Who We Are
Team Members and Co-Founders are part of the rich history of support and advocacy of Cos4Hope.
We are proud to share their journey.
April Roller-Morris
(She/Her)
Co-Founder & Team Member
Linked In
HopeQuestLLC
HopeQuest Travel
April’s journey into suicide prevention and mental wellness advocacy began with a profound personal loss. In 2013, her husband Jeremy, at the age of 32, died by suicide after a hidden battle with depression and anxiety, leaving behind April and their three young sons, aged 5, 3, and 1.5 years old. Determined to transform their grief into action, April stayed at the University of Central Missouri (UCM) to continue her education despite the option to return home. This marked the beginning of her advocacy to raise awareness and educate others about suicide in honor of Jeremy’s legacy.
April earned her B.S. in Criminal Justice with a minor in Psychology in 2016, graduating cum laude. During this time, she became actively involved in campus and community efforts, including research and outreach related to suicide prevention. Her academic interests included juvenile justice policy, developmental psychology, and the intersection of pop culture and mental health. Her work in these areas fueled her drive to make a difference in the lives of those struggling with mental health.
She continued her education, earning an M.S. in Criminal Justice while serving as a graduate-level victim advocate at UCM. She also conducted research and presented on topics like youth suicide prevention legislation and the mental health benefits of geek culture. After graduation, she earned the position of executive director of a nonprofit serving survivors of interpersonal violence, where she gained extensive experience in advocacy, leadership, and community engagement.
In 2018, April co-founded Cos4Hope, a nonprofit blending suicide prevention with pop culture. In 2021, April returned to a local university as the sole Title IX and CARE Team case manager, supporting students, faculty, and staff with diverse concerns, from mental health challenges to interpersonal issues. Her role combines her advocacy expertise with her passion for helping others, creating a campus environment prioritizing wellness and inclusion. Alongside her professional responsibilities, April is pursuing a PhD in Developmental Psychology to deepen her understanding of human development and advance her ability to support others.
Building on her extensive experience in advocacy and mental wellness, April founded Hope Quest LLC. This Life Coaching and Travel Agency helps clients navigate challenges while encouraging exploration and personal growth. As a certified life coach with 20 specializations, including therapeutic art and emotional intelligence, April provides tailored support to individuals seeking transformative change.
Most importantly, April is the proud mom of four amazingly ornery boys who inspire her daily. Her love for fandoms—rooted in cherished memories of shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Supernatural, TMNT, and Power Rangers—has shaped her unique approach to advocacy. She believes everyone has a bit of a “geek” and uses this to inspire connection, courage, and hope.
April’s work reflects her unwavering dedication to breaking mental health stigma, normalizing help-seeking, and fostering compassionate communities. Through her roles at the University, Cos4Hope, and Hope Quest LLC, as well as her doctoral studies, she empowers individuals to shine as the hero, anti-hero, or villain of their own stories.
Erica
(She/Her)
Co-Founder & Team Member
Erica is a dynamic and multifaceted individual who wears many hats, each reflecting her vibrant personality and passions. As a former pastor’s wife, she brings wisdom and compassion to her roles as a mom of three and a mental health and suicide prevention advocate. Erica’s mission is to foster meaningful conversations, and she believes that open dialogue is a powerful tool for diminishing the stigma surrounding mental health and preventing suicide.
A natural storyteller, Erica finds joy in celebrating life’s moments, big and small. She describes herself as a “fashion time traveler,” seamlessly blending vintage flair with modern trends. She is also a self-proclaimed “geeky chick” who adores fandoms and cosplay. Whether donning the persona of a beloved character or expressing her quirky creativity through her unique style, she embraces her identity as a walking Google doodle, real-life cartoon character, and creative weirdo.
Erica is a passionate believer in the power of conversation to save lives. As she puts it, "The more we talk, the greater chance of [suicide] dwindling. We should talk about it as freely as we do running... or the Oscars. It should roll off the tongue as easily as we talk about what's for dinner. Conversation always." Her advocacy centers on normalizing these discussions, making them an integral part of daily life.
