Bring on the Joy!

Cindy has worked in K-12 education for about 30 years — as a teacher, an administrator, in public and private schools — most recently focused on kids who learn differently. Cindy believes that each one of us is different and different is good. She has had the opportunity to have thousands of conversations with parents, kids, teachers, community members and more. She is honored to host CHC’s new Voices of Compassion podcast and hopes that it will be just what you need these days.

Liza Bennigson is the mother of 2 elementary school children and the Associate Director of Marketing and Communications at CHC. In her personal and professional roles alike, Liza is an avid reader, writer and researcher on all-things parenting, self-care and mental health. Her “mom blogs” have been picked up by publications such as Huffpost, POPSUGAR and, of course, the CHC Resource Library. In her spare time, Liza is on a perpetual quest for work-life balance, and enjoys the great outdoors, discount shopping and spontaneous dance parties with her kids.

Mike is a graduate from Loyola University Chicago, where he received his Bachelor of Business Administration in business, marketing. He worked as a Communications and Media Facilitator, educating adults with developmental and learning differences for one of the leading nonprofits in Silicon Valley, Hope Services. At Hope, he worked with a local community college to cultivate personal development, autonomy, interdependence, and emotional well-being, while incorporating technology. At Loyola, he was a Marketing Assistant for both Student Government and for a community of family-owned businesses at Loyola’s Family Business Center. In his spare time, he worked as a freelance writer curating a Wikipedia page for a breast cancer survivor and advocates for the cause who ignited a national campaign called “Paint the Town Pink.” As a writer, educator, advocate, and marketing intern, he has established an educational framework, bridging communities together while offering digital, social, and written content as a resource. Mike is elated to be joining the CHC team, to attentively address the national movement of 1 in 5, affecting those with learning and mental health needs. Work aside, Mike loves running and just finished his first half marathon in San Jose. He enjoys cinematic photography, cuddles with his Scottish Terrier, adventuring near and far and discovering new coffee shops.