About Us
Executive Director
Dorian Cromartie
Dorian Cromartie was born and raised in Wilmington, North Carolina. His roots go generations deep. Dorian attended Forest Hills Elementary School and Roland Grise Middle School before his family moved to Georgia. A proud veteran, Dorian served for six years in the United States Army, 82nd Airborne Division. Dorian is happy to be back home in Wilmington where he feels called to serve as a community leader and fundraiser, social justice activist, and staunch education advocate. Dorian leads the community non-profit, Almond Seed, which focuses on mental health awareness across all generational lines. Dorian is the Chairperson of the Cape Fear Community Land Trust and is a member of the NAACP and the Cape Fear Your Housing Coalition. Dorian was instrumental in leading the successful campaign to save the Wilmington Journal.
Dorian’s inspiration is his grandmother, Rachel Freeman, a former New Hanover County School Board member, who fought fearlessly all the way to the North Carolina Statehouse for educational equity. He spends much of his time fighting to preserve and extend Rachel Freeman’s legacy, by tirelessly advocating for the rights of NHC students and parents. Dorian has a special place in his heart for the students of the Rachel Freeman School of Engineering.
Our Board Members
Henry McNeil
Henry McNeil was raised in Seabreeze, NC, and still lives there. He has 3 children, 5 grandchildren, and 1 great-grandchild. Mr. McNeil worked for AT&T for 33 years. During his career, he held a maintenance and management position. He also served 4 years in the Unites States Air Force, from 1964-1968 in the medical group. In his retirement, Mr. Neil enjoys golf, fishing, and spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. He enjoys talking to his friends and family about how important mental health is for his generation.
Advisor
Franchon Francees
Franchon Francees is the founder of Healing Your Almond, a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and a Certified Trauma Practitioner and Trainer. She founded Healing Your Almond, a Wilmington, NC-based consulting group, in 2019, utilizing her expertise in both trauma and emotional intelligence to help companies address employee stress and team efficiency. Known for her authentic leadership and engaging presentations, Franchon discovered her passion for mental health in 2007.
Over the years she has held several positions including Clinical/Residential Coordinator of a 61-bed treatment facility. In 2016, Franchon moved to Wilmington, NC. She continued her clinical work in a community-based mental health setting, specializing in treating those impacted by trauma. Prior to her work in mental health, Franchon was the project manager for a startup in Brooklyn, New York. She graduated from Bentley University in 2005 with a degree in business and earned a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health in 2011 from Ohio University.