Collaboration
Sunny Noelle Naughton is a New England-based, East Coast native enjoying life in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont, where she was born and raised. Passionate about connecting and communicating, Sunny combines a 25-year career, beginning as a teenager in New York City, in human services, journalism, and the entertainment business to collaborate, educate, and facilitate raising mental health awareness and literacy. By engaging individuals, communities, and organizations to further these conversations, Sunny supports connection and camaraderie, in-person and virtually, as a proud elder millennial.
I had the honor of receiving the Prevention Champion Award in 2019. The award was presented by Governor Phil Scott at the Vermont State House in Montpelier.
In 2015, after over a decade working on Broadway in several capacities, including the National Tour of Annie, the National High School Music Theater Awards, the PBS Documentary 'Broadway or Bust,' and as a part of the Drama Desk Award-winning team from Camp Broadway, Sunny created Sunshine Silver Lining, LLC, a Communications and Mental Health Consultancy.
​
Sunny is a member of the National Alliance of Mental Illness, the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention, and The Stability Network. Sunny is a teen, youth, and adult certified Mental Health First Aid Trainer, a certified Communications Support Specialist, and has worked as a nationally certified Recovery Coach as a friend to those in recovery. Sunny has trained staff members from Better Up, the United Nations, the National Parks Department, and many universities and community organizations across the United States. Sunny sat on the Communications Committee for the 988 Lifeline launch in Vermont and teaches COPE at the University of Vermont. In 2024, Sunny will begin as an instructor in communications for the Community College of Vermont and continue to lend her time to various committees and advisory boards to ensure the presence of lived experience.
​
Named one of the top 100 Mental Health First Aid facilitators in America since 2019, Sunny holds a self-designed undergraduate Media and Journalism degree from Eugene Lang at The New School, a Masters degree in Leadership from Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), and is now pursuing a second master’s degree at SNHU, focusing on non-clinical psychology.
​
Sunny is a homebody and pop-culture enthusiast who enjoys rescuing cats with her partner Jay, taking walks with her Goldendoodle Mayer (named after John), reading, writing, cooking, going on weekend trips, and staying connected virtually, in person, and via snail mail with her friends and family.