Executive Director
National Alliance on Mental Illness Minnesota

Sue Abderholden has devoted her career to changing laws and attitudes that affect people with disabilities and their families.  Since the fall of 2001, she has served as the executive director for NAMI Minnesota (National Alliance on Mental Illness) where she has grown the organization to be the largest provider of family and public education and support in the state and the state’s strongest advocacy organization.

She has held leadership positions with Arc of Minnesota, U.S. Senator Paul D. Wellstone and PACER Center.  Sue has a B.A. in political science from Macalester College and a master’s degree in public health administration from the University of Minnesota.  She and her family had a foster care license for many years providing respite care for families of children with disabilities and youth aging out of foster care. She is a community faculty member for the U of MN School of Social Work teaching health and mental health policy.

Ms. Abderholden has received numerous awards for her advocacy including the 202 0 Esther Wattenberg Policy Award, being named one of the 100 most influential health care leaders by MN Physician, the 2018 Rona and Ken Purdy Award to End Discrimination from National NAMI, Excellence in Mental Health Advocacy and Policy Award from the International African Mental Health Providers, 2013 Gaylord Anderson Leadership Award from the U of M School of Public Health and the National Council for Behavioral Health 2013 Advocacy Leadership Award.

Chief Executive Officer
North Point Health and Wellness

Kimberly Spates is the Chief Executive Officer of NorthPoint Health & Wellness Center, a federally qualified health center serving over 30,000 residents in North Minneapolis and Hennepin County. Established in 1968, NorthPoint provides comprehensive medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy, radiology, laboratory, and human services.

Ms. Spates embodies a two-decade commitment to community wellness through culturally responsive programs and whole-person care. As the former NorthPoint Human Services Chief Operations Officer, Ms. Spates managed an annual $12 million budget to serve 15,000 individuals, specializing in integrated health and human services. Her strategic leadership and collaborative spirit have driven impactful policy development and program improvements.

Her expertise lies in implementing innovative solutions while maintaining effective communication and fostering relationships across organizations, with the community and external stakeholders. Ms. Spates is dedicated to building impactful internal and external relations leading to organizational growth.

Adept at managing funding initiatives, she orchestrated over $2 million in American Rescue Act housing assistance. Prior to NorthPoint, Kimberly’s tenure at Hennepin County showcased her visionary leadership, fostering high school graduation rate improvements for youth of color.

Ms. Spates has previously served on community boards, including Restorative Justice Community Action, Alliance Housing, the Council of Minnesotans of African Heritage, and The Bridge for Youth. She volunteers in the community through mentoring and coaching the Minnesota Diamond Elite girls’ basketball team. Ms. Spates is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., and a recent recipient of the Sons of Bransford Community Award. Additionally, she serves on the Minnesota Integrated Care for Early Childhood Initiative Advisory Committee and the North Memorial Community Engagement Advisory Team.

Ms. Spates holds a Master of Public Administration from Metropolitan State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Texas A&M University-Commerce.
Kimberly A. Spates

Behavioral Health Director
American Indian Family Center

Jessica Gourneau, Ph.D., LP, is a Doctoral-Level Licensed Psychologist and an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa. She has dedicated her career to supporting the mental health and wellness of American Indian communities. Dr. Gourneau serves as the Clinical Director at the American Indian Family Center (AIFC) in St. Paul, Minnesota, where she oversees mental health, chemical dependency, and women’s health programming. Additional previous work includes her time at AIFC as a therapist in the Healing Generations program, providing culturally grounded mental health services in collaboration with other American Indian organizations.

Dr. Gourneau holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of North Dakota and specializes in the treatment of complex trauma among Native clients. Her therapeutic philosophy integrates Western models of care with traditional American Indian ways of knowing, emphasizing a shift in focus from sickness to wellness. She firmly believes that healing occurs most effectively when cultural traditions are honored and embedded within the therapeutic process. Beyond her clinical leadership, Dr. Gourneau is deeply committed to education and advocacy. She has served as an adjunct faculty member at Adler Graduate School, teaching courses on multicultural counseling and mentoring future mental health professionals. She also contributes her expertise as a member of the American Indian Mental Health Advisory Council, where she advises the state of Minnesota on mental health issues affecting Native communities.

Dr. Gourneau is passionate about community education and elevating awareness of the contemporary challenges facing American Indian populations. Through her leadership, clinical work, and mentorship, she continues to advance healing practices that are culturally responsive, community-centered, and rooted in resilience.