Who We Are - AFSP Virginia
4 min read
On behalf of our Chapter leadership, thank you for your interest in learning more about the work of the Virginia Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. We'd like to take a moment to introduce ourselves and share some background on the Virginia Chapter.
The Virginia Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention was officially chartered on January 8, 2015 after hosting fundraising events for several years. Shirley Ramsey, our Chapter Founder, built a team of dedicated volunteers to launch our efforts in Virginia. Our current staff support team consists of our Virginia Executive Director, Markita Madden and Programs Manager, Terron Watkins. We are a working board, meaning that all of our Board Members actively serve in various capacities in our communities to deliver our mission.
Since our charter in 2015, and particularly within the last 3 years, we have experienced a huge increase in both support and demand, and we have launched several new programs. We can't wait to see what the future holds, and we would love for you to be a part of it!
Our leadership and volunteers work daily to accomplish our mission, and we are excited to have received the following recognition for our efforts.
- 2024 Richard B. Kirchhoff Overall Chapter of the Year Award
- 2015 Outstanding New Chapter of the Year
- 2024 Outstanding Chapter Advocacy Program
- Century Club Award - 2024 Lynchburg Out of the Darkness Walk
- Century Club Award - 2024 Richmond Out of the Darkness Walk
- Century Club Award - 2024 Stephens City Out of the Darkness Walk
- Century Club Award - 2024 Virginia Beach Out of the Darkness Walk
- 2023 Pacesetter Award
- Century Club Award - 2022 Richmond Out of the Darkness Walk
- Century Club Award - 2022 Virginia Beach Out of the Darkness Walk
- Century Club Award - 2023 Richmond Out of the Darkness Walk
- 2022 Lynchburg Living Giving Back Award
- 2021 Most Improved Chapter
- Century Club Award - 2021 Richmond Out of the Darkness Walk
- Century Club Award - 2019 Richmond Out of the Darkness Walk
- Top Community Walk Per Capita - 2018 Stephens City Out of the Darkness Walk
- Top Community Walk Per Capita - 2017 Stephens City Out of the Darkness Walk
- 2017 Outstanding Chapter Education & Prevention Program
- 2017 Outstanding International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day Event
- 2017 Outstanding Chapter Social Media
- 2016 Outstanding Chapter Program Tracker
- 2016 Chapter of the Year, Large Market
Meet Our Leadership
AFSP Virginia Chapter Board Members
Welcome and thank you for taking time to get to know about the Virginia Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Your support, skills, and time can help our communities in Virginia promote awareness, and we hope that you will consider volunteering with us. As a fellow volunteer, I hope to get to know you. We have no greater resource than the people who join us in this mission to save lives and we are truly grateful for everyone who helps share the message that hope lives here.
KEVIN LONG
Bridgewater | He/Him/His
Bead Colors: Blue, White
Virginia Chapter Board Chair
SHANNON SULLIVAN
Ruther Glen | She/Her/Hers
Bead Colors: Blue, Green, Teal, Purple, Silver
LinkedIn
Virginia Chapter Board Co-Chair, Executive Board Team, Public Policy Committee Co-Chair & Advocacy Ambassador, Greater Fredericksburg Out of the Darkness Walk Chair
ROBERT NORIEGA
Richmond | He/Him/His
Bead Colors: Blue, Purple
LinkedIn
Virginia Chapter Board Secretary, Executive Board Team, Virginia Chapter Bold Goal Champion, Presenter/Education Committee Member
MATTHEW AUSTIN
Moseley | He/Him/His
Bead Colors: Blue, Purple
LinkedIn
Virginia Chapter Treasurer, Executive Board Team, Development Committee Chair, Education Committee Member/Presenter
DR. CASSIE GLENN
Virginia Beach | She/Her/Hers
Bead Colors: Blue. Teal
Youth Risk & Resilience Lab
Board President, Executive Board Team, Chair - ODU Out of the Darkness Walk, AFSP Funded Researcher
WINTER BROOKS
Stephens City | She/Her/Hers
Bead Colors: White, Blue
National Chapter Leadership Council Member, Virginia Chapter Board Member, Loss & Healing Committee Member, Healing Conversations Volunteer, Education Committee Member/Presenter, Volunteerism Committee Member, Stephens City Out of the Darkness Walk Founder & Volunteer
LORRIE EANES
Danville | She/Her/Hers
Bead Colors: Green, Teal, Blue
LinkedIn
Virginia Chapter Board Member, Public Policy Committee Member, Advocacy Ambassador, Education Committee Member/Presenter
SEAN HIGDON
Broadway | He/Him/His
Bead Colors: Blue, Green, Teal, Purple, Rainbow
LinkedIn
Virginia Chapter Board Member, Education Committee Member/Presenter
KATHERINE MARTINEZ
Virginia | She/Her/Hers
Bead Color: Blue, Silver
LinkedIn
Virginia Chapter Board Member, DEI Committee Chair, Presenter/Education Committee Member
RONALD NORTH, JR.
Waynesboro | He/Him/His
Bead Colors: Blue, Green, Purple, Silver, Teal, Red, Rainbow
Virginia Chapter Board Member, DEI Committee Member, Nominations Committee Member, Public Policy Committee Member, Education Committee Member/Presenter, Loss & Healing Committee Chair, Healing Conversations Coordinator
ANOZAIRE BRIDDGE ORIUS
Virginia Beach | He/Him/His
Bead Colors: Blue, Green
LinkedIn
Board Member, Education Committee Member/Presenter
SHIRLEY RAMSEY
Glen Allen | She/Her/Hers
Bead Colors: White, Gold, Teal, Blue, Purple
LinkedIn
Virginia Chapter Board Member, AFSP Virginia Chapter Founder, Nominations Committee Chair, Presenter/Education Committee Member, Richmond Out of the Darkness Walk Founder
CARL TROST
Staunton | He/Him/His
Bead Colors: Blue, Purple, Silver
LinkedIn
Virginia Chapter Board Member, Education Committee Chair/Member/Presenter, Loss & Healing Committee Member, Healing Conversations Volunteer
AFSP Virginia Chapter Staff
MARKITA MADDEN
Virginia Executive Director
LinkedIn
Harrisonburg | She/Her/Hers
Bead Colors: Blue, Teal, Purple, Gold, Orange
[email protected] | 540.718.2221
TERRON WATKINS
Virginia Programs Manager
Richmond | He/Him/His
Bead Color: Blue
[email protected] | 202.839.2174