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Cohort 1
June 30, 2024

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Patricia Blake-Smith

For over 20 years, Patricia Blake-Smith has been passionate about health and wellness initiatives that advance and promote the health and quality of life of Michigan residents, especially communities of color. She has been involved in several large-scale health projects on the local, state, and regional level that supported and promoted healthy lifestyles which increased physical activity, healthy eating, and smoke-free lifestyles, while reducing health disparities and preventing and controlling other chronic conditions risk factors.

 

Tricia is currently the Program Manager for Making it Count CDC where she works collaboratively with many organizations in the Detroit community to provide year-round continuous programs that make a real difference in people’s lives through awareness, education and obtaining life skills. Continuing to be a health advocate and champion for the citizens of the state of Michigan, she was a Leadership Fellow in the Mid-America Regional Public Health Leadership Institute (MARPHLI) at University of Illinois, and has published and presented scientific and technical papers at the American Public Health Association Annual Meeting and peer reviewed journal.Tricia has a Master of Science in Public Health from Meharry Medical College with a concentration in Public Health Administration and Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration from Tennessee State University.

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Dr. Melba Carter
Dr. Melba Carter is a credentialed educator, community advocate, and gifted author of the Zankli Chronicles, a paranormal series and a personal development book, Aging Fantastically. After graduating from UCLA, she began working in marketing and spent many years as a producer of CBO fundraising projects and programs. In 1993, she founded JOBS Training & Placement, and in 2009, Dr. Carter was presented with a Supplier of the Year Award from the Southern California Minority Business Development Council for the owner of career and personal development workshops and seminars. That same year her company was honored by the National Minority Business Development Council with a Class 1 Supplier Award in Miami, Florida. JOBS Training & Placement beat out 15,000 other business candidates for this honor. Today, Dr. Carter is “lazier focused on improving the quality of opportunities” for youth and families in urban communities.

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Sena Geleto
Sena is driven by a deep commitment to improving healthcare accessibility, quality, and equity for all. Sena’s academic pursuits in the field of biology complement their aspirations in health policy, providing them with a comprehensive understanding of the scientific underpinnings of healthcare. Sena Geleto serves as an intern at North Point Health and Wellness, where they play a crucial role in the Health Policy and Advocacy Department working on local and statewide tobacco policy and outreach on flavored tobacco. Sena is a student at the University of Minnesota, majoring in Biology.

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Tracey Gilford

Tracey has over 15 years of experience in the telecommunication industry as an Information Technology (IT) Project Manager/Technology Manager. After working in the IT sector, she transitioned to work in the non-profit sector. She has worked with the Colorado Black Health Collaborative (CBHC), a grassroots, 501c(3) non-profit organization, for approximately 10+ years to achieve health equity in Colorado’s Black Community. Currently, she is the Project Coordinator for the CBHC – Tackling Menthol in the Black Community Project to help transform Policies, Systems and Environments

(PSEs) to preserve and save Black/African American lives in Colorado. Tracy received her MBA in Technology Management from the University of Phoenix, and her BS in Computer Science from the University of Denver.

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Christoph Jenkins
Christoph Jenkins is creator of The Poet Life, a company that utilizes creativity and The Arts to add value to our clients. Our three pillars and priorities: Education, Engagement, and Entertainment, are what drive us and excite those we serve. Our team of professional facilitators and artists are passionate about helping individuals, businesses, and organizations promote their brand, tell their story, connect with their audiences, and spice up their events. We have a large network of creatives who have vast experience in the production and live entertainment industry. Our poets have performed nationally and internationally and have thrilled millions of spectators. We are renowned for our creativity, ingenuity, and ability to deliver impactful messages that always strike a chord with our audience. Through The Poet Life, Christoph is committed to promoting our art by always delivering services that exceed our client's expectations and continually growing his portfolio of case studies.

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Bryce Kahari
Bryce Kahari is an advocate, storyteller, community-builder, and health equity specialist, who has done work in public health and creative arts for over a decade. Bryce was named the National Youth Advocate of the Year by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids in 2016. He graduated from The University of Southern Mississippi in 2020 with a Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies. He currently serves as the Training & Technical Assistance Manager at the National LGBT Cancer Network where he leads the organization’s training, support, and systems change work to address tobacco control and cancer care disparities for the LGBTQ+ community. In his free time, Bryce enjoys writing and leading the Instagram poetry community Poetry Battles as its editor-in-chief. Bryce is based in Biloxi, Mississippi.

