Who We are

Jessica Gallagher is a strategic leader with a background in behavioural psychology and extensive experience working alongside vulnerable and marginalised communities.

Her work focuses on designing and scaling psychologically informed, community-based interventions that support women experiencing social isolation, domestic and sexual violence, mental health challenges including anxiety and depression, and addiction-related difficulties. She specialises in translating behavioural insight into practical, trauma-aware frameworks that strengthen protective factors, foster resilience, and support sustainable behaviour change.

Jessica brings significant experience in programme design and implementation at scale, alongside a strong understanding of governance, safeguarding, and risk awareness within community settings. Her work spans cross-sector collaboration, stakeholder engagement, monitoring and evaluation, and impact measurement. She is committed to building preventative, sustainable models that reduce long-term social and economic costs while improving outcomes for individuals and families.

Grounded in behavioural science, Jessica is particularly interested in how environments, systems, and social connection shape individual and community wellbeing. Her approach integrates evidence, lived experience, and structured development pathways to create measurable, long-term impact.

She welcomes engagement with boards, funders, and partners who are committed to strengthening community resilience through strategic, evidence-informed leadership.

The Uplift Project is honoured to welcome Dr. Deborah Gilmour to our Board. Originally from Scotland, Dr. Gilmour holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing and a Doctorate in Neuropsychology. She is a Board Certified Hypnotherapist, Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP) Practitioner, and is certified in Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT). She also serves as Regional Trainer/Director for Scotland and trainer in Connecticut for Fertility and Birth by Hypnosis through the Hypno/Fertility Foundation.

Dr. Gilmour began her nursing career at Hairmyres Hospital in Scotland and completed further training at Jackson Memorial Hospital/University of Miami. Early in her career, while still studying, she dedicated three nights a week to supporting emotionally traumatised children through Kids in Distress, a South Miami intervention organisation — an early sign of her lifelong commitment to vulnerable communities.

Invited by internationally recognised neurosurgeon Dr. Barth Green, she joined the neurosurgical trauma team at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center, specialising in brain and spinal cord injury. Her work in this field was both professional and deeply personal; having experienced family loss due to brain trauma, she developed profound compassion for patients and families navigating life-altering injuries. Her approach focuses not only on medical recovery, but on helping individuals move beyond crisis and rediscover hope.

For more than 25 years, Dr. Gilmour also served Miami’s homeless community, providing blankets, meals, and consistent outreach to those sheltering beneath the bridges of Biscayne Boulevard. Her commitment to veterans, survivors of sexual abuse, individuals with spinal cord and brain trauma, and those experiencing homelessness continues to define her life’s work.

Following extensive education and clinical experience, Dr. Gilmour transitioned into private practice and co-founded Multilingual Rehabilitation and Assessment in Connecticut. Her work integrates neuroscience, psychology, and holistic therapeutic techniques, enabling clients to understand both the physiological and psychological roots of their challenges — an approach that distinguishes her among her peers.

Dr. Gilmour’s lifelong dedication to healing, advocacy, and community service aligns powerfully with The Uplift Project’s mission to support and empower women and families. Her global experience, clinical expertise, and unwavering compassion bring invaluable leadership to our Board.

About – Connecticut Hypnotherapy

The Uplift Project is proud to welcome Shelley Padgett to our Board. Shelley is a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner and the founder of Liminal Psychiatry, bringing more than 20 years of experience across nursing and mental health care.

Raised in Alabama, Shelley began her career as a critical care nurse, spending 14 years supporting patients in high-acuity settings before transitioning into psychiatry. In 2022, she relocated her practice to New York City, combining her Southern roots with the depth and diversity of big-city clinical experience. This dual perspective informs her compassionate, grounded, and culturally responsive approach to mental health care.

Shelley founded Liminal Psychiatry in response to healthcare models that too often prioritise systems over people. Her practice is intentionally built around thoughtful, relationship-centred care that honours the dignity and individuality of each person. She holds psychiatric nurse practitioner training from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from Chatham University.

Her clinical expertise includes the treatment of anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD, ADHD, Autism, Borderline Personality Disorder, and sleep disorders. She also incorporates integrative, evidence-based approaches, including ketamine-assisted therapy where appropriate for treatment-resistant conditions.

The word “liminal” means “the space between” — that transitional space where change and growth begin. Having navigated her own experiences of transition with strong mental health support, Shelley deeply understands the courage it takes to step into uncertainty. She brings this empathy and insight into her work, walking alongside individuals as they find healing, resilience, and renewal.

Shelley’s professional values — truth, integrity, and faithfulness — strongly align with The Uplift Project’s commitment to empowering women and families through compassionate, ethical, and transformative support. We are honoured to have her expertise, leadership, and heart guiding our work.

Liminal Psychiatry | An Invitation to Growth

The Uplift Project is proud to welcome Rachel Barry Stinson to our Board. With more than 20 years of residence in Nashville and Brentwood, Rachel has witnessed firsthand the remarkable growth and transformation of the city she and her family proudly call home. A seasoned real estate professional since 2007, she has successfully navigated shifting markets — from recession recovery to periods of intense housing demand — averaging more than 25 transactions per year across first-time buyers, luxury properties, and investment portfolios.

Rachel is known for her strong representation of clients in Brentwood and Oak Hill, where she lives with her family, and for building her business on personal values of hard work, integrity, and excellence. Whether utilising innovative marketing strategies for luxury homes or helping investors secure opportunities in a growing city, she is committed to professionalism and achieving meaningful results for those she serves.

Originally from New York City, Rachel’s life experience extends well beyond real estate. She has spent several years engaged in mission work in Central Africa and has volunteered as an ESL tutor supporting refugees resettling in Tennessee. These experiences have shaped her ability to work with individuals and families from diverse backgrounds with empathy, cultural sensitivity, and ease.

Rachel also holds dual residency between Gweedore, Donegal and the United States, maintaining deep connections on both sides of the Atlantic. This global perspective strengthens her understanding of community, belonging, and the importance of safe and stable homes.

She brings to The Uplift Project a deep passion for addressing domestic violence and wider societal issues affecting women and families. Rachel believes strongly in creating systems of support that protect dignity, foster safety, and empower individuals to rebuild and thrive.

Her professional expertise, global outlook, and heartfelt commitment to social impact make her a powerful addition to The Uplift Project’s Board as we continue working to uplift and support women and families in our communities.

Meet the Team — Rachel Barry Stinson

The Uplift Project is delighted to welcome Mindy Solomon to our Board. Mindy is an accomplished Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with more than two decades of experience strengthening foster care systems, supporting individuals and families, and designing and delivering impactful training programmes across human services.

A trauma-informed and creative practitioner, Mindy is deeply committed to helping individuals reconnect with their emotional safety and inner resilience. Her work moves beyond traditional talk therapy, integrating movement, expressive arts, and playful engagement to support nervous system regulation, rebuild trust, and create space for healing at each person’s own pace.

With extensive experience across Connecticut’s foster care and human services landscape, Mindy has a unique ability to translate complex trauma concepts into accessible, empowering experiences for individuals, families, and groups. Her approach centres on dignity, choice, and collaboration — ensuring every interaction reinforces safety and strengthens a person’s sense of possibility.

Whether working in an office, a family home, a school, or outdoors in the community, Mindy brings empathy, innovation, and a steadfast belief in the transformative power of play. She understands that joy, connection, and self-expression are not luxuries in the healing process — they are essential.

Mindy’s dedication to trauma-informed, relationship-centred support strongly aligns with The Uplift Project’s mission to empower women and families. Her expertise and compassionate leadership are invaluable as we continue building safe, supportive spaces where healing and growth can flourish.