Gigi Crowder is the Chief Executive Officer for NAMI Contra Costa. She began working with NAMI Contra Costa as its Executive Director in January 2018 after serving in a consultant role as their Fund Developer. Gigi is the mother of two biological children; 33-year-old twin sons. She has also served as a foster mom and mentor to many more through divine interventions. Gigi served for over 9 years as the Ethnic Services Manager for Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services and has worked in the field for more than 33 years after completing her studies at the University of California, Berkeley.

As a family member of several loved ones who have received private and public mental health services, Gigi is a strong advocate for promoting culturally responsive behavioral health services that embrace community defined strategies and value lived experience. She is a woman of great faith and has developed a faith-based curriculum, Mental Health Friendly Communities which is designed to train Faith Leaders of the important role they play as the most preferred first responders to those experiencing mental health challenges. Gigi is unapologetic about her efforts to address the needs of African Americans impacted by mental illness who she deems as the most harmed and neglected due to systemic racism. She has received several awards for her work. Highlights of her career include an induction in the Alameda County Women Hall of Fame for her work in developing programs to enhance employment opportunities for individuals with living with mental illness and being a 2025 Black Joy Icon. In March 2025, she was named California Woman of the Year for California Assembly District 15.

This bio was adopted and edited from NAMI.org.