About Us
our organization’s history, Mission, and team
In 2018, mental health clinicians Gwen Harris and Aisha Yesher-El came together with a shared vision: closing gaps in quality mental health care for families too often overlooked by traditional systems. After seeing firsthand how trauma and limited access to services impact children and caregivers, they created a place where expert, nonjudgmental, culturally responsive care could thrive.
Our Mission
Our mission is to help children and families achieve social and emotional well-being by providing high-quality, trauma-focused mental health care across Mecklenburg County. We bring weekly, culturally responsive support into trusted community spaces so families can start sooner, stay engaged, and build long-term stability.
Our Vision
Our vision is a Mecklenburg County where barriers to mental wellness no longer determine a child’s future. We are working toward a community where every family can access timely, affirming, affordable care, and where healing strengthens schools, supports steady work, and helps neighborhoods thrive.
Meet Our Team
The FACTS Initiative is a Black-woman-led, community-rooted mental health nonprofit. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are core to who we are and how we serve. We believe healing happens when people feel seen, respected, and supported, and when families have a real voice in decisions that affect them.
We lead collaboratively. Our Executive Director, Board of Directors, and program leads shape strategy together, grounded in what our clinicians see every day and what our community partners and families tell us they need. Our team and partners have deep ties to Mecklenburg County and a shared commitment to expanding access to care.
Our Co-Founders
Gwen Harris (Co-Founder and Executive Director) is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and Nationally Certified Counselor with a background in both clinical care and leadership. She holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in military leadership from Columbus State University.
Gwen’s approach is shaped by her clinical training as well as her 18 years of service in the United States Army and Army Reserves, where she developed experience in leadership, team management, and resilience. She is trained in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT), and the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (NMT). Her work is grounded in trauma-informed care and a deep understanding of how life experiences impact emotional and behavioral health. When she is away from the office, Gwen enjoys doing all things creative.
Aisha Yesher-El is a Co-Founder of The FACTS Initiative. A proud Charlotte native and West Charlotte High School graduate, she brings a deep-rooted commitment to service and a passion for creating opportunities for healing, growth, and empowerment within her community.
Aisha earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a focus on Public Health and a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor who takes a client-centered, integrative approach to care, drawing from evidence-based practices to support each individual’s unique needs. Beyond her professional work, Aisha is passionate about mindfulness, creative expression, and holistic wellness. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, hiking, practicing yoga, traveling, and finding ways to blend creativity with community care.
Our Board of directors
Our Board of Directors is a hands-on group of community leaders who help guide FACTS’ strategy, strengthen partnerships, and support sustainable funding so that more children and families can access mental wellness services. We actively recruit leaders whose lived experience and professional backgrounds reflect the communities we serve. If you care about care about equity, community healing, and expanding mental healthcare access across our region, please get in touch with us!
“Access to compassionate, quality care that is essential to all families and individuals is the reason that I serve on the board of directors. The FACTS Initiative meets children and families where they are, removes barriers to give the care that they need, and creates opportunities for real healing.”
Our Community Partners
The FACTS provides affordable, evidence-based outpatient care on a sliding scale and extends no-cost services through our Community Partnership Program (CPP). By bringing licensed therapists to trusted partner nonprofits, we meet families where they already receive help and coordinate wraparound support.
Our current partners include organizations focused on transitional housing, domestic violence advocacy, support for human-trafficking survivors, and family stability. Take a look at our Programs to learn more about these amazing partnerships and the way we collaborate to provide coordinated care for our families. Contact us if you are interested in becoming a partner!
our Funders & Sponsors
FACTS is grateful for the funders and sponsors who make our work possible. Your support helps expand access to mental wellness services, strengthen community-based programs, and reduce barriers for families who otherwise couldn’t afford care. If you or your organization would like to invest in healing and long-term wellbeing in our community, we’d love to talk.