Robbie Brandon 

Founder and Executive Director, Sunlight Village 

Robbie Brandon a Kettering Foundation 2025 Dayton Democracy Fellow, is focused on improving mental health and leveling the playing field for minority youth and families in Dayton, particularly in West Dayton. Brandon has always had a passion for youth advocacy, mental health, juvenile justice, and the inner-city communities of Dayton. In 2006, she founded Sunlight Village, a nonprofit whose mission is to improve the overall health and well-being for youth, young adults, and families most affected by the unequal conditions in which we live. Brandon graduated from Sinclair College as a single working mother of three and received her license as a registered nurse in 1990. Her work at Dayton Children’s Medical Center ignited her passion for improving our children’s health and well–being. Throughout her career, she has collaborated with the Combined Health District of Montgomery County, now known as Public Health Dayton and Montgomery County, on several county–wide health projects. Brandon was instrumental in establishing Reach Out of Montgomery County, where she coordinated and managed the collaborative efforts of two free health care clinics for underserved and uninsured residents, which served more than 2,000 patients with the help of over 100 volunteer health care providers. Brandon is dedicated to working collectively and building partnerships and relationships to help reduce stigma, close gaps, and remove barriers surrounding mental health. She also strongly believes that true democracy is driven by the power of the people, and together we can decrease disparities and ensure equity for all—especially for our most underserved, underrepresented, and unheard residents. Brandon is a proud lifelong Ohio resident, a mother and grandmother, and a committed Christian servant in local churches and community organizations.