/CC, NCC, LPC (she/her/ella) is the new Vice-Chair for CHARM's Board of Directors. Tiffany is a board-certified licensed professional counselor at Mariposa Community Health Center in Nogales, Arizona. She is a member of the National Board of Certified Counselors and has extensive experience working with children, youth, and families. A native resident of Nogales, Arizona, she has volunteered for Camp Druzy since 2021 and is a proud mother to 3 children.
Judith Burrola (she/her/ella) is the Treasurer & previous Secretary of CHARM's Board of Directors, as well as our amazing Camp Druzy coordinator! Originally from Mexico, she has lived in Southern Arizona for more than 30 years. She has volunteered for CHARM and Camp Druzy since 2022. In 2023, Judith completed her Public and Applied Humanities internship with us as part of her degree in Business Administration, which she received from the University of Arizona.
CHARM is a labor of love for not just Judith but also her entire family!
Sarah Simpson (she/her/ella) is the current Secretary of CHARM's Board of Directors and volunteer coordinator for Camp Druzy! A native resident of Rio Rico, Ms. Simpson has a degree in Communication from Arizona State University and a Master of Education degree in Human Relations from Northern Arizona University. She is an academic advisor for Communication & Mexican American Studies at University of Arizona. She has volunteered for CHARM since 2021 and for Danica Tanori Memorial and Isabella Rose Foundation since their founding.
Megan Wingfield (she/her/ella) is a director and previous Secretary for CHARM's Board of Directors, she also leads our social media engagement! A native of Nogales, Arizona, she has a degree in Communications from the University of Arizona. She is a Founding Co-Director of Camp Druzy with extensive experience in event planning. From 2018-2022 she served as an advisory board member for CHARM and was a former Board Chair for the Tucson Association of Realtors. She is very passionate about CHARM and our work in the community.
Lazslo Kantor (him/his/él) is a director for CHARM's Board of Directors. Since 2019 he has served as a volunteer for CHARM and Camp Druzy. Mr. Kantor is a native resident of Nogales, Arizona and is very involved in art and youth-focused, community-led efforts in the U.S.-MX border region. He is also the Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors for La Línea, a cooperative art and event space that aims to enrich the cultural environment of Ambos Nogales by connecting artists with their community.
Renee Miranda (she/her/ella) is a director for CHARM's Board of Directors. A native of Nogales, Arizona, Renee is an elementary educator and earned her Bachelor's in Elementary (K-8) Education from the University of Arizona. She and her family are all former Camp Druzy campers, having attended in 2021, and due to the profoundly positive experience they each had, she continues to be a passionate advocate and volunteer for CHARM and Camp Druzy and is honored to serve on our board.
Elisa Yi, Esq. (she/her/ella) is a director for CHARM's Board of Directors. Dr. Yi earned her Juris Doctor and Master's in Business Administration degrees from Howard University, as well as degrees in Government and Asian Middle Eastern Studies from Dartmouth College. She has extensive experience as an attorney and previously worked at the U.S. House of Representatives. Raised in Nogales, Arizona herself, she and her husband moved back to Southern Arizona to raise their two children.
Partners (alphabetical)
