About
Welcome to Rooted In Connections where we aim to promote physical and emotional wellness by connecting participants with holistic health practitioners, including nutritionists, fitness trainers, and alternative medicine specialists.
Our
Story
It started with two Social Workers and a Dream.....
The Founders of Rooted in Connections are two Social Workers who sat around one day talking about all of the issues in the community that people could not seem to solve. As a mental health therapist, Lenise thought about how the clients she worked with had trouble accessing and connecting in therapy with things like disconnection notices, lack of access to quality healthcare that they can trust, and the freedom to actually create an environment to heal. Cassandra, a social worker at a local agency, thought about how the people she works with have trouble accessing services, remaining self sufficient, and knowing what to do when life gets hard. Together, they created Rooted in Connections, a non-profit, crowdfunded way for the community to pour into the community. Together, we are Building Bridges Rooted In The Connection of Others.
We believe all people can embrace who they are,
can define their future, and can change the world.
Lenise Mazyck
Founder
Lenise Mazyck MSW, LCSW, CCTP,NIMHP (She/Her) is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW). Lenise graduated from James Madison University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work. She then went on to obtain her Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of South Carolina, returning to Virginia to bring the work back to where it all began for her.
She has become a “student of others”, growing a love for helping people work through lifelong trauma from a holistic perspective. She is the therapist-owner of Roots To Results Counseling, a practice centered around the core belief that Growth starts from the root. Lenise believes that “Rest is your right, not your reward” She is certified in trauma informed practice, grief, complex trauma, and her favorite, the effects of nutrition on trauma and the brain. Her specialties include areas such as: anxiety, depression, Adult ADHD, and life changes for people of color. Lenise enjoys building connections with clients based on their own needs where everyone can learn from each other.
When she is not in the therapy office, Lenise enjoys teaching social work students at a number of universities in Virginia. She also is an international public speaker, working with organizations such as the Rise Journey, Acuity, Raptive, and Getty Images. She also enjoys spending time with others and loves to travel and experience other cultures in an immersive way.
Cassandra Maye
Co-Founder
Cassandra Maye, BSW (She/Her) is a community change and engagement extraordinare. Cassandra graduated from James Madison University with a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work. She returned back to the Richmond, Virginia area to work with and for the people she grew up knowing and loving.
​
Her Motto is "teamwork makes the dream work", working collaboratively with agencies in the community to create sustainable change for people in the tri-cities area. She works closely with state and local agencies to create an interdisciplinary teams approach to helping clients facing eviction, loss of resources and life transitions. She believes that a team approach can make a drastic change in anyones life.
When she is not in the office, Cassandra enjoys spending time with animals and spending time with her family. She also enjoys traveling and seeing new things in her local area.