Juan Vélez Court, is the Lead Consultant for Compartiendo Esperanza, NAMI's mental health program focused on the Latino and Hispanic communities within the Cross-Cultural Innovation and Engagement office. He brings more than two decades of work at the meeting point of culture and mental health, building spaces where Latino and Hispanic communities can have the conversations they were often taught to avoid. Based out of Puerto Rico, Juan has been part of NAMI since the early 2000s based on his personal lived experience, eventually transitioning into a consulting role. Juan spent thirteen years with the Puerto Rico government, where he founded the island's first government-run peer support program for people facing mental health and substance use challenges. He has consulted for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and other national initiatives and brings a background in digital storytelling that he uses to help community members share their own stories. His approach draws from his Puerto Rican roots, where family, community, and shared stories are the foundation of how people heal together.