Executive Team
Dr. Shadeiyah, MA., Psy.D.
Founder & CEO
Founder & CEO
Meet Dr. Shadeiyah — a passionate mental health professional, seasoned advocate, and guide for those navigating some of life’s toughest challenges.
Dr. Shadeiyah was born and raised in the Vermont Square neighborhood of South Central Los Angeles. Growing up, she was surrounded by the reality of gang violence and systemic struggles. At a young age, she began losing friends, some to gun violence, others to incarceration. These early experiences left a deep impact on her, and they are what first inspired her to work with individuals affected by the same cycles she witnessed in her own community. Over the years, Dr. Shadeiyah has dedicated her life to understanding and supporting those often overlooked in the mental health system. With more than 20 years of experience in the field, she has worked directly with individuals involved in the justice system, including those at Men’s Central Jail, Twin Towers Correctional Facility, and the Co-Occurring Disorder Court. As a forensic program lead, she has seen firsthand the importance of empathy, understanding, and the power of showing up for people exactly where they are.
But she also recognized something important: lived experience and professional work weren’t enough. To truly support this population, she needed deeper knowledge and tools. This led her to pursue higher education and research focused on gang-involved individuals. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Black Studies from California State University,
Long Beach. She later completed her Master’s in Applied Forensic Psychology and her Doctorate in Clinical and Forensic Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. During her doctoral studies, Dr. Shadeiyah focused her dissertation on how to better prepare mental health providers to work with gang-involved clients. Her research, titled “A Client-Centered Approach to Train Mental Health Providers to Work with Gang-Involved Individuals,” focused on youth who were facing not just gang involvement, but also challenges like early pregnancy,
homelessness, substance use, and unemployment. She discovered that many mental health professionals lacked the training and empathy needed to fully support these individuals.
She found that Carl Rogers’ client-centered approach, especially his “Integral Model,” provided a strong foundation for healing. When providers were trained to understand the unique experiences of gang-involved individuals, their level of empathy increased—opening the door for more effective, compassionate care. Dr. Shadeiyah’s work continues to shine a light on a gap in the mental health field: while gang prevention programs exist, mental health providers are often left out of those efforts. Her mission is to change that by educating and equipping providers to serve this population with respect, empathy, and understanding.
Today, as the Founder and CEO of Together Let's Rise, a community-based nonprofit dedicated to walking alongside system-impacted, transitional-aged youth and their families, Dr. Shadeiyah brings together her personal journey, clinical experience, and research to create real change. Her work is rooted in compassion and guided by the belief that everyone deserves to be seen, heard, and supported, no matter where they come from or what they’ve been through.
Dr. Shadeiyah is living proof that healing is possible, and she’s committed to walking alongside others as they find their own path forward.
Dr. Shadeiyah was born and raised in the Vermont Square neighborhood of South Central Los Angeles. Growing up, she was surrounded by the reality of gang violence and systemic struggles. At a young age, she began losing friends, some to gun violence, others to incarceration. These early experiences left a deep impact on her, and they are what first inspired her to work with individuals affected by the same cycles she witnessed in her own community. Over the years, Dr. Shadeiyah has dedicated her life to understanding and supporting those often overlooked in the mental health system. With more than 20 years of experience in the field, she has worked directly with individuals involved in the justice system, including those at Men’s Central Jail, Twin Towers Correctional Facility, and the Co-Occurring Disorder Court. As a forensic program lead, she has seen firsthand the importance of empathy, understanding, and the power of showing up for people exactly where they are.
But she also recognized something important: lived experience and professional work weren’t enough. To truly support this population, she needed deeper knowledge and tools. This led her to pursue higher education and research focused on gang-involved individuals. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Black Studies from California State University,
Long Beach. She later completed her Master’s in Applied Forensic Psychology and her Doctorate in Clinical and Forensic Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. During her doctoral studies, Dr. Shadeiyah focused her dissertation on how to better prepare mental health providers to work with gang-involved clients. Her research, titled “A Client-Centered Approach to Train Mental Health Providers to Work with Gang-Involved Individuals,” focused on youth who were facing not just gang involvement, but also challenges like early pregnancy,
homelessness, substance use, and unemployment. She discovered that many mental health professionals lacked the training and empathy needed to fully support these individuals.
She found that Carl Rogers’ client-centered approach, especially his “Integral Model,” provided a strong foundation for healing. When providers were trained to understand the unique experiences of gang-involved individuals, their level of empathy increased—opening the door for more effective, compassionate care. Dr. Shadeiyah’s work continues to shine a light on a gap in the mental health field: while gang prevention programs exist, mental health providers are often left out of those efforts. Her mission is to change that by educating and equipping providers to serve this population with respect, empathy, and understanding.
Today, as the Founder and CEO of Together Let's Rise, a community-based nonprofit dedicated to walking alongside system-impacted, transitional-aged youth and their families, Dr. Shadeiyah brings together her personal journey, clinical experience, and research to create real change. Her work is rooted in compassion and guided by the belief that everyone deserves to be seen, heard, and supported, no matter where they come from or what they’ve been through.
Dr. Shadeiyah is living proof that healing is possible, and she’s committed to walking alongside others as they find their own path forward.
