About us

FREEDOM REQUIRES YOUR PARTICIPATION

Stand for Health Freedom (SHF) is a 501 (c)(4) nonprofit organization dedicated to informing and activating a grassroots movement to protect our health and our families.

Since SHF’s inception in August 2019, through partnerships with local organizations, SHF has empowered over 600,000 individuals to directly contact their elected officials and others in positions of influence with the right message and the right time. Together we have taken over five million actions through our specialized portal to preserve and promote informed consent, parental rights, religious freedom, freedom of speech, and privacy.

HEALTH FREEDOM IS
THE MISSION

Stand for Health Freedom exists to take citizens from aware to activated by empowering them to take a stand individually and as part of a growing and influential voter bloc. We do this through community education and grassroots calls-to-action to promote the expansion of pro-health freedom policies in partnership with like-minded organizations.

ADVOCATES

LEGISLATIVE CONNECTIONS

 Featured Actions

  • In December 2019, SHF launched multiple campaigns for New Jersey citizens who were in jeopardy of losing their religious exemption to vaccination. In just one week’s time, more than 80,000 emails were sent to New Jersey lawmakers through the SHF advocacy portal, which showed the immense opposition to the measure and ultimately helped stop it from becoming law.
  • In the spring of 2022, SHF featured a campaign to support a federal bill to defund the World Health Organization. Just shy of 140,000 advocates emailed and called their local congressmen, which was followed by 46 lawmakers signing on to the bill inside of one month.
  • Our Vote for Health Freedom project vetted hundreds of candidates around the country for their dedication to informed consent and medical freedom, armed voters with information, and resulted in 642 endorsed candidates moving on to the general election in 2022.
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SHF COMMUNITY

SHF currently represents well over a half million Americans and has an estimated reach of one million advocates who stand for informed consent, parental rights, religious freedom, freedom of speech, privacy, and the U.S. Constitution. We have strength in numbers and are being recognized as an important and influential voting bloc. Together, we’re ensuring that Americans can efficiently and effectively engage in the political process, making it undeniable to citizens and lawmakers that America stands for health freedom. Join Us 

STRENGTH IN NUMBERS

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SHF LEADERSHIP

Leah Wilson

Executive Director and Co-founder

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Sayer Ji

Director and Co-founder

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Dr. Joel Bohemier

Director and Co-founder

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Bailey Kuykendoll

Associate Director

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Valerie Borek

Associate Director and Legal Analyst

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Mary Katherine LaCroix

Director of Development and Nonprofit Administration

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Sheila Ealey

Political Analyst

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Chrissy Scott

Executive Assistant and Social Media Manager

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Ellen Chappelle

Editor

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FREQUENTLY ASKED AND CONFIDENTLY ANSWERED
Do digital advocacy letters make a difference?

The email letters you submit through Stand for Health Freedom’s advocacy portal absolutely make a difference! Each email your legislator receives is read by that legislator or the legislator’s staff, and the staff provides reports directly to the legislator. Although individual letters help influence lawmakers, when large numbers of individuals take action through our platform, we are able to scale our advocacy efforts and amplify your messages even more effectively.

Why do you need my contact information? How will it be used?

Your information enables us to contact your lawmakers; they require your name, email and full address to be able to respond to you directly as well as confirming that you are a constituent and voter in their district. We only use your data to 1) ensure that you are contacting the correct lawmakers and 2) send you updates on these issues. You are able to opt out of these communications at any time.

DO I NEED TO PERSONALIZE MY LETTERS?

No. We have crafted letters with well-vetted message points we believe will be effective in influencing your lawmakers. But it is good practice to let your lawmakers know how you are personally being affected by their policies. Your story provides a human, emotional connection to the issue. We encourage you to customize your communication before you press “submit.” The more personal the message, the better.

WON'T IT MEAN MORE IF I JUST SEND MY OWN LETTER?

Even if you write your own letter, submitting a letter through Stand for Health Freedom allows us to stand stronger together. It holds legislators accountable by demonstrating the number of individuals who care about a specific issue. This collective action creates a voting bloc that helps to yield influence.

