Healing Through Community Leadership
Jocelyn Sanders, City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College chapter, is proving that personal healing and community healing go hand in hand.
Now in her final semester earning a bachelor’s degree in disability and human development, Sanders has turned self-advocacy into a platform for supporting others navigating mental health, disability, and systemic barriers.
Having built a successful career as a licensed cosmetologist and salon owner for more than two decades, she went back to school to further her personal mission of mental health advocacy, while also gaining real-life experience as a direct support professional and job coach for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
As the founder of Holistic Woman Lifestyle LLC, Sanders has created a nonprofit wellness hub that will serve women, particularly stay-at-home mothers, professionals, and those with disabilities, through integrative health coaching, fitness, nutrition guidance, and therapeutic retreats. Her vision is clear: to offer alternative solutions for well-being in spaces that too often lack inclusion or accessibility.
She also wrote a poetic memoir, I Saw The Sun Pass By Me Today, chronicling her own experiences with mental health challenges. “It's a memoir about my struggles and triumphs with my journey with mental health,” Sanders says. “I wrote it with a message to others who may have had barriers or instability in their life.”
Community and Continual Learning
Sanders’ path to leadership is grounded in both formal training and personal conviction. In addition to her degree, she’s earning certifications as a Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) and mental health aide training. Combined with her lived experience, these credentials shape how she supports others as a self-advocate and wellness leader.
Community has also played a key role in her development. “I have built a community within disability through school and colleagues that help me stay grounded,” she says.
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Keeping Mind and Body Fit
When asked who inspires her, Sanders points to two influential leaders. The first is Shraddha Sheth, founder of FitEduCoach, whose work in revolutionizing fitness education helped Sanders better understand and manage her own well-being. The second is Apostle Donald Alford, whose faith leadership helps her stay aligned with her values and vision for community impact.
Her long-term goals reflect that commitment. Sanders plans to pursue a master’s degree in disability, access, and inclusion, followed by a PhD in disability studies. Her dream? To teach, write, and shape policy that strengthens support for children and women, especially in faith-based settings.
She’s already making progress: she is set to complete a second book focused on resilience at the intersections of mental health, motherhood, and identity. She’s also preparing to apply for TEDx speaking engagements to amplify her message even further.
Sanders credits the NSLS resources as a guiding force in her own development as a leader, especially the Motivational Mondays podcast, which has helped her sharpen both her mindset and skillset. “These stories are vast, diverse, and inspiring for growth and motivation,” she says.
By tapping into these stories and setting her own goals, Sanders is building a leadership style that’s authentic, values-driven, and holistic.
Jocelyn’s Advice for Future Leaders
Though we all may have large goals, Sanders warns not to put too much pressure on oneself.
“Don’t be ashamed or embarrassed by life,” Sanders says. “We all have a road to travel, and your timing may not be what's granted to your peers and friends. Give yourself some grace. And remember: it's never too late to pursue your dreams.”
Her advice for aspiring leaders is both actionable and inspiring: “Research and study your discipline. Learn from every relationship. Have ethical standards. Show professionalism. Love what you do for yourself and others.”
For Sanders, it always comes back to community and strengthening others. “My goals are to inspire, learn, advocate, and live my purpose for my children and others.”
She is a testament to the idea that strong leadership can be healing; not only for others, but for ourselves.
Next, meet mental health advocate Katarina Garcia, who built a nonprofit to further her mission to help new moms through the postpartum period.
