Our History

The founder Maya Mahler, is a veteran school teacher, an experienced mental health advocate, and a registered SSA Disability Representative (EDPNA)

• 2002: After graduating (summa cum laude) from John Carroll University, Maya began her career in Education.
• 2003-2007: Maya struggled to find and access behavioral health and education resources for her special-need daughter.
• 2014: Maya decided to move on from Education and began a career in mental health in the nonprofit sector.
• 2018-2019: As she realized that the private sector would better enable her to achieve real change in the lives of the people who need help, Maya explored alternatives to the limitations of nonprofit organizations.
• February 2019: Phoenix Advocacy was founded to fill in the gaps created by the restrictions imposed on the nonprofit organizations due to their specific mission or the specific grants they manage.