Can’t I simply provide my zip code?

Your full address is required by almost all legislators, and the vast majority of districts are not based on zip codes. Due to gerrymandering, some zip codes are being used in up to five different house or senate districts. Therefore, it’s not possible for us to remove the full address requirement.

 

I submitted my email through the SHF advocacy portal. What’s next?

Please look out for campaign updates as well as information on when and how to stand. Make sure that emails from advocates@standforhealthfreedom.com are going to your inbox, not to your junk mail or other folders. We also recommend connecting with a local advocacy group.

Lastly, let your friends and family know about Stand for Health Freedom so we can see the tide turn for the preservation of constitutional rights, human rights, and parental rights. We cannot let industry overshadow our voice in government! Together we must make it undeniable — to lawmakers, the media, and everyday citizens — how many men and women care about health freedom!

I am using the Brave browser, why am I unable to take action?

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If you are looking to contact Stand for Health Freedom to speak at your next event, please go to our media kit page, here. If you have further qustions and need to get ahold of us, please email us at advocates@standforhealthfreedom.com.

Dr. Joel Bohemier

One of 46 chiropractors in his family, Dr. Joel Bohemier is passionate about natural health care and lives by and teaches the principles of honoring the innate wisdom of the body. A proponent of holistic living, he is often invited to share his views on such topics as organic foods, green living, and strategies for creating a healthy and resilient mind, body and spirit. In addition to serving as an advisor to Stand for Health Freedom, Joel also serves as an advisory board member of GreenMedInfo.com, the world’s most widely referenced natural health database.

Joel received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Manitoba in 1996 and his Doctor of Chiropractic from Life University in Marietta, Georgia, in 2000. He has practiced in Italy and Canada and currently maintains a private practice in Naples, Florida.

“Global health care is under mounting pressure to conform to a singular doctrine. Preserving and expanding the freedom of choice in health care will enable a rich and diverse ecosystem resulting in better health.”

Ellen Chappelle

Writer/Editor

Ellen Chappelle serves as SHF’s resident wordsmith. A seasoned writer and editor, she’s enthusiastic about ensuring that our content is clear, concise, and inspiring.

Ellen is most energized by working on projects that transform lives. A truth seeker as well as a journalist, she’s disturbed by the lack of accuracy in today’s media and determined to help share fact rather than fiction. And having found greater healing with alternative approaches, she’s also passionate about preserving our freedom to make informed health choices.

Past projects include serving as regional editor of a dog magazine, color and trend specialist for a small cosmetics company, arts columnist, newspaper reporter, ghostwriter, and creator of website content for artists and small businesses.

With a degree in journalism and theatre, Ellen is also a performer. She enjoyed singing and dancing on a cruise ship and traveling with a national musical theatre tour, as well as recording industrial videos, television commercials, and radio voiceovers. She also creates handcrafted jewelry in wire, chain maille, and fused glass.

“Despite what some would have us believe, the fact remains that this nation was founded on biblical principles by people who wanted freedom to worship God and live their lives without government involvement. It’s never been more critical to fight for those rights.”

Chrissy Scott

Executive Assistant and Social Media Manager

A labor and delivery nurse with a lifelong passion for maternal and fetal health, Chrissy Scott left her job of 19 years after learning the truth about the harms caused by the medical system. In 2009, she was mandated by her employer to receive the H1N1 vaccine during her first trimester of pregnancy with her second child. She was assured that the vaccine was “safe and effective” for pregnant women, but her son was born with a kidney defect that could have been fatal. She didn’t connect the dots to vaccine injury until several years later when the declining health of her oldest son drove her to seek answers outside of allopathic medicine.

This personal journey ignited in her a new passion for truth and transparency in health care. As SHF’s Executive Assistant, Chrissy facilitates communication and local advocacy initiatives alongside Leah Wilson for their home state of Indiana. She also manages and creates graphics for SHF’s social media accounts and the website’s swag shop.