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Juataun Mark, MPA
Chief Operating Officer Juataun Mark has dedicated over two decades to public service, beginning in 2001 with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. Her passion for assisting the unhoused emerged in 2007 while managing housing resources at the Department of Mental Health, where she facilitated housing services for severely mentally ill, homeless, and at-risk individuals. This included overseeing the Housing Assistance Program, which provided essential household goods and security deposits.
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Transitioning to the Department of Health Services (DHS) seven years later, Juataun was a key figure in the development and implementation of the innovative Housing for Health program. This program pioneered an interim housing model, offering room and board alongside intensive case management and wrap-around services to promote stability and housing readiness for homeless individuals and families. Over the subsequent nine years, she played a vital role in expanding DHS's interim housing capacity, increasing the number of shelter operators to over 25 and shelter beds from under 250 to more than 3,000.
Her impact extended to the launch of the Office of Diversion and Reentry (ODR) interim housing program, which mirrored the Housing for Health model. Juataun facilitated the creation of approximately 1,500 beds in its early stages, specifically serving individuals with severe mental illness deemed Misdemeanor and Felony Incompetent to Stand Trial.
In 2018, Juataun contributed her expertise to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) Ad Hoc Committee on Black People Experiencing Homelessness. This committee aimed to identify factors contributing to the overrepresentation of Black individuals among the homeless population and develop strategies to enhance racial equity within the service delivery system and better address their specific needs.
Throughout her public service career, Juataun excelled at developing and refining service delivery processes. She also fostered strong relationships with over 50 Community-Based Organizations, community groups, political offices, the county's Chief Executive Office, Board of Supervisors, and various county departments.
In 2022, Juataun transitioned to the direct service sector, co-founding Joyous Ventures and assuming the role of Chief Operating Officer. Leveraging her extensive experience in interim housing and supportive services within Los Angeles, Joyous Ventures focuses on the unique challenges faced by women, particularly mothers, re-entering society. The organization provides a supportive environment with interim housing and comprehensive support services for single women, women-identified individuals, and mothers with children experiencing homelessness or displacement.
In 2022, driven by a passion for strengthening community-based organizations, Juataun Mark established her consulting company JJSM Consulting. This venture was born from a deep understanding of the critical role effective organizational structure, visionary leadership, and sustainable funding play in the success of entities dedicated to providing housing and supportive services. Recognizing a widespread need within the sector, Juataun's firm offers comprehensive support designed to enhance operational efficiency, cultivate strong leadership teams, and unlock diverse fund development opportunities. By partnering with these vital organizations, her company aims to amplify their impact and further their missions of serving vulnerable populations within the community.
With over two decades dedicated to public service, Juataun Mark has been a driving force in addressing homelessness in Los Angeles County. From her early work providing housing resources to her pivotal role in developing innovative interim housing models and her contributions to understanding and addressing racial inequities in service delivery, Juataun has consistently championed vulnerable populations. Her transition to co-founding Joyous Ventures further exemplifies her commitment to enacting meaningful change by directly supporting women and mothers experiencing homelessness, solidifying her enduring impact on the community.
Juataun holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Sector from the University of Phoenix and a Master of Public Administration from California State University, Northridge.
Her impact extended to the launch of the Office of Diversion and Reentry (ODR) interim housing program, which mirrored the Housing for Health model. Juataun facilitated the creation of approximately 1,500 beds in its early stages, specifically serving individuals with severe mental illness deemed Misdemeanor and Felony Incompetent to Stand Trial.
In 2018, Juataun contributed her expertise to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) Ad Hoc Committee on Black People Experiencing Homelessness. This committee aimed to identify factors contributing to the overrepresentation of Black individuals among the homeless population and develop strategies to enhance racial equity within the service delivery system and better address their specific needs.
Throughout her public service career, Juataun excelled at developing and refining service delivery processes. She also fostered strong relationships with over 50 Community-Based Organizations, community groups, political offices, the county's Chief Executive Office, Board of Supervisors, and various county departments.
In 2022, Juataun transitioned to the direct service sector, co-founding Joyous Ventures and assuming the role of Chief Operating Officer. Leveraging her extensive experience in interim housing and supportive services within Los Angeles, Joyous Ventures focuses on the unique challenges faced by women, particularly mothers, re-entering society. The organization provides a supportive environment with interim housing and comprehensive support services for single women, women-identified individuals, and mothers with children experiencing homelessness or displacement.
In 2022, driven by a passion for strengthening community-based organizations, Juataun Mark established her consulting company JJSM Consulting. This venture was born from a deep understanding of the critical role effective organizational structure, visionary leadership, and sustainable funding play in the success of entities dedicated to providing housing and supportive services. Recognizing a widespread need within the sector, Juataun's firm offers comprehensive support designed to enhance operational efficiency, cultivate strong leadership teams, and unlock diverse fund development opportunities. By partnering with these vital organizations, her company aims to amplify their impact and further their missions of serving vulnerable populations within the community.
With over two decades dedicated to public service, Juataun Mark has been a driving force in addressing homelessness in Los Angeles County. From her early work providing housing resources to her pivotal role in developing innovative interim housing models and her contributions to understanding and addressing racial inequities in service delivery, Juataun has consistently championed vulnerable populations. Her transition to co-founding Joyous Ventures further exemplifies her commitment to enacting meaningful change by directly supporting women and mothers experiencing homelessness, solidifying her enduring impact on the community.
Juataun holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Sector from the University of Phoenix and a Master of Public Administration from California State University, Northridge.