The SRQ Strong Team
Hilary Espinosa is SRQ Strong’s Executive Director.
A seasoned nonprofit leader with more than 15 years of experience across nonprofit and government sectors, Hilary brings a proven record of turning vision into impact through strategic planning, strong systems, and heart-centered leadership. She has directed community-based programs serving thousands, strengthened partnerships with hundreds of organizations, and built teams that amplify lived experience and community voice. In her new role, Hilary will guide the Neighborhood Experts as they connect with neighbors, nurture trust, and advance healing and resilience throughout Newtown.
Abra Curry is SRQ Strong’s TICD Program Manager.
Abra stepped into the Program Manager role with a steady, heart‑forward presence. She’s been learning each program’s flow, strengthening communication, and bringing gentle structure that helps the work move with more clarity and intention. Her background in healthcare operations and outreach shows in the way she organizes, encourages, and supports both the Newtown Neighborhood Expert Team and neighbors. Abra leads with compassion, resilience, and a deep passion for the community. As she often says, “Empathy helps us understand the story, and data helps us improve it." Both are essential to creating lasting change.
Helen Neal is a Level II Certified Trauma & Resilience Specialist, and SRQ Strong's leading "Nurturing Post-traumatic Growth" Coordinator.
Helen motivates individuals and groups through personal and community empowerment training. Her “Letting go of a Traumatic Past” workshops teach participants to empower the wisdom they have inside of them to be the best that they can be. Helen offers interactive workshops designed to help people change patterns of thought and behavior shaped by traumatic experiences. Topics include understanding trauma, how we think, the roles of feelings and emotions, recognizing moods, and understanding separate realities.
The Newtown Neighborhood Expert Team (NET) brings trauma-informed community development to life in Newtown.
Our trained Neighborhood Experts connect neighbors block by block—activating spaces, sparking conversations, and building the relationships that help the community stay connected, healthy, and strong.
srq strong board of directors
Andrea Blanch, PhD, is a psychologist with expertise in mental health, trauma-informed approaches, and systems change.
She worked for two decades in senior administrative positions in state mental health departments, served as a senior advisor to the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration on development of their trauma portfolio, and has published numerous articles, book reviews, and book chapters. Dr. Blanch has also done significant work in conflict resolution and peacebuilding in international settings, including Israel/Palestine, Kenya, and the Balkans, and was a 2009 Fellow in the Women, Religion and Globalization program at Yale University. Dr. Blanch was a founding member and is currently board president of SRQ Strong.
Giselle Stolper, a Manatee County resident since 2016, spent twenty-seven years with the Mental Health Association of New York City (now Vibrant Emotional Health) as President & CEO.
A major influence in the New York mental health care community, Giselle now pursues her passion for the cause in Southwest Florida. She is currently a consultant for Centerstone Florida, a volunteer for NAMI Sarasota/Manatee, and a member of the Florida Mental Health Advocacy Coalition, a non-profit group that advocates for policy reform and improved quality of life for those living with mental illness. Giselle is a founding member and Vice-President of the Board of SRQ Strong, a new non-profit organization promoting community-wide trauma awareness. She is active on numerous local committees and a strong advocate for mental wellness and accessible quality mental health care throughout Florida.
Sidney Turner, Ph.D., is a psychologist and a researcher, receiving her Ph.D. in Psychology and M.A. in Justice Studies from the University of New Hampshire.
She has dedicated the last decade to advocating for survivors of trauma and studying evidence-based strategies to prevent and intervene in situations involving trauma. In addition to her research, Dr. Turner has been in board leadership positions in non-profits for many years, including the largest crisis center in New Hampshire (HAVEN), The Rotary Club of Longboat Key, and the Florida Partnership to End Domestic Violence. Dr. Turner strongly believes that people are not defined by their trauma and programs should focus on the many strengths that can come from overcoming adversity, not just the challenges. Dr. Turner is the founder and former Board Chair of Resilient Retreat. In October 2023, she was recognized in the Business Observer’s 2023 40 Under 40 selections.
Betsy Friedman is a passionate community advocate, brings years of experience in nonprofit program management to the board.
Driven by a belief in the importance of organizing resources to build a resilient, healing, and healthy community, Betsy is dedicated to serving on the Program and Impact Committee. She is also an active volunteer with Impact100 SRQ and a former board member of both Impact100 SRQ and Visible Men Academy, demonstrating a commitment to making a difference. In her free time, Betsy enjoys hanging out with her Australian Sheppard, Max. Betsy believes in the power of trauma-informed community development to create a resilient, caring community.
Debra Giacolone is a strategic leader with extensive experience leading change and fostering system excellence.
She is a Level II Trauma-Informed and Resilience Specialist with a heart for helping people feel supported, connected, and steady during times of change. She brings strong experience in fiscal responsibility, complex systems change, and innovation, always working to create clarity and trust within the teams she serves. Debra is known for building genuine partnerships, strengthening service coordination, and supporting community resilience through both everyday challenges and major recovery efforts. Her leadership style is built on trust, compassion, integrity, and a commitment to long-term well-being for the people and communities she serves while creating lasting impact.
Jeanine Johnson is a licensed practical nurse, clinician-entrepreneur, and lifelong Sarasota native with deep roots in the communities she serves.
She is the Founder and Executive Director of SailorGirl Companies, a multi-division integrated healthcare services enterprise comprising SailorGirl Healthcare Registry (private-pay in-home care), SailorGirl Transport (non-emergency medical transportation), and SailorGirl Medical Staffing (healthcare workforce placement), headquartered in Sarasota, Florida.
Jeanine is an active contributor to the region's civic and public health landscape. She serves on the Dementia Care and Cure Initiative task force for Sarasota and Manatee Counties, the Newtown Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Board, and Suncoast Women of Action, a nonpartisan voter advocacy group. She volunteers with AARP, is a member of the Leadership Sarasota Class of 2026 and the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, and serves on both the Sarasota and Manatee County Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD) teams.
Driven by a commitment to building systems that serve those most often left behind, Jeanine brings to SRQ Strong a unique blend of clinical expertise, entrepreneurial leadership, and grassroots community investment.
Kim Doleatto is a member of SRQ Strong’s Board of Directors and a senior editor at Sarasota Magazine.
A local journalist with deep knowledge of Sarasota and Manatee counties, she reports on the people, policies and developments shaping life in the region. Her work spans local government, housing and real estate, arts and culture, food and community issues, with an emphasis on making complicated subjects clear, accurate and relevant to readers. Kim brings curiosity, empathy and a storyteller’s ear to SRQ Strong’s mission, along with an understanding of how information, trust and human connection can strengthen a community. Through her board service, she hopes to help more people understand the effects of trauma and the role each of us can play in building a healthier, more resilient Sarasota.
Axa Salas is a Wealth Planning Analyst at Mariner Wealth Advisors and a Sarasota native, born and raised by parents from Mexico.
She is a graduate of Florida State University, where she earned her degree in Finance. Her work in wealth management reflects her interest in helping people plan thoughtfully for the lives they hope to build, while her roots have instilled in her a lasting appreciation for family, community, and opportunity. Outside of work, Axa is passionate about travel, discovering new places and perspectives, and giving back to the community that shaped her. She hopes to continue building a life defined by curiosity, purpose, and a willingness to see where the world takes her.