Chrissy earned her nursing degree from Anderson University and served her entire career at her local hospital. While she’s no longer a floor nurse, her five very active boys frequently test her nursing skills! She homeschools her children and has been co-owner of a successful home décor sign business with her sister.

“Parents, being the experts on their own children, are best suited to make decisions for the well-being of their family. To do this properly, they must be given full and accurate information and be free from force or coercion.”

Sayer JI

Director and Co-founder

Sayer Ji is a widely recognized researcher, author, lecturer, activist, and educator on natural health modalities. Among his many roles, he is an advisor to Stand for Health Freedom, a reviewer and editor of the International Journal of Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine, an advisory board member of the National Health Federation, a steering committee member of the Global GMO Free Coalition, and the co-founder and CEO of Systome Biomed Inc., a revolutionary scientific validation framework.

Most notably, Sayer is the founder of Greenmedinfo.com, the world’s most widely referenced, evidence-based natural health resource of its kind. He founded the platform in 2008 to provide an open access, evidence-based resource supporting natural and integrative modalities. Today, Greenmedinfo.com has more than a million visits per month, serving as a trusted resource on myriad health and wellness topics to physicians, healthcare practitioners, clinicians, researchers and consumers worldwide.

Sayer attended Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, where he studied under the notable American philosopher Dr. Bruce W. Wilshire. He received a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy in 1995, with a focus on the philosophy of science. His new book, Regenerate: Unlocking Your Body’s Radical Resilience through the New Biology, was released in March 2020 and is an Amazon bestseller.

“I truly believe that education will be our greatest shield against accelerating the erosion of civil liberties, including the right to bodily sovereignty, as well as the greatest catalyst for positive change on this planet moving forward.”

LEAH WILSON

Executive Director and Co-founder

An attorney with a background in complex litigation and advocacy, Leah Wilson is passionate about children’s health and has researched and worked on child welfare issues for more than a decade.

The overmedication of children in foster care as a form of behavior management is what compelled Leah to become an advocate and foster parent. During her time as a court-appointed special advocate for abused and neglected children, Leah witnessed the rampant use of psychiatric drugs among foster kids. She also discovered that, in addition to many extensive requirements, the state had a policy that all foster children and foster families be fully vaccinated, without exception. Through her involvement in law, health and the foster care system, it became abundantly clear to Leah that the single most important issue affecting child welfare in the United States is the practice of one-size-fits-all medicine via medical mandates. This motivated Leah to expand her advocacy beyond foster care to all children nationwide and to start Stand for Health Freedom (SHF) in 2019.

A graduate of the Saint Louis University School of Law, Leah holds dual bachelor degrees in political science and Spanish from Indiana University. In addition to her advocacy work with SHF, Leah is the owner and former operations director of MaxLiving Indy, one of the largest natural health centers in the Midwest. She is also an educator on holistic health as well as a sought-after speaker on issues ranging from religious rights to greening your home.

“Parental rights and religious freedom are God-given natural rights that cannot arbitrarily be taken away by government authorities. Parents are the single most important factor in a child’s success; I stand in full support of this sacred relationship.”

Sheila Ealey

Political Analyst

Dr. Sheila Lewis Ealey is the founder and former director of the Creative Learning Center of Louisiana, a therapeutic day school for children who are on the autism spectrum or struggling with other nonverbal intellectual disabilities. The wife of a former U.S. Coast Guard Officer, she is also the mother of four children. Her son was diagnosed with severe autism spectrum disorder at 18 months. He is now a young man and considered moderate and emerging.

Sheila and her twins were featured in the documentary “Vaxxed.” She has traveled extensively, advocating for medical freedom. She continues to educate disenfranchised parents about their fundamental rights to religious and philosophical exemptions, their ability to live sustainably on a limited budget, and the importance of nutrition and biomedical interventions for optimum health with autism. She also writes individual homeschool curriculums for parents of children with autism or intellectual disorders. Sheila is a trustee for the Autism Trust, USA, and on the board of directors of Children’s Health Defense.

