Voices Together

Please join us in welcoming Avery to the Voices Together team! We are excited to have her join us as a board-certified music therapist bringing experience across medical, behavioral health, school and community settings.

Originally from Columbus, Ohio, Avery is passionate about creating meaningful music experiences that promote coping, resilience and connection while supporting the whole person through Voices Music Therapy (VMT™). Her clinical experience includes working with individuals across the lifespan in inpatient mental health, pediatrics, NICU, substance use recovery, public schools, Head Start programs and private practice settings.

Avery earned her degree in Music Therapy from Immaculata University near Philadelphia and completed her internship with UK HealthCare in Lexington, Kentucky. She is excited to continue her work in North Carolina and become part of the Voices Together community.

Outside of work, Avery enjoys reading, traveling, spending time with family and friends, and walking her dog, Clara. Fun fact: one of her favorite college memories was music directing junior musicals with her best friend!

Welcome to the team, Avery! 💙

Voices Together was proud to attend the Durham Exchange Club Industries (DECI) IDD Resource Fair in Durham!

We enjoyed meeting families and community members, sharing about our programs, and connecting with organizations across the area. Thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth and to Freddy for speaking about Voices Together and the power of Voices Music Therapy (VMT™) during the event!

During Mental Health Awareness Month, we are proud to highlight the meaningful impact that Voices Music Therapy (VMT™) is having on the mental health and well-being of the individuals we serve.

Recently, one of our music therapists connected with a school guidance counselor following a series of VMT™ sessions designed to support students experiencing mental and behavioral health challenges. During the conversation, a teacher shared a powerful observation: two students who had previously been referred for additional behavioral support were returning to the classroom in a positive emotional state and were no longer demonstrating the behaviors that had initially been observed.

While these moments may seem small, they can make a tremendous difference in a student’s day-to-day success. They reflect growth in emotional regulation, connection, and the ability to carry supportive therapeutic experiences beyond the therapy setting and into everyday life.

We are grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with educators, counselors, and school teams who help identify and celebrate these meaningful moments of progress as we continue supporting each individual’s growth and well-being.

Welcome back, Freddy!

Freddy originally joined Voices Together in 2014 as a Board Certified (MT-BC) Music Therapist and now returns in 2026 to lead clinical training, oversee our music therapy internship program, and drive clinical research across diverse populations. From Durham, with 12+ years of clinical experience, Freddy has worked in community mental health, schools, behavioral health and substance use settings, and private practice. He brings additional experience as a music therapy educator and clinical supervisor for both undergraduate and graduate students.

His integrative approach draws from psychodynamic, relational, q***r, and narrative theories, with a strong focus on how culture, identity, and systems of privilege and oppression shape the therapeutic experience. Freddy holds degrees from Appalachian State University and Slippery Rock University along with a graduate certificate in trauma-informed care from Lock Haven University. He is currently pursuing a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at North Carolina Central University.

Fun Fact: Freddy completed his training in analytical music therapy in 2025 through Molloy University, making him the first Black male analytical music therapist!

We’re so excited to have his leadership, expertise, and passion back on our team! 💙

Welcome to our new intern, Carlin!

Carlin joined Voices Together in April 2026 as a Music Therapy Intern and is passionate about supporting individuals with disabilities—especially those with ASD—through meaningful, person-centered care. Originally from North Carolina, she earned her B.A. in Music with a minor in Psychology from Meredith College and is completing her internship as part of her graduate training at Shenandoah University.

Carlin brings a wide range of clinical experience, including work with older adults in memory care and hospice settings, adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and nonspeaking Autistic individuals. Her passion for music therapy was solidified through her time with the Meredith Autism Program, and she is excited to continue growing while learning how music can create connection, engagement, and opportunity.

Outside of work, Carlin enjoys crocheting, spending time with friends and family, exploring all kinds of music (especially rock and metal), and anything beach-related—especially collecting seashells. Fun fact: she taught herself to play banjo using Iron Maiden songs!

We’re honored to participate in the first‑ever Resource Fair dedicated to connecting individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) to meaningful resources and opportunities.

📆 May 19, 2026
10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

📍 Durham Armory
212 Foster St.
Durham, NC 27701

At Voices Together, we believe everyone deserves access to the support and pathways needed to thrive in the workplace and the community. We’re excited to share resources, make connections, and support inclusive employment that empowers individuals to reach their full potential.

Stop by our table to come meet our team, explore available resources, and learn how we help create meaningful employment and community connections.

🤝 Let’s work together to opens doors and create a footpath to success.

We are proud to announce the promotion of Michaela Minnear to Internship Program Supervisor here at Voices Together!

Since joining our team in November 2023, Michaela has shown an incredible dedication to our mission. To step fully into this new leadership role, they are even relocating to Raleigh to be closer to the heart of our operations.

Michaela brings a powerhouse of clinical knowledge to our internship program. As both a Board-Certified Music Therapist (MT-BC) and a Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS), they have a unique perspective on person-centered care.

A proud Florida State University alumna, Michaela completed their internship and began their career at Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center, supporting adult patients and their families with compassion and skill.

We are so lucky to have Michaela’s expertise, passion, and heart leading our interns. Congratulations on this well-deserved promotion!

Great teachers do more than teach, they create spaces where every student feels seen, supported, and valued. 💙

At Voices Together, we’re incredibly grateful for our partnerships with schools, districts, and educators who welcome us into their classrooms and collaborate with us to support their students. Your openness, trust, and commitment make this work possible.

Together, we’re helping students build confidence, strengthen communication, and experience success in new ways—through Voices Music Therapy (VMT™).

This Teacher Appreciation Week, we celebrate not only the impact you make each day, but also the partnership we share. Thank you for the care you bring to your students and for allowing us to be part of that journey. Because of you, more voices are being heard.

It was great to connect with so many of our colleagues at this year’s NCARF Conference! Events like this are always a meaningful opportunity to strengthen partnerships, share ideas, and continue advancing our collective work across North Carolina.

We’re especially proud that our Senior Director of Development and Strategic Partnerships, John Mitterling, served on the conference planning committee, helping make this impactful event possible.

From Voices Together, we were well represented by Ashley Keith (Development Manager), Joseph Harper (Director of Operations), John Mitterling, and our Founder & CEO, Yasmine White.

A huge thank you to Connie Crimmins from OE Enterprises for coordinating such a successful conference, as well as Michael Maybee, current NCARF President, and Amy Miller, incoming President, for their leadership and dedication.

We’re grateful to be part of such a strong and collaborative community!

We are glad to welcome Sarah to Voices Together as our new Deputy Director of Digital Programming!

In this pivotal role, Sarah will be leading the strategy and ex*****on of our virtual programming and digital tools, with a core mission of expanding access to our essential services for individuals and communities across North Carolina and beyond.

With a deeply personal connection to the autism community and a powerful clinical background as a Speech-Language Pathologist, Sarah brings a unique blend of expertise and passion that we are so excited to have on board.

When she's not driving digital innovation, this native North Carolinian is a creative self-proclaimed "hobbyist," enjoying watercolor painting, embroidery, and any other craft she can try.

Please join us in giving a warm welcome to Sarah! 👇

🔗 voicestogether.org