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 CHARM's Founder & Executive Director.
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 se
Dr. Heidi Lee Pottinger, DrPH, MPH, MA (she/her/ella) is CHARM's Founder & Executive Director.
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.
Debbie Gonzales, RN, MA, CRC (she/her/ella) is the Chair of CHARM's Board of Directors, having served previously as Vice-Chair, and as a Camp Druzy volunteer prior to that.
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 th
Debbie Gonzales, RN, MA, CRC (she/her/ella) is the Chair of CHARM's Board of Directors, having served previously as Vice-Chair, and as a Camp Druzy volunteer prior to that.
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.
Debbie 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 Vice-Chair of CHARM's Board of Directors, having served from 2023-2024 as a member of the board, and since 2021 as a Camp Druzy volunteer.
She was raised and lives in Nogales, AZ, and is a proud graduate of Nogales High School. She later earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Human
Tiffany Mihelish, MS/CC, NCC, LPC (she/her/ella) is the Vice-Chair of CHARM's Board of Directors, having served from 2023-2024 as a member of the board, and since 2021 as a Camp Druzy volunteer.
She was raised and lives in Nogales, AZ, and is a proud graduate of Nogales High School. She later earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Services and a Master of Science degree in Counseling/Community Counseling from the University of Phoenix.
Tiffany’s private therapy practice, With T., LLC, exemplifies her passion for helping others with over twenty years of experience in the human services and mental health field through individual, family, and group therapy, crisis counseling and intervention, case management, assessments, court-ordered counseling, screenings, and more.
She is a Licensed Professional Counselor through the State of Arizona and a National Certified Counselor. She is also certified in CBT, Domestic Violence counseling, EMDR, ADHD, Hypnosis, and Eating Disorders, and specializes in other areas as well.
Since 2021, she has been a vital and beloved volunteer for Camp Druzy. Tiffany is a member of the American Counseling Association and is also a board-certified Licensed Professional Counselor through the state of Arizona.
Judith Burrola (she/her/ella) is the Treasurer & previous Secretary of CHARM's Board of Directors, as well as one of our amazing Camp Druzy Co-Directors!
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 Applie
Judith Burrola (she/her/ella) is the Treasurer & previous Secretary of CHARM's Board of Directors, as well as one of our amazing Camp Druzy Co-Directors!
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, who all volunteer for Camp Druzy!
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.
Pamela Strausbaugh (she/her/ella) is a director for CHARM's Board of Directors and lead volunteer for our Tapestry program. Pamela has a degree in Interior Design and has worked extensively in this field. She has devoted much of her free time to charitable activities such as feeding the unhoused, reading and tutoring children, a food backpack program for children, and working with residents in an art program in an assisted living Alzheimer unit. She and her husband have lived in Tubac, AZ since 2015.
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)
