Meet HAVE
About Us
Mental health advocate, motivational speaker, and author, Dr. Kisha Tinson is committed to providing students and educators with the necessary tools to prevent the long-term effects that exposure to mental illness has on student learning.
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Jasmine Whitley is a product of LAUSD. As a former student, she identified a need for greater socioemotional education in academic settings. Jasmine's podcast, "What School Didn't Teach Me", educates youth on topics that are not typically addressed in academic settings but are imperative to life.
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Dr. Kisha Tinson and her daughter Jasmine founded The HAVE Foundation to provide mental health education and resources to underrepresented populations. Our mission is to reduce the stigma attached to mental illness and promote mental wellness throughout the communities we serve. The HAVE Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency.
Our Story
In 2008, I made one of the most difficult decisions in my life. I relocated from Greenville, MS to Inglewood, CA. At the time, I was an unemployed single mother determined to provide a better life for my daughter. Imagine how overwhelming it was for me to adjust from two lane roads to the 405 freeway. Not only was it difficult for me, but the adjustment was difficult for my daughter as well. Then something happened. A community rallied around us. The principal and one special teacher embraced us. The owner of the local donut shop, where we frequented for breakfast each day, offered to teach Jasmine to speak Spanish. Each day he taught her a new word. Even the local grocery store clerks knew our faces and eagerly asked Jasmine about herself and her school day. It was a community. We were the part of a nurturing community. A year later we relocated to South LA. Jasmine had to attend a different school. We no longer visited the donut shop. They didn’t know us in the grocery store. The community and support system we’d grown accustomed to was gone. It was then that I realized how critical community is to child development. Seeing how that transition impacted my daughter and myself fueled a newfound passion for helping others.
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In 2014, Jasmine and I started The HAVE Foundation. As Founder and Executive Director, I have the pleasure of servicing families throughout California. I know the long term impact support from a caring community can have on a family. I hope to have the opportunity to meet your family soon.
Yours in Service,
Dr. Cheree