Currently, Erica is enjoying a well-earned hiatus in sunny Orlando, Florida, taking time to recharge and reflect. Surrounded by the city's vibrant energy, she is embracing the opportunity to rest while remaining a source of inspiration to those around her. With her blend of creativity, advocacy, and celebration of life, Erica continues to be a beacon of hope and authenticity even during her pause.
Megan
(She/Her)
Founding Team Member
Megan is a Licensed Professional Counselor who has been working with clients since 2015. She also shares her passion for psychology by teaching as an adjunct at Avila University. With extensive experience, Megan has worked with individuals with disabilities, LGBTQ+ populations, psychiatric hospital settings, and private practice, bringing compassion and expertise to every facet of her work.
A lifelong geek and nerd, Megan deeply loves “all the things.” If pressed to choose, she would highlight her passion for fantasy and sci-fi, particularly the Stargate franchise and anything dragon-related. Her creative side shines through her booth at the Kansas City Renaissance Festival, where she crafts and sells handmade candles, blending artistry with her entrepreneurial spirit.
As a founding team member of Cos4Hope, Megan has been with the organization since its beginning. She values its mission of blending pop culture with mental health advocacy and is proud of Cos4Hope's growth and community impact
#History
April and Erica connected through a suicide prevention organization as board members in 2015. Their connection deepened with a mutual respect for Kevin Smith, conventions, fandoms, and, eventually, cosplay. Williams was invited to speak at a 2015 suicide prevention walk planned by Roller.
Two cosplayers attended the walk in 2015: Kisuke Urahara from Bleach and Yuna from Final Fantasy. Participants were positively interacting with the cosplayers. The walk atmosphere began to change for the better. Kisuke Urahara and Yuna were the first cosplayers to attend a suicide prevention walk in history.
2016 & 2017
In 2016, April Roller-Morris and Erica Williams noticed a unique opportunity while organizing a local walk for suicide prevention. After witnessing the uplifting interaction between cosplayers and other participants, they searched hashtags related to the local cosplay community, hoping to find volunteers for the event under the banner of #CosplayForACause. The response was overwhelming—cosplayers of all types enthusiastically joined in. Their presence brightened participant moods, transformed the atmosphere of the walk, and created a powerful sense of community and connection.
The cosplayer support and participant reactions sparked a journey of independent research for April and Erica. They began exploring cosplay as a coping mechanism and how being part of a fandom or "fandom family" could positively impact mental health. They recognized that traditional suicide prevention efforts often overlooked geeks, gamers, and fandom communities, and that cosplay—despite its creative and expressive potential—was frequently misunderstood.
At the same time, April sought new ways to engage her sons and other youth in conversations about mental health and suicide prevention. Community talks, while beneficial, were often poorly attended due to fear and stigma. Observing her sons’ fascination with pop culture, April began merging educational conversations with the characters they loved. Ghost Rider became a metaphor for managing anger, Supernatural emphasized the importance of sharing emotions, and Scooby-Doo taught that every problem has a solution when tackled with support. These creative approaches resonated with her children, inspiring a broader vision for using pop culture to address mental health challenges.
Inspired by Superman’s iconic "S," symbolizing Hope, April and Erica reimagined the "S" in cosplay as a beacon of Support, Solidarity, and Hope. They saw pop culture as a powerful tool to initiate meaningful, engaging, and relatable conversations about mental health and suicide prevention. This insight laid the foundation for their work.
On February 18, 2018, April and Erica officially founded Cos4Hope. Rooted in the belief that fandom and cosplay could be transformative, the organization set out to inspire hope, normalize discussions about mental wellness, and foster a supportive community where individuals could find strength, resilience, and understanding. Through their efforts, they championed the value of geek life and cosplay, helping to reshape perspectives and bridge gaps in mental health advocacy.
#CosplayForACause
The #CosplayForACause research was presented as mental health panels at Planet ComiCon in Kansas City in February 2018 and Stealth Con at the University of Central Missouri in April 2018. Megan Deaver joined the panels and the newly forming geek support team.
Due to the response at both mental health panels, the #CosplayForACause hashtag was reimagined and launched as geek support affectionately named Cosplay for Hope.
