Happy to announce the agenda for the Mental Health & AI for Public Good Summit sponsored by Google/Watson Institute!
📅 Thursday, January 8, 2026
📍 Cascade Overlook Event Center | Ashburn, VA
🕘 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
⚠️ Few spots left — registration closing soon
💻 Virtual attendance available
ACT I — THE FRONTLINE & LIVED REALITY
9:00–9:05 | Founder’s Opening: Why This Summit Exists
Taylor Ragano — Founder, Serenity Station | Google Data Center Community AI Fellow
9:05–9:07 | Summit Welcome
Arienne Thompson Plourde — Economic & Community Development, Google Data Centers
9:07–9:30 | Opening Keynote: AI for Public Good at the Intersection of Public Health & Governance
Pallavi Gowda, DO, DABOM, MHA, RALS Gowda, DO, DABOM, MHA — Physician | U.S. Army Veteran
9:30–9:55 | Panel: Crisis Response, First Responders & Clinical Reality
Michael L. Chapman — Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office
Lieutenant Larry Vermeer — Loudoun County Crime Prevention & Crisis Services Section
@Lt Therick Myers — Arlington County Sheriff’s Offic
Stephanie Jackson — Emergency Room Nurse, StoneSprings Hospital
M. Narsis Hiemstra, LPC, NLP, CCTP, LPC, CCTP — Licensed Therapist
9:55–10:05 | Break
ACT II — COMMUNITY & CRISIS SYSTEMS
10:05–10:35 | Guided Working Session: Compassionate Crisis Response & Community-Based Diversion
Rebecca Kiessling —Executive Director, NAMI Northern Virginia; Board Member, NAMI National Board of Directors
10:35–10:55 | Narrative Inclusion & Disability Advocacy
Justin G. Cobb — Disability Advocate | Founder, Small Seeds Media
10:55–11:00 | Break
11:00–12:00 | Lunch & Facilitated Networking
🍽️ Food catered by Chick-fil-A Restaurants
ACT III — SOLUTION IN PRACTICE
12:00–12:20 | Live Demonstration: Serenity Station
Taylor Ragano
12:20–12:30 | Demo Q&A
12:30–12:35 | Break
12:35–12:50 | Continuum of Care & Technology in Mental Health Treatment
AMFM Healthcare Jason Shipley — Director of Clinical Residential Operations
ACT IV — GOVERNANCE, DESIGN & PUBLIC GOOD
12:50–12:53 | County’s Perspective on Data, Systems, and Responsible Technology Adoption
Nicky Aziz — Division Manager, Systems & Data Management
12:53–1:13 | County-Level AI for Public Good: Governance in Action
Taylor Ragano with Ryan Galloway
1:13–1:18 | Break
1:18–1:38 | Human-Centered AI Tools in Public Systems
Krystle M. Merry, PhD, NBCT
1:38–2:00 | Guided Working Session: County-Level AI for Public Good Committee
ACT V — CLOSING & SEND-OFF
2:00–2:15 | Federal CIT Mandate & Disability Leadership PAC Preview
2:15–3:00 | Raffle & Closing Remarks
🎁 Raffle prizes provided by local businesses
🍻 Post-Summit Networking (Optional)
3:00–5:00 PM | Informal Happy Hour
📍 Burtons Grill & Bar (across the street)