Andy Nahas Presents

About Our Keynote Speaker

India Walton

Homelessness Is Not a Personal Failure. It Is a Policy Outcome.
Who Pays When We Don’t Pay Up Front?

The Lake Is Rising: What the Numbers Are Trying to Tell Us
Are We Measuring the Right Things?

Back by popular demand! Gaither Stephens is the Founder and CEO of Gaither
Dynamic, a national leader in data-driven solutions for homelessness. Over the past six years, he has designed more than 300 dashboards for 60+ communities nationwide, turning complex HUD and HMIS data into clear insights that drive strategy and accountability. As founder of the CoC Alliance, the largest peer network for Continuum of Care leaders, Gaither is committed to advancing system-wide improvements through collaboration and shared innovation. His work emphasizes person-centered housing principles and racial equity, helping communities not only track outcomes but also identify disparities and reform policies to ensure fair and effective solutions. A frequent national speaker at NHSDC, FCEH, and other conferences, Gaither brings a unique ability to translate raw data into tools for lasting impact.

The Meeting after the Meeting: Where Real Change Happens

Pastor Sherita Traywick, JD, is a lawyer, educator, nonprofit executive, pastor, entrepreneur, and community leader with over twenty years of experience in public service and advocacy. 

She is the founder and executive director of Young & Gifted Inc. and founder of Paperwork, a business providing nonprofit and business support. She previously served six years as an elected commissioner on the Greece Central School District Board of Education and as chief of staff at the Center for Disability Rights.  Throughout her career, Sherita has worked at the intersection of community voice, public systems and decision making, helping individuals and organizations build authentic relationships, navigate systems effectively, and turn engagement into action.

Her work is grounded in servant leadership, community engagement, and building relationships that create meaningful change.

Len Statham is the Chief Operating Officer of the Alliance for Rights and Recovery (formerly NYAPRS). He has worked with people in recovery for over 25 years, promoting recovery-focused services and service provision. Currently, Len serves on the board of the New York Peer Specialist Certification Board, as well as the Advisory Board of the Academy of Peer Services. He has worked nationally with SAMHSA’s Bringing Recovery Supports to Scale Technical Assistance Center (BRSS TACS) to help peer-run organizations from across the country develop and operationalize programs and policies that increase their sustainability.

Additionally, Len has worked with the National Development and Research Institutes Addiction Technology Transfer Center (NDRI-ATTC) and The Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation at Boston University, offering training and technical assistance to organizations across the country and providing employment services to people in mental health recovery. Len holds a master’s degree in organizational management from SUNY Empire State College and is a Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner (CPRP). Importantly, Len is a person with lived experience in the mental health system, and this experience informs and strengthens his work in the field.

ZIP Code Shouldn’t Determine Your Future

Jaqueta Abraham, LMSW, M.S.Ed., serves as the Supervisor of Student Support
Services for Buffalo Public Schools. A licensed social worker and district
administrator, she leads initiatives focused on student attendance, McKinney-Vento services, crisis prevention and response, and coordinated supports for students and families. Her work centers on removing barriers to education, strengthening school-family partnerships, and creating systems that help students feel supported, connected, and ready to learn.

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Not My Lane? Think Again. Why Every Profession is an Advocate.

With over 10 years of nursing experience, Brandy is a BSN-prepared nurse leader with experience in emergency, medical-surgical, assisted living, and long-term care nursing. Her career includes serving as a traveling nurse and working on the front lines during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently a Director of Nursing, Brandy was named Nurse of the Year in 2025 and received a DAISY Award nomination in 2026.

Brandy is passionate about creating a culture of quality care, accountability, teamwork, and compassion. She is also a BLS instructor who provides lifesaving education within her community. Throughout her career, Brandy has remained committed to advocating for patients, supporting fellow healthcare professionals, and ensuring those in her care are treated with dignity and respect.