No Barriers

Dr. Perea-Henze is a global health physician, government official, and corporate executive who served most recently as Deputy Mayor for Health & Human Services for the City of New York since 2019. He was responsible for the citywide response for COVID19 from the start of the pandemic, preparedness for recurrences, and recovery efforts. He was the Chair of the NYC Health and Social Services Sector Advisory Councils and Co-Chair of the Mayor’s Racial Inclusiveness and Equity Task Force. He also provided oversight for 14 agencies, including the departments of health & mental hygiene, social and homeless services, children, aging, the public hospital system, domestic violence, LGBTQ, data informatics, and food policy.Nominated by President Obama and confirmed by the Senate, Raul served as the Assistant Secretary for Policy and Planning at the Department of Veterans Affairs from 2010-2013.Currently, he serves as a member of the Advisory Board to the Comptroller General of The United States. His former affiliations include being a founding member of the Clinton Global Initiative, a board member for President George HW Bush Points of Light Foundation, and an advisor on global poverty and Veteran affairs for President Jimmy Carter Center and President George W. Bush Institute respectively. He’s been committed to philanthropic causes volunteering in over 30 non-profit boards in health, mental health, AIDS, and Latino affairs over the past three decades.Dr. Perea-Henze graduated magna cum laude as a Medical Doctor in Mexico at age 21 and obtained a Master's degree in Public Health, with a concentration in Health Policy and Management, from Yale University, School of Medicine. He has also completed Executive Leadership Programs at Harvard Business School and JFK School of Government and INSEAD, France. He has worked or traveled to 145 countries and is fluent in English, Spanish, French, and Italian.

Prior to her combat injury and subsequent retirement from service, Command Sergeant Major Gretchen Evans served 27 years in the US Army and was responsible for more than 30,000 ground troops in Afghanistan. She is one of the most decorated female veterans in U.S. history.During her service, Gretchen survived a rocket blast which left her with hearing loss and a traumatic brain injury. While struggling with depression after her injury, she relied on a new rope team to bring her back into the world and show her she still had the ability to find purpose by serving and leading again. Despite her injuries, Gretchen serves others as a passionate volunteer. She also achieved her No Barriers goal by finishing her book, “Leading from the Front.”  Last year, Gretchen assembled Team Unbroken  -  the first-ever team whose members all had disabilities  -  to compete in the World’s Toughest Race: Eco-Challenge Fiji, hosted by Bear Grylls. Watch now on Amazon Prime!Now, Gretchen is scheduled to be inducted into the U.S. Veterans Hall of Fame for her outstanding and meritorious service within the United States Army and in her community.Resources:Read the No Barriers Warriors blog on Gretchen Read more about Team Unbroken in Runner’s WorldWatch Team Unbroken on Amazon PrimeFollow Gretchen on Facebook:  @AdventurousAura

Richard Casper is a United States Marine Veteran, Purple Heart recipient, Artist, and Entrepreneur. He is the co-founder and Executive Director of CreatiVets, a non-profit that provides art, music, and writing programs for wounded veterans with post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injuries. Richard was named one of TIME magazine’s ​Next Generation Leaders,​ is the feature of TIME’s documentary​ ​Evidence of Things Unseen,​ ​and recognized by President George W. Bush and The Bush Institute for his passion and work helping combat veterans. He was one of the thirty-three scholars chosen to be in President Bush’s Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program.Richard served in the USMC from 2003-2007. During the first portion of his enlistment, Casper served as Presidential guard at Camp David. Later in 2006-2007 during his tour in Iraq, Richard survived four IED blasts which left him with a left-traumatic brain injury and witnessed the death of his friend which caused his post-traumatic stress. After nearly giving up, he discovered art and song-writing as therapeutic forms of expression and went on to attend and graduate from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. From his experiences, he later created art and songwriting programs for CreatiVets to help other combat wounded veterans heal. Richard has taught art at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Virginia Commonwealth University, and the University of Southern California. He is a keynote speaker, songwriter, and entrepreneur. He resides in Nashville TN with his wife Ashley and son Barrett.Resources:Visit CreatiVets Website Read about CreatiVets in ForbesLearn more about CreatiVets partnership with AmazonFollow CreatiVets on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter

After serving 14 years in both the Navy as a chef to the Commander of the US 6th Fleet and then transitioning on to becoming an Army team leader in one of the military’s most dangerous jobs, Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), Staff Sergeant Aaron Hale was blinded by an IED. Not letting his injuries hold him back, Aaron became an EOD instructor, motivational speaker, mountain climber, white water kayaker, and marathon runner. Four years later tragedy struck again when Aaron contracted bacterial meningitis which robbed him of his hearing leaving him not just 100% blind but completely deaf as well.Again, Aaron picked himself up, dusted off, and continued to chase the best of what life has to offer. Today, he’s back speaking and sharing his story, running marathons, he’s a proud husband and father of a 9-year-old son and the recent addition of identical twins, runs a thriving chocolate company with his wife, and recently completed his first 100-mile ultramarathon.Resources:Purchase Aaron's Extraordinary Delights here.Follow Aaron and his Extraordinary Delights on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter (@EODConfections)The Boston Herald covers Aaron's journey to the Boston MarathonAaron Hale featured on ESPNWatch Aaron's story on Fox NewsWatch Aaron's story on VIMEO  

