Voices Taking the Stage

Get to know your NAMICon 2026 speakers. Each one has lived it, studied it or fought for it. Together, they're bringing their most powerful stories, breakthroughs and hard-won wisdom to one place — for you.

Main Stage Keynotes

We Are Enough: Blake Mycoskie in Conversation with Dan Gillison

Thursday | 9 a.m. – 10:15 am

Blake Mycoskie

Carnie Wilson

From Surviving to Thriving: Intentional Caring for Youth Mental Health

Thursday | 3:30 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. 

Dr. Alfiee

Founder of The AAKOMA Project and lead of the MATTIE Fund 

Carnie Wilson

Conversations with Carnie: Mental Illness and Tardive Dyskinesia (TD)

Friday | 9 a.m. – 10 a.m.

Carnie Wilson

Grammy nominated singer songwriter, mental health advocate

Carnie is a paid spokesperson for Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. She does not have TD. 

Carnie Wilson

Fireside Chat with Joshua Bassett

Friday | 3:15 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. 

Joshua Bassett

American actor, singer-songwriter, and musician

Carnie Wilson

William and Carol Carpenter Professor in Psychiatry in Mental Illness Research, University Of Maryland

Deanna L. Kelly, PharmD, BCPP, FAAPP 

William and Carol Carpenter Professor in Psychiatry in Mental Illness Research, University Of Maryland

Carnie Wilson

Impact Session Speakers

Full NameJob TitleCompany
Dawn BrownDirector, CCIENAMI National
Alfiee Breland-Noble, Ph.D., MHSc.Founder, The AAKOMA Project(not set)
Amanda BowlingPostdoctoral FellowBallmer Institute for Children's Behavioral Health at the University of Oregon
James BowersExecutive DirectorNAMI Nebraska
Gwenda BoothBoard of DirectorsNAMI-Gwinnett
Ashley BlumExecutive DirectorNAMI Davidson Co.
David BinetNational Director, Governance & AccreditationNAMI
Matthew BernsteinChief Medical OfficerAccord and Ellenhorn
Doug BeachExecutive DirectorNAMI Greater San Antonio
Joshua BassettEmmy-winning Actor, Singe/Songwriter, and Author(not set)
Paul Bashea WilliamsCEOHearts In Mind Counseling
Margie BalfourExecutive Policy AdvisorConnections Health Solutions
Cathy Applefeld OlsonFounderHollywood & Mind
NAMI Scientific Advisory Council(not set)NAMI National
NAMI National NextGen Advisors(not set)NAMI National
Da'VinchiActor, NAMI Ambassador(not set)
Bridgespan(not set)(not set)