Southern Nevada Lived X Team

Who we are

Southern Nevada Lived X envisions a compassionate and empathetic community where the stigma surrounding homelessness is eradicated through education, understanding, and shared experiences.

Our mission is to ensure the unique voice of individuals with lived experience are meaningfully integrated into policy, strategies, and community wide initiatives. We are empathetic, person-centered approaches.

Tamika Edwards

Tamika is a resilient advocate for the nameless and underserved, driven by her personal journey through profound loss, including the passing of her mother, grandmother, father, and aunt. These experiences have fueled her unwavering passion for mental health, well-being, and creating opportunities for individuals facing adversity. With over four years of experience in supportive services and more than 25 years in customer service, Tamika has dedicated her career to helping individuals experiencing homelessness in Southern Nevada. Her work reflects a deep commitment to dignity, compassion, and empowerment for those often overlooked.

Tamika’s advocacy extends beyond her professional roles. She has represented her community at Capitol Hill Day and is a graduate of Leadership Advance 2022 and Heart and Soul Career Development 2023. As a volunteer, she has contributed to organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club and the California Museum. Through her lived experience and professional expertise, Tamika believes in change and continues to amplify the voices of those who cannot speak for themselves.

Martin Castro

Born in Long Beach, CA, and raised in Las Vegas, NV, Martin Castro navigated through the highs and lows of life. After graduating from Western High School, he embarked on a journey that took unexpected turns. Dropping out of UNLV due to personal challenges, he faced three tumultuous years of homelessness, grappling with substance use, and mental health challenges. However, amidst the darkness, he found resilience. Transforming his struggles into strengths, and emerging as a beacon of hope. Today, he stands tall as a frontline worker, dedicating himself to serving others. Drawing from his experiences, he became a Southern Nevada Lived Experience Consultant, advocating for those facing similar battles that are still on the streets. His journey led him to the heart of the Las Vegas recovery scene where he discovered the true meaning of empathy and compassion. He derives purpose from extending a helping hand to individuals in need, living the path less traveled to make an impact. Each day he reaffirms his commitment to making a positive impact, turning adversity into opportunity, one day at a time.

Donica Martinez

Coming Soon!!

Amy Jones

Coming Soon!!

Dargin McWorther

Coming Soon!!

Ally Holmes

Coming Soon!!

Keasia Bragg

Coming Soon!!

What we do

We participate in community working groups and decision-making/planning bodies to share our expertise. While we are not solely our experiences, they have guided us and shaped us into who we are today. While some of us are comfortable sharing our experiences, others are not. You’re welcome to ask about our expertise, but please respect members’ choice to share or not share our personal experience.

We are committed to centering the voice of people who are experiencing and have experienced homelessness, because we know that is the only way to implement an effective person-centered response system. Our team is developing a strategy to gather continuous feedback from people who experience homelessness across the Southern Nevada homelessness response system and hold the system accountable for action.

Some of the support we can offer is:

Technical Assistance
Projects
Attendance
Consultations

Southern Nevada Lived X Request Process

Anyone who wishes to request technical assistance, projects, attendance, or consultation with the Southern Nevada Lived X Consultants, can do so by completing the request submission form below

Lived X Consultants request form

Requestor Name

Requestor Email Address

Requestor Phone Number

Requestor agency

Who is the request being made on behalf of?

Agency Website (if you are making this request on behalf of another agency, please add their information here)

What is the focus topic/population you would like the lived X Consultants to help with?

What is the desired role of the lived X Consultants for this request?

Is this request urgent?

Within what timeframe would you need this request to be fulfilled?

What is the anticipated time commitment to fulfill this request (one time, weekly, or monthly and for roughly how many hours)?

In what way is this request critical to community progress?

Use this space to provide any additional information that you feel will be helpful or type N/A

6 + 14 =

Our Lived X Consultants services are generally free; however, if your project is time intensive we may charge a fee.

For additional support from the lived X Consultants, please email us at: SNVLivedX@gmail.com