Tavares's Story

Tavares Martin

Tavares Martin is a wellness entrepreneur, mental health advocate, and non-traditional scholar whose mission is to create transformative pathways for individuals navigating adversity. As a Board Member of Building Bridges Foundation, he brings a powerful blend of lived experience, professional expertise, and academic insight to support the organization’s mission of healing through community engagement.

Tavares holds an Associate of Science in Psychology and is both a Certified Personal Trainer and a Nationally Certified Peer Recovery Specialist. With over a decade of experience in fitness, behavioral coaching, and trauma-informed wellness education, he is deeply committed to bridging the gap between mental, emotional, and physical well-being—particularly for men, returning citizens, and underserved communities.

Drawing from his own journey of overcoming homelessness, depression, and systemic barriers, Tavares has dedicated his life to building spaces where healing, growth, and accountability are not just possible but sustainable.

Currently pursuing his bachelor’s at Yale University with the goal of earning a PhD in Psychology, Tavares brings visionary insight, practical expertise, and a relentless passion for equity to his role at Building Bridges Foundation—helping shape programs that inspire resilience, self-empowerment, and long-term change.