About Us
WHAT WE DO
Child Health & Resilience Mastery (CHARM) is a qualifying charitable organization based in Nogales, Arizona. We provide unique strengths- and evidence-based experiences, education and training, and health-promoting resources to improve well-being, and strengthen resilience,
especially for vulnerable children and families.
Unique Experiences & Resources
We offer evidence-based ways to improve children’s health outcomes and boost their resilience. Our programs incorporate approaches such as Dr. Ginsburg's “seven C’s" model for resilience, to nurture skills such as:
coping, confidence, connection, character, contribution, control and competence. We've also added a few C's, including creativity and culture!
We host fun mini-camps for children, provide workshops for families, and partner with like-minded nonprofits and businesses to support educators and health providers in our communities.
In addition, we curate a virtual Hub of Love of resources and lovingly open our doors at CHARM's Hub of Love, located at Hacienda Corona de Guevavi, to collaborate with the surrounding community, local schools, and nonprofit organizations aligned with our mission to provide resources that cultivate wellness and resilience.
CHARM Leadership
Heidi Pottinger, DrPH, MPH, MA is the Founder & Executive Director of CHARM. She is also a director of clinical investigations/public health researcher in the Department of Health Promotion Sciences at the Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health at the University of Arizona. Over her career, she has focused extensively on advocacy, education, research, and service efforts. She has a doctorate in Maternal & Child Health, dual Master's degrees in Biomedical & Health Ethics and Global Family & Child Health, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Plant Biochemistry & Molecular Biology.
Gary Schwartz, PhD is the Founding Chair of CHARM's Board of Directors. He is a Professor of Psychology, Medicine, Neurology, Psychiatry, and Surgery at the University of Arizona and Director of the Laboratory for Advances in Consciousness and Health. His research broadly encompasses the overlapping areas of energy psychology and spiritual psychology for the purpose of increasing health and wellness.
Nisa Stover Talavera is the Founding Vice Chair of CHARM's Board of Directors. She is also the Owner and Inn Keeper of Hacienda Corona de Guevavi in Nogales, AZ. She has a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Fashion Buying and Merchandising from SUNY's Fashion Institute of Technology. Nisa taught swimming for the Special Olympics for 17 years and also worked with Junior Achievement teaching vocational skills and training for high school ESL students. Locally, she is a former board member for St. Andrews Preschool.
Megan Romo, CPA is the Founding Treasurer and Secretary of CHARM's Board of Directors. She is also a Partner at Quick & Associates, PC. She has degrees in Accounting and Spanish from the College of Business Administration at Northern Arizona University.