THE VALUE OF
LIVED EXPERIENCE ADVOCACY
across boards, committees, commissions, and advisory groups
At Lived Experience Advisors, we train advocates in trauma-informed care with a dual focus: preparing them to support others while also caring for themselves. Our approach recognizes that many advocates carry their own lived experiences of trauma, so we prioritize emotional safety, boundaries, and self-care as essential components of training. Advocates learn how to engage with compassion and resilience, understand the impact of trauma on others, and navigate difficult systems—all while being equipped with tools to manage their own well-being. This ensures they are both effective in their roles and supported in their journey.
Our professional speakers are experienced in presenting, consulting and community speaking. Click here to book our presenters today.
John Brady, Executive Director
With lived homeless experience, an MBA in Marketing & Operations, and an entertainment background, John brings a unique set of skills, passion and perspective while leading the Lived Experience Advisers. For 5 years, John has been an active advocate for the unsheltered in the San Diego area. In this role, he has become educated in many of the issues that are relevant to our homelessness crisis on a local and national level.
John's advocacy work has led to him becoming a voice in media, cited in the Tribune, Huffington Post, Voice of San Diego and has been interviewed by multiple news agencies both locally and nationally. ​
Vanessa Graziano
Vanessa has been able to build solutions by changing the story and bringing in her own lived experience of struggling with addiction and being homeless out on the streets. Vanessa has 7 1/2 years clean and recovery from homelessness. In 2020 she decided to start doing out reach and recognized that there was no housing or programs to really help heal one from the inside. Vanessa opened up the only emergency shelter in Oceanside during Covid and moved it to Carlsbad. Vanessa is the founder of the Oceanside Homeless Resource which is a local nonprofit that is bridging different organizations to help families get off the streets. Along with education around radical recovery and the E4 trauma method.. The program has since turned into one built on community, purpose, love and Transformation.
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Dennis Larkin
Having personal lived experience with homelessness, a degree in Education; PGCert in Applied Positive Psychology; 25-year career in counseling and BusDev duties as C.E.O. of a licensed Substance Abuse Treatment Center creates an empathetic bond with those we marginalize in our society. As an Addiction Treatment Counselor (C.A.T.C.) with Gerontology and Criminal Justice certifications, Dennis has a lot to say about the need for Housing First and necessary systemic changes needed for the unhoused and senior citizens in San Diego.
A Vietnam-era veteran (Semper Fi), he brings experience, a unique skill set, and a lifelong passion for helping others create positive new directions in their lives.For the last four years, Dennis has been an active advocate and has spoken in front of governmental bodies, conferences, small groups, and town hall meetings. His advocacy has allowed him to contribute to several "helping field" organizations, including San Diego Housing Federation's H.E.AL. Network - (Policy Committee); St. Paul's P.A.C.E. - (Participant Advisory Board); C.H.S.-NPLH (No Place Like Home Institute) for Housing Development; The Regional Task Force on Homelessness - (Aging and Homelessness Committee).
He has spoken on UCSD panels about the experiences of the unhoused and seniors on our streets and lobbied with Residents United Network for bills in Sacramento.
Natalie Raschke
Natalie Raschke is a dedicated advocate for individuals experiencing homelessness in San Diego, drawing from her personal experiences to drive systemic change. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Natalie and her husband faced significant challenges, including job losses that led them to relocate their family of six back to San Diego in an RV. This firsthand experience with homelessness motivated Natalie to become actively involved with Lived Experience Advisers (LEA), a nonprofit organization that amplifies the voices of those who have experienced homelessness. Through her work with LEA, she has been instrumental in raising awareness about the realities of homelessness in San Diego, emphasizing that many individuals experiencing homelessness are locals who have fallen on hard times.​
Rachel Hayes
Rachel Hayes is a dedicated advocate for individuals experiencing homelessness in San Diego, leveraging her personal journey to effect meaningful change. After enduring over a decade without stable housing, she transitioned into permanent accommodation in mid-2023. This pivotal change has enabled her to focus on supporting others facing similar challenges.
During her time without housing, Rachel was instrumental in establishing safe camping sites and fostering supportive communities in areas such as East Village, Petco Park, and a canyon in Lemon Grove. Her resilience and leadership were evident as she navigated the complexities of life on the streets, always prioritizing the well-being of her peers.
Upon securing housing, Rachel became actively involved with Lived Experience Advisors (LEA), an organization that amplifies the voices of those who have experienced homelessness. Through LEA and collaborations with groups like Stronger Women United, she engages in advocacy efforts, including writing to policymakers and participating in city council meetings, to address systemic issues contributing to homelessness.
LaVada England
LaVada England is a passionate advocate, mentor, and storyteller whose work is deeply informed by her own journey through homelessness. She shares her experience with grace and strength, offering powerful insights into the challenges faced by individuals navigating housing instability.
As a licensed substance abuse counselor and published author, LaVada blends clinical expertise with empathy and creative expression. Her mission is to empower women, youth, and underserved communities to find healing, voice, and leadership through lived experience.
Pyllis Jean Blanck
Phyllis Jean Blanck is a dedicated advocate for individuals experiencing homelessness in San Diego, leveraging her personal experiences to drive systemic change. After enduring homelessness herself, Phyllis became actively involved with Lived Experience Advisors (LEA), a group of formerly homeless individuals focused on advocating for the human rights of unhoused individuals in San Diego.
She has shared her experiences publicly, including authoring an op-ed in the San Diego Union-Tribune, where she highlighted the inefficacy of relying solely on law enforcement to address homelessness.
Phyllis's dedication to this cause is further exemplified by her participation in public discussions and media engagements, where she continues to challenge misconceptions about homelessness and advocate for systemic change. Her efforts contribute significantly to the ongoing dialogue surrounding homelessness in San Diego, promoting understanding and action toward meaningful solutions.
Julie Porter
Julie brings lived expertise and a deep sense of empathy to her role as a speaker and consultant. After experiencing homelessness in her late 50s, Julie has become a powerful voice in the movement to humanize housing insecurity. Featured in the San Diego Union-Tribune, she shares her personal story to challenge stereotypes and inspire policy change. Julie is passionate about advocacy, storytelling, and empowering others to see homelessness through a lens of dignity and possibility.
Kuni Stearns
Kuni Stearns is a passionate and deeply committed advocate based in San Diego who brings his lived experience as a formerly unhoused person into his work supporting those facing housing instability. A San Diego resident for over 40 years, Stearns spent two decades working in hospitality before a downturn in 2018 left him without a stable home—he lived in his car and briefly sheltered at the San Diego Convention Center during the pandemic.
Since regaining housing, Kuni has dedicated himself to transforming the homelessness response landscape. He is a senior consultant with Lived Experience Advisors (LEA), where he leverages his personal journey to inform policy and shape community-focused programs.
Throughout San Diego’s homeless services, Stearns is actively involved in multiple policy and advisory committees—including the Regional Task Force on Homelessness and the San Diego Housing Federation’s Policy Committee—where he elevates perspectives grounded in personal experience