Marla Godette

Marla Godette earned a Bachelor’s degree from The University of Michigan where she took on a tri-fold concentration and studied Anthropology, Sociology, and Psychology. She went on to earn her Master’s degree in Counseling from Central Michigan University. Marla is currently embracing her passions of working with and learning from people of all ethnicities, cultures, and backgrounds by pursuing her Doctorate degree in Global Leadership through Indiana Tech in Fort Wayne, IN.

Marla is a highly requested mental health professional and a certified Life Purpose Coach. She specializes in the care of those diagnosed with chronic mental illnesses and she offers services to individuals transitioning through life changes such as finding new careers and identifying their life purpose. Marla is an adjunct professor, an international conference speaker and presenter, and a sought-after keynote speaker for major events. Above all, Marla loves her “big blended” family and she is passionate about destroying the stigma associated with mental illness worldwide.

Aja Ellington, MSW

Indiana University MSW graduate Aja K. Ellington is an award-winning progressive thinker that serves the South Bend, IN community as an exemplary Mental Health Professional who represents several organizations that are committed to the innovation, change, and solutions that decrease poverty and disrupt the mental health stigma. Aja is the founder and CEO of Free Your Wings Youth Mentoring, Inc. a community-based non-profit organization striving to break the barriers restricting the success and growth of youth living in poverty. She currently serves as GVI/SAVE Community Resource Coordinator, a role in which she mentors youth within South Bend schools and practices restorative justice by responding to incidents of gun violence to prevent retaliation and support those at risk as well as survivors. From her past social work roles, she has developed skills in the areas of client-centered case management, clinical mentoring, trauma-informed care, mental health & addictions counseling, and advocacy which she now uses to empower and educate others through public speaking and authorship. As the recipient of the 40 under 40 awards, chairperson of several standout organizations and recognized business coach her motivation stems from motherhood, growing up in poverty, and her dream of breaking generational cycles.