SAMANTHA DEGRASSE
Executive Director & Founder
Build Her a Bridge, a 501c3 organization was founded in 2018, with a passion for helping teen girls who struggle with mental health issues. Her goal is to promote open conversation around mental health topics. She is also an advocate for social justice and works towards improving the lives of incarcerated female juveniles in Tennessee. Samantha's organization provides life skills classes, Bible study sessions, mentorship, and facilitates relationships with other agencies for the girls upon their release. She has built strong relationships with juvenile judges, lawyers, case managers, and caseworkers to ensure that the juveniles are on a path towards success. Samantha has also been associated with major non-profit organizations such as NAMiTN, AFSPTN, Hope4 the Hood, and many others. When she's not working, Samantha enjoys traveling, exploring new coffee shops, and spending quality time with her children and family in Florida. Her biggest accomplishments and joys in life are her children. Interestingly, her daughter Sophia is her co-founder and social media manager, and she also has a son named Jaden who is a basketball player in Florida and will soon be going overseas.
SOPHIA DEGRASSE
Co-founder + Social Media intern
Sophia DeGrasse is not only a mental health advocate but also a talented volleyball athlete. She is the co-founder of Build Her A Bridge and social media intern. Sophia's role continuing to promote gender equality and empowering girls and young women globally.
MATTHEW MUENZEN
Board Member
Mr. Muenzen established his law firm in April 2019. Mr. Muenzen has practiced law for over thirteen years. Mr. Muenzen previously worked in city government and at a law firm in Nashville where he handled civil and criminal litigation cases involving family law, child welfare law, juvenile law, and landlord/tenant law matters. Before that, Mr. Muenzen worked for the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services for almost nine years. While with the Department, Mr. Muenzen served as Special Advisor to the Deputy Commissioner and Director of Community Partnerships in the Office of Child Safety. He previously served as a Regional General Counsel/Supervising Attorney and as an Assistant General Counsel. While with the Department, Mr. Muenzen litigated child abuse and neglect cases, termination of parental rights cases, and child abuse registry appeal cases.
After graduating from Penn State University with a B.S. in Administration of Justice, Mr. Muenzen was employed as a police officer for a municipal police department in New Jersey for six years. While working as a full-time police officer, Mr. Muenzen received a M.A in Human Resources Management and Training from Seton Hall University in New Jersey and a J.D. from Pace University in New York. Mr. Muenzen is also certified as a Juvenile Law - Child Welfare Law Specialist through the National Association of Counsel for Children. Mr. Muenzen resides in Franklin with his wife, Lesley, and their two daughters.
LAUREN ALBERT
Licensed Therapist
Lauren Albert, MA, BC-DMT, LPC
Lauren is a board-certified dance/movement therapist and licensed professional counselor. She completed her master’s level training at Drexel University and spent years helping individuals with negative body-image and eating disorders as well as working with at-risk youth in residential settings who were coping with family issues, trauma, developmental delays and psychiatric illnesses. In addition to using traditional counseling methods, Lauren is passionate about using movement, music and art to help teens and young women shed light on what’s REALLY going on at the deepest level of their self by using their own greatest tool, the Body itself.