About Dayna
Dayna Altman is an energetic and dynamic mental health speaker, entrepreneur and advocate. The full force and sole operator of Bake it Till You Make it LLC, Dayna harvests her passion for mental health advocacy by using food and baking to create an authentic recipe for vulnerable storytelling. The author of four mental health cookbooks, the facilitator of a variety of mental health presentations and the subject of an award winning documentary, Dayna is a sought after storyteller. Dayna has been invited to speak at national conferences, in community kitchens, on the news and most notably, at the White House in 2022. With experience working in both clinical and advocacy mental health settings, Dayna’s breadth of knowledge in the field informs her work as does her own recovery. Today, Dayna lives with major depressive disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder and is in lifelong eating disorder recovery. When she’s not testing out new recipes in her kitchen or quoting her therapists, Dayna is in pursuit of creating art as a means to explore new ways to change the world using her own story.
Credentials
Academic Credentials
Master of Public Health, Northeastern University 2018
BS in Human Services and Psychology Northeastern University 2015
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Mental Health Certifications
Therapeutic Crisis Intervention
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) Education
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Past Entrepreneurial Experience
Life After and Erasing Excuses
Directed, created and produced a short documentary about sexual violence and healing. Plans and executes public apperances and documentary screenings at universities across the country.
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The BEA(YOU)TIFUL Project
Founded a body positivity organization to inspire all people to embrace beauty at every size. Presents at conferences and speaks publicly about eating disorder history.
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Mental Health Related Awards
One of thirty young adults invited to the White House to join a mental health task force to address Youth Mental Health
Distinguished Alumni Award
Sole recipient for dedication to activism and the mental health field-National Active Minds Organization 2016-Sacramento CA
Lenny Bellino Award
Sole recipient for outstanding compassion and patience toward residents/families- McLean Hospital 2016-Middleboro MA
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Highlighted Speaking Engagements
SoulCycle Headquarters
Brown & Brown Insurance Company
Duxbury Senior Center
McLean Hospital
Tufts University
Providence College
University of Illinois: Chicago
Northeastern University
Merrimack College
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Highlighted Media & Press Recognition
Youth Mental Health Action Forum Young Leader (2022)
Recognized at the White House at the Inaugural Forum hosted by MTV and The Biden Harris administration.
Transformational Leader, Exelon Magazine (2022)
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Soberpreneur Podcast with Kelsey More
No Shame on U Podcast
A is for Anxious with Alyx Ang Podcast
All Bodies All Foods by the Renfrew Center
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Experience Life Magazine
Canvas Rebel
Chronicle: WCVB
"31 Best Resilient Books to Read in 2019"
2020 World Gourmand Cookbook Award Recipient
A-List Magazine
Billon Success
AERIE by American Eagle
News at Northeastern