Debbie Fisher was a physical therapist for over 20 years and is now a full-time caretaker for her daughter, Grace. In 2014 during her senior year of High School, Grace Fisher’s spine was ravaged by a virus leaving her paralyzed from the neck down. She was diagnosed with Acute Flaccid Myelitis and sent to Craig Rehabilitation Hospital in Denver, CO. At Craig Hospital, she was introduced to music therapy and adaptive art. This not only helped strengthen her neck but also helped heal her mind and soul. She worked with Make-A-Wish Foundation to fulfill her desire to help other children with disabilities through art and music, by starting The Grace Foundation, which brings the healing touch of art therapy to other children living with a disability. Debbie resides in Santa Barbara alongside her husband, Bill, and their daughters, Grace, and Emily.Resources:Visit the Grace FoundationWatch the Trailer for Amazing GraceCheck out Grace’s Blog“Embracing New Possibilities”

Melissa Comeau is honored to serve as the Director of the American Red Cross Military and Veteran Caregiver Network.Her book Sleeping with the War was published in 2015 and has brought the family and caregiver perspective to life after combat.  Melissa served as a Fellow for the Elizabeth Dole Foundation. She has a long history of providing peer support to military families and is supporting efforts at Blue Star Families, Psych Armor, and the Military Family Advisory Network.Melissa was appointed to the Federal Advisory Committee for Veterans’ Family, Caregivers and Survivors at the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs. She is a recognized advocate for the military and veteran community with a career supported by an MSM in Information Technology and Project Management.Her education and background have made her a valuable resource and a pioneer in the development of technology to support caregivers.  Melissa is invested in the long-term care of our Nation’s heroes as well as their families, children, caregivers, and survivors.  She is also the spouse and caregiver of a combat-wounded United States Marine.Resources:American Red Cross Military and Veteran Caregiver NetworkVisit the MVCN Website to log in to the Online Community, use the Hero Care Resource Library, or find upcoming events on the Caregiver Calendar.   

Who are Youth Caregivers? Caregiving youths are children and adolescents who are 18 years of age or younger and who provide significant or substantial assistance, often on a regular basis, to relatives or household members who need help because of physical or mental illness, disability, frailty associated with aging, substance misuse, or other condition.Connie Siskowski’s broad background in healthcare and dedication to diminishing caregiver struggles led to the establishment of the American Association for Caregiving Youth (AACY), headquartered in Boca Raton, FL. AACY integrates healthcare, education, and the community to provide a strong foundation for the youth and their families.Connie authored the book, I’m a Teen Caregiver. Now What?  She has received many awards including the lifetime Ashoka Fellowship, Purpose Prize, Distinguished Alumna Award from Johns Hopkins University, and Top Ten CNN Hero for 2012. Connie is now on the faculty of the national Family RAISE Caregiving Council to give caregiving youth a voice.Resources: NY Time Article: Supporting Children who Serve as Caregivers American Association of Caregiving YouthAACY VideosCNN Hero: Connie Siskowski

In 2014, Jill was a Phys Ed teacher in Europe when she was hit in the head by a rogue baseball during class. The severity of the blow resulted in a traumatic brain injury and a 70% vision loss. In addition to the physical wounds, it left Jill in a deep state of despair. After 26 months in 7 hospitals in 3 countries, she was finally on the road to physically recover but still felt emotionally lost. Inspired by the mountain view from her hospital bed, she formed a goal: to run trails on mountains all around the world - a challenge to her broken body and the return to independence that she craved.

An educator for over twenty years, Lisa Yokana is the STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) coordinator at Scarsdale High School, where she designed and teaches a three-level STEAM course sequence for Scarsdale’s Design Lab.  In 2019, the program won the gold medal in the STEAMEX international contest for innovative curriculum design. Lisa works with teachers across the disciplines to integrate Design Thinking and Making into their curriculum. She was a Coach for IDEO’s Teachers Guild, is an author of curriculum for outside organizations including the U.S. History Advanced Placement course, and co-instructs Project Zero/Harvard Graduate School of Education’s online class: Thinking and Learning in the Maker Centered Classroom. She leads Innovation Education, Design Thinking and Maker workshops and presents at conferences, encouraging educators to shift their practice.  Lisa earned her BA in Studio Art and French Literature from Williams College, where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, and her Master's Degree in Art History from Columbia University. She also has a degree in building and district level administration from Stony Brook University. Resources:Follow Lisa on Twitter: @lyokana59Check out her Blog: http://innovated2x.blogspot.com/How I Built This PodcastThe No Barriers Global Impact Challenge Winners: Scarsdale High SchoolNo Barriers Education Resources

Michael O'Toole has been immersed in education and coaching for more than three decades. His work in the classroom focuses on the areas of both physical and cultural geography as well as Earth system science. Throughout his career as an educator and curriculum developer, he has had the opportunity to work with students and teachers around the world and with such organizations as National Geographic, NASA, UCAR, the National Science Foundation, The GLOBE Program, Discovery Education, and the University of Colorado. Michael spent 2 years as the STEM Coordinator for St. Vrain Valley Schools before moving to his current position as Coordinator of Science Curriculum for St. Vrain Valley Schools.  He is very interested in increasing geographic and scientific knowledge as well as promoting STEM education and the use of technology in the classroom. Michael is an avid outdoorsman and can be found regularly on the trails and frequently summits Mount Kilimanjaro.Resources:How St. Vrain Valley Schools Started a STEM RevolutionNPR Article: How 3 Countries are Educating Their Kids During Their PandemicSt. Vrain Valley SchoolsNo Barriers for Educators