Reece, also known as the Southern Fried Asian (because of her experience growing up as a Korean-American in Arkansas), is no stranger to the desperate need for suicide prevention, having suffered multiple significant traumas in her early childhood and later fighting major depression throughout her formative and adult years.
She is a powerfully engaging story teller who conveys passion by drawing from her own tragic and rewarding experiences. Reece deftly blends humor, education, and enthralling stories in a unique and memorable manner to compel any audience to become advocates and leaders for social change. She uses hard learned lessons to empower audiences to overcome life’s obstacles.
She is a staunch mental health activist who is not afraid to tackle a difficult issue head on. She holds multiple roles as well as volunteer positions that allow her to champion grassroots efforts geared toward improving mental health awareness and access.
Reece strives to raise awareness of the issues of suicide, interpersonal violence, mental health, substance use disorders, diversity/inclusion, and interpersonal communication. She acts as a social entrepreneur connecting, educating, and empowering stakeholders on their unique roles and assets when dealing with social issues within their communities.
Susie [수지] is the Director of Lived Experience Initiatives for the Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) . As Director, Reece leads the development of multi-organizational inclusion practices, acts as a liaison and authority for national lived experience experts, and builds national guidance to center lived experience across any field. Reece also bolsters Lived Experience (LE) engagement by elevating experts from diverse experiential backgrounds and perspectives.
Reece was one of the inaugural Lived Experience Advisory Council Members for the SPRC. SPRC’s Lived Experience Advisory Committee is a national-level group of leaders and advocates personally impacted by suicide. The committee provides expertise and insights from their lived experience to help ensure that suicide prevention efforts effectively meet the needs of people affected by suicide. The Suicide Prevention Resource Center boasts a unique Lived Experience Advisory Committee where advisors co-develop, support, and lead national mental health and suicide-centered initiatives. This bold approach moves LE inclusion beyond trauma-limited storytelling and tokenizing practices to elevating the voices of experience in meaningful, empowering, and long-lasting ways.
Reece began her prevention career as a grassroots organizer in Arkansas. She worked in substance use prevention for several years before becoming the first and only Violence Prevention specialist for CHI St. Vincent- Arkansas. Reece has championed and led multiple county and state-level activism efforts revolving around suicide prevention, mental health, social justice, and systemic improvement.
Reece has been a recognized leader and suicide prevention strategist for nearly a decade. She proudly leads from her lived experience which includes being a child survivor of parental suicide loss. Reece’s leadership-style that is driven by her lived experience ensures she continually centers the needs of those most affected by suicide.
Reece serves as a member and advisor on several boards throughout Arkansas and nationally.