Gigi Crowder, is the Chief Executive Officer for NAMI Contra Costa, having accepted this position as Executive Director in January 2018, after serving in a consultant role as their Fund Developer. Gigi, is the mother of two biological children; 33 years old twin sons and has served as a foster mom and mentor to many more through divine interventions. Gigi served for over 9 years as the Ethnic Services Manager for Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services and has worked in the field for more than 33 years after completing her studies at the University of California, Berkeley. As a family member of several loved ones who have received private and public mental health services she is a strong advocate for promoting culturally responsive behavioral health services that embrace community defined strategies and value lived experience. She is a woman of great faith and has develop a faith based curriculum, Mental Health Friendly Communities which is designed to train Faith Leaders of the important role they play as the most preferred first responders to those experiencing mental health challenges. Gigi is unapologetic about her efforts to address the needs of African Americans impacted by mental illness who she deems as the most harmed and neglected due to systemic racism. She has received several awards for her work. Highlights of her career are being inducted in the Alameda County Women Hall of Fame for her work in developing programs to enhance employment opportunities for individuals with living with mental illness. In March 2025 she was named California Woman of the Year for California Assembly District 15.