Over the past 20 years, she has educated herself to use natural healing modalities for the body and brain. Her formal education includes degrees in communication, special education curriculum, and a doctorate in Educational Leadership in Special Education. Sheila serves as an assistant content advisor and political analyst for SHF.

“It is not the Constitution’s job to protect our liberties, as it is not a philosophical document but a legal one. Its purpose is to limit the powers and authority of our federal government in hopes of preventing an intrusion upon our unalienable rights. We are obliged to maintain our government within its limits.”

Mary Katherine LaCroix

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT AND NONPROFIT ADMINISTRATION

Mary Katherine LaCroix became involved with SHF as a volunteer in 2019 when the religious exemption for childhood vaccines was at risk in her home state of New Jersey. She believes strongly that parents have the responsibility for their children’s health, education, and faith formation and that only they have the right to make medical decisions and manage their care.

She has worked in fundraising for more than 25 years at various educational, cultural, human services, and political organizations. A graduate of the University of Scranton, she holds a degree in History and English Literature.

Mary Katherine is thrilled to have this opportunity to work with and help grow SHF, believing that together we can achieve even greater impact in protecting our rights and caring for our loved ones. She enjoys spending time with her husband, two children and large extended family, as well as volunteering to support the special needs community.

“Parents are taught that they must trust the experts. That’s what we did, until we learned that the experts can be wrong and don’t always know what is best for your child. Parents should instead feel empowered by their natural, God-given ability to advocate and care for their children. SHF is here to give them the tools to do just that.”

Valerie Borek

POLICY ANALYST

Valerie Borek is a passionate advocate for health rights and family privacy. A mother of two with degrees in law and biochemistry, she is perfectly positioned to lead SHF advocates through complex health-rights policy. Her work is guided by a love for American values, uncovering truth, and a passion for empowering others. Valerie has served as SHF’s policy analyst since 2021.

Valerie’s understanding of the value of freedom to make one’s own health care choices is not just academic. Health freedom has kept her boys alive and thriving. Her choice to have home births jump-started her advocacy for health privacy. Her eldest son survived a rare and deadly cancer because her family was able to navigate medical care while holding onto values that were sometimes at odds with recommendations.

Before joining SHF, Valerie specialized in health and parenting rights at her boutique law firm, especially surrounding birth and vaccine rights. She advocated for informed consent in health care and transparent food labeling in her state. She helped found the Birth Rights Bar Association and was honored to present their argument to the Delaware Supreme Court that midwifery is not the practice of medicine, in support of a trailblazing midwife.

“Health is the foundation of how we show up in this world to love, serve, and create. Americans are blessed to live in a country that gets stronger the more we protect fundamental rights, like informed consent and privacy, so individuals and families can thrive.”

Bailey Kuykendoll

Associate Director

Designer and visual marketer Bailey Kuykendoll began advocating for health and religious freedom and parental rights in 2014 after learning she was pregnant. A self-described skeptic, she’s not afraid to ask questions and do copious amounts of research to reach her own conclusions.

She’s also not afraid of hard work. As SHF’s Relationship Manager, Bailey truly keeps the organizational boat afloat. Working closely with health freedom advocates in each state, she ensures that SHF has campaigns for health-freedom-related bills and petitions on our website and across social media, spreading the word to encourage people to contact their legislators. She builds campaigns, graphics, website pages, and relationships.

Bailey earned a design degree from Harrington Institute of Design in 2008. She then served as a production assistant on several shows for HGTV, followed by working behind the scenes on the X Factor, small indie films, music videos, and documentaries. Bailey joined Health Freedom Florida after moving to the East Coast, becoming co-president of the grassroots organization in 2019. While at Health Freedom Florida, she successfully filed a state bill designed to stop discrimination based on your health status. She joined SHF in the fall of 2020.

“God placed a calling on my heart back in 2008 to be a part of something bigger for Him. Twelve years later, the opportunity came knocking to help others lean into their natural-born rights and take a stand for themselves and their families. I knew this is where I was called to be, and I have never looked back.”

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