A New Era America (ANEA) is a California-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that delivers wellness-centered mental health services and relief for vulnerable communities facing humanitarian crises in the United States.
We embody a new era of American values: empathy, solidarity, truth, dignity, stability, hope, and bold humanitarian leadership (and action). At ANEA, survival and healing go hand-in-hand, we work with our partners who provide urgent aid to victims of crises, while we restore long-term mental health, wellness, dignity, and resilience.
Our flagship program, 4WARDSTEPS provides transitional Wellness & Recovery, a campaign-based model that allows us to “pop up” quickly in crisis regions and deliver trauma-informed mental health and wellness services, and pathways to healing and recovery. Whether it’s homelessness or at-risk youth in Los Angeles or families separated by deportation, we step in as the bridge between crisis and stability. We provide what is missing in every crisis we take on (mental health services, tools, and resources). We help people elevate their mental health and prevent future and ongoing impacts of trauma.
Mission
To heal minds and restore humanity for individuals impacted by humanitarian crises, delivering wellness-centered mental health care that empowers them and their communities to thrive.
“When they took my husband at 3 a.m., our world shattered.”
Maria, her two children asleep in the next room, heard pounding at the door. Within minutes, federal agents forced entry and kidnapped her husband. The children awoke to their mother’s screams. Now, with no source of income, no legal status, and the threat of further raids each night, the family is homeless, terrified, and fractured.
Maria’s story is not rare. Across the U.S., immigrant families face sudden ICE raids, violent deportations, and the wrenching trauma of separation. We are racing to respond, especially where children are left behind, parents vanish, and communities tremble.
ICE raids are intensifying fear across immigrant communities and families are being deported and separated without recourse, and rendered destitute overnight. Without immediate intervention, the development of children and youth will be derailed, grief will calcify into despair, and families may never heal.
We are directly involved as this is a humanitarian crisis, and we provide our services to the families left behind.
Programs
A New Era America has three powerful impact pillars, with one mission yet three pathways to healing: support, kindness, and connection. 4WARDSTEPS is our full “program” with a permanent architecture. The other two (Kindness Pop-Up Activations and our Digital Resource Center) are structured to complement our program and expand our reach.
4WARDSTEPS is our central direct-action program with a structured 3-step process that is a 90-day transitional support with services offered to individuals via wellness coordinators, tailored for humanitarian crisis survivors and victims (homeless, or at risk, deported families). We fill the mental health void in aid and meet people where they are. We help individuals in crisis stabilize and rebuild through mental health and wellbeing support.
Some individuals come to us directly from the streets, where we begin with Step 1: Basic Needs (survival: shelter, food, aid, and safety), before transitioning them to Step 2: Direct Mental Health Services (therapy, EMDR, TMS, ECT, and more) and Step 3: Support & Resources (animal therapy, community connection opportunities, education) – all focused on mental health and wellness services. Other individuals who are already connected to government or nonprofit systems and structures enter our program at steps 2 and 3, where we deliver specialized mental health care and long-term support they need. We provide emotional, psychological, and practical support to people experiencing humanitarian crisis - with a clear timeline and measurable outcomes.
Individuals are assigned a wellness coordinator to facilitate delivering our 3 tiers (steps) of services, designed to move people from surviving → thriving
Team
Samir Zakir
Nicholas Berry, LMFT
Nicholas Berry, LMFT
Founder & President
Nicholas Berry, LMFT
Nicholas Berry, LMFT
Nicholas Berry, LMFT
Director of Programs, Mental Health Innovation, & Impact)
Bob Burke, Esq.
Nicholas Berry, LMFT
Kevin Flynn, M PhD
Director of Advocacy, Government Partnerships, & External Strategy
Kevin Flynn, M PhD
Nicholas Berry, LMFT
Kevin Flynn, M PhD
Medical Director
Lyle Volkwyn
Lyle Volkwyn
Lyle Volkwyn
Director of Operations & Public Affairs
Alice Zheng
Lyle Volkwyn
Lyle Volkwyn
Chief Financial
&
Compliance Officer
Storai Jalal
Lyle Volkwyn
Storai Jalal
Director of Strategic Partnerships & Impact Relations
Jack Morris
Lyle Volkwyn
Storai Jalal
Director of Creative Strategy
& Storytelling