Cosplay for Hope made their first public appearance as geek support at Stealth Con in 2018 with a hand-drawn logo and a mission to reach those within the cosmunity/conmunity. They then arranged and organized the Spring 2018 UCM campus and Lee’s Summit North High School suicide prevention walks in honor of loved ones lost to suicide.
Geek support was needed, and Cosplay for Hope’s small team helped at various conventions and walks in 2018, culminating with a fall Mini HopeCon + Walk.
Torches On! is an all-day virtual lighting event for World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10th. The day begins in honor or memory of a life lost to suicide, someone close to a person touched by lived experience, or both.
In many stories, a torch or lantern lights a character's path through times of darkness. Geeks are encouraged to take time on this day to light a torch, lamp, lantern, or candle to help light the way on their journey.
Lightsabers, Lanterns & Lumos is an annual light vigil on International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day. Cos4Hope teams up with local groups to remember those lost to suicide. Geeks may bring a lightsaber, lantern, lighted wand, sonic screwdriver, Pokéball, orb, tesseract, or other lighted prop to light in remembrance of their loved one. Words of Hope from fandoms are read, followed by the reading of names of loved ones lost to suicide. Lights are dimmed, and then lighted props are lit in honor of loved ones.
A virtual HopeCon group is for past, current, and future attendees, cosplayers, exhibitors, Cos4Hope Heroes, and more. The group can help participants and their loved ones embrace the quirkiness that makes them who they are. The HopeCon group also recognizes members who have lived experiences with mental wellness, remember loved ones lost to suicide, and helps inspire Hope to teach others that no one is alone on a healing journey.
Hope Harbor is a private Facebook group launched by Cos4Hope and Planet Comicon in 2018, focusing on cosplayers, gamers, con-goers, and those who are part of fandoms ages 17 and older. The peer support group offers HOPE to suicide attempt survivors, those battling mental health, those recovering from self-harm, and those who have been through a suicide loss.
HopeCons are family-friendly convention-esque mental wellness and suicide prevention fundraisers held in the Fall (SuperMini HopeCon) and Spring (HopeCon + Walk) to inspire Hope for loss survivors and those with lived experience.
The first HopeCon was held in 2018 with the following HopeCons featuring Cosplayers, Exhibitors, Photo Booths, Photo Ops, Resource Tables, Raffles, Auctions, & and more! HopeCon registration is always free and open to anyone who wants to make a difference as a volunteer, individual, team member, or virtual participant.
2018 Suicide Prevention Walk
Suicide Prevention Walk ~ Sept 2018
#CosplayforaCause organized the walk, recruited cosplayers, and proudly walked alongside those who lost loved ones to suicide and those who personally struggle.
The first official #CosplayforaCause participants who would become the basis for our research and future organization!
Cos4Hope was founded with the intent to bring Hope to the Cosmunity/Conmunity for mental health and suicide prevention through support, education, and research.
Original C4H Mission Statement:
We wish to form a sense of cosmunity/conmunity that offers compassion and equality for those who seek or want support through a network of mental health and suicide prevention activists and advocates. We also hope to save and change lives using cosplay and fandom families through inclusive and supportive collaboration for mental health awareness and suicide prevention efforts.
Current C4H Mission Statement: Inspire Hope for mental wellness and suicide prevention through support, education, research, and resource facilitation by Geeks for Geeks.
In order to prepare people to embark on journeys where community, compassion, cosplay, and courage collide. We believe that a bit of geek exists in everyone and that everyone is a Hero in their own way.
The Re-Launch
Since 2018, Cosplay for Hope has operated as a geek support team.
On February 4, 2022, Cosplay For Hope reformed as Cos4Hope, an up-and-coming educational non-profit organization focused on mental wellness and suicide prevention for Geeks by Geeks.
While the logo is new – the S remains. After all, it is a beacon of Hope.
On May 5, 2023, Cos4Hope officially received 501(c)3 nonprofit organizational status through the IRS, which was backdated to April 7, 2023.
All donations to Cos4Hope from April 7, 2023, are tax deductible. This change will also allow our team to move forward and apply for grants that reflect our mission and vision. We now have the ability to be more impactful. We can save and change lives.