From Kitchen Table to Capitol: Turning Pain Into Policy Change

Interview Recorded on August 8th, 2025

CEO of NAMI California shares her journey from family caregiver to statewide advocate

Jessica Wilson (Cruz) did not plan to become a mental health advocate. With a master's in public administration and a background in nonprofit work, she was simply looking for a part-time position that would allow her to balance motherhood with her career.

But when she walked into her 2009 interview with NAMI California—and found herself crying as she shared her mother's recent psychiatric hospitalization—everything changed.

"I had no idea who this organization was," Jessica recalls of that pivotal moment. "My mom was actually in the psychiatric hospital at that time, and I just remember thinking, how did I not know that this resource was available to me as a family member?"

That interview launched what would become a 15-year journey transforming NAMI California from "rebel rousers" into the leading voice for mental health advocacy in the state.

The Making of an Advocate

Jessica's path to advocacy began in her early twenties when her mother experienced her first psychotic break at age 50. In an instant, Jessica went from daughter to caretaker, navigating a system that left families feeling isolated and uninformed.

"I remember feeling lonely and lost... my mother who I looked up to as my hero for so many years was in need and I didn't know what to do,” she said.

This experience became the driving force behind Jessica's mission: ensuring no family feels as alone as she did in that moment.

From Kitchen Table to Capitol: The Art of Translation

At the heart of Jessica's work lies what she calls "kitchen table to Capitol" advocacy—the complex process of translating real family experiences into policy solutions.

"We are experts out of our own experience," Jessica explains. "What drives our organization are those stories... we really listen to what are the cracks in the system, what are these gaps that people are falling through."

The process requires Jessica and her team to serve as translators in both directions. They must take the raw emotion and urgent needs of families in crisis and present them in ways that policymakers can understand and act upon. Equally important, they must translate complex policy changes back to families, helping them understand how new laws will affect their daily reality.

This translation work has become increasingly critical as mental health crises intersect with other systems. Jessica points to recent challenges in Sacramento County, where sheriff's departments stopped responding to certain mental health calls due to liability concerns—leaving families without clear options for emergency help.

Building Collaboration in a Fractured System

Perhaps Jessica's most significant achievement has been fostering collaboration within California's mental health community. When she started 15 years ago, different advocacy groups were often competing for resources and recognition.

Today, Jessica describes a transformed landscape where diverse stakeholders recognize their shared goals. This shift has created what Jessica calls "NAMI and friends"—a coalition approach where different organizations work toward common objectives.

The Personal Investment

Jessica's work is deeply personal, informed not only by her mother's journey but by her own experiences with mental health challenges. She speaks openly about her therapy and support systems, wearing her mental health journey as "a badge of honor."

Despite systemic frustrations—like working within a 60-year-old legal framework that needs complete overhaul—Jessica remains hopeful about the future, particularly as she sees younger generations approaching mental health with less stigma.

"It is my kids... that continue to drive me to do this work," she explains. This generational shift is already visible in schools, where mental health breaks and wellness rooms are becoming standard, and young people discuss mental health openly in ways previous generations never could.