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Miriam N. Karanja

Miriam Karanja has worked as Director of Programs for the Arkansas Cancer Coalition (ACC) since July 2013. Before that, she served in multiple management roles including as Section Chief of Media and Health Communications at the Arkansas Department of Health Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program, as Program Director for Southern Bancorp’s Good Faith Fund Business Development Center, as a Business Consultant for Temple University Small Business Development Center and as an Assistant Brand Manager for Unilever in Kenya. When she is not ACC, Miriam works as an Assistant Professor for Arkansas Baptist College and Shorter College. She enjoys serving at New Life Church in West Little Rock and loves raising her teenage son. Her passions are aerobics, attending her church life group, cooking, hiking, making friends, reading, singing in choirs, and traveling. Miriam comes from a large, robust family and enjoys traveling overseas to spend time with them.

 

Miriam has a Master of Business Administration degree in Economic Development from Eastern University in Pennsylvania, a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Nairobi University, and Diploma in Marketing from the Marketing Society of Kenya. She is a life-long learner who enjoys solving all levels of community health problems.

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Diane Lewis
Diane remarkable career space 30 years, reflecting diverse expertise and unwavering dedication to the community. With a master’s degree in public administration from CSU East Bay as her foundation, Diane's path has included roles with Kaiser Permanente, Anthem, Hill Physicians Medical Group, Brown and Toland Physicians, UC Davis Health, Alameda County Workforce Development Board, and the Alzheimer's Association. As an active volunteer, Diane has served on the Alameda County Commission on Aging, the Board of Directors for PFLAG-Oakland East Bay, Alameda County Civil Grand Jury, and the Allen Temple Health and Social Services Ministry, and she co-facilitated a monthly POC support group at the Oakland LGBTQ Community Center.

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Asli McCullers

Asli McCullers is a first year PhD candidate in the Behavioral and Community Health Department at the University of Maryland, College Park. She is a Graduate Research Assistant in the Community Health Awareness, Messages and Prevention (CHAMP) Lab, which focuses on addressing cancer outcomes in the African American community. In her work, Asli leverages both practice and research efforts to interrupt the pathway to health inequity by addressing the dynamic array of health challenges faced by adolescents and emerging adults of marginalized backgrounds. Her research and advocacy involvements have included a focus in tobacco control, cancer, cardiovascular disease, reproductive health, digital health, mental health and more. Additionally, Asli works at MedStar Health Research Institute in the Center for Health Equity Research as a Research Associate, and Truth Initiative as a Youth Trainer. She has previously worked with Black Women's Health Imperative, Susan G Komen, American Psychological Association, the Othering and Belonging Institute at University of California, Berkeley and an array of other health equity focused organizations. Her work has been published in world class journals, including the American Journal of Public Health, Medical Care, Population Health Management and others.

 

Asli received her MPH in Epidemiology from the University of Delaware, her post-baccalaureate from University of Massachusetts Medical School in Clinical and Population Health, and her BS in Biology and Music Performance from Towson University. Asli is incredibly excited to learn alongside fellow advocates for radical change in tobacco policies to improve the health of African Americans for generations to come!

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Desiree Miller

Desiree Miller is a dedicated advocate and leader fueled by her passion for uplifting African-American families and driving positive community change. Her journey began as a new mother, inspiring her to establish a strong support network for fellow families. She recognized the need for deeper community connectivity and addressed issues like inadequate resources and persistent disparities. As the Program Coordinator at the Black Wellness Prosperity Center, Desiree's commitment shines. Her efforts aim to create a brighter future for African American families, bridging gaps, empowering individuals, and sparking transformative change in her community and beyond.

 

Desiree's mission is clear – she supports women in their self-improvement journeys, fostering joy in community advancement. With roots in Inglewood, she values progress for all. After starting her academic path at Fresno State University in 2013, Desiree transitioned from academia to advocacy, leveraging her gift for driving Black equity and social justice discussions.

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Michelle Ozah

Michelle Ozah is currently the Social & Health Disparities Senior Coordinator for The Louisiana

Campaign For Tobacco-Free Living (TFL), a program of the Louisiana Public Health Institute (LPHI) and a funded program of the Louisiana Cancer Research Center (LCRC). Michelle graduated from Xavier University of Louisiana with a Bachelor of Science in Public Health Sciences. She is obtaining her Master of Social Work from Southern University at New Orleans. Michelle has published research on the Investigation of Antidiabetic Activity of Vaccinium corybosum (Blueberry) and has co-authored poster presentations, such as the African American Male Cessation Initiative and Quit With Us, Louisiana Smoke- Free housing.

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Pleshette Robertson

Pleshette Robertson is a passionate leader with a vision for African-Americans to thrive through improved social determinants of health; which includes security, great mental health, and well-being. Pleshette developed her passion for tobacco prevention and public policy initiatives in 2006 when she partnered with The African American Tobacco Education Partnership (AATEP) in developing grassroots community outreach and education media campaigns. After learning about the predatory marketing practices of the tobacco industry, she began serving as a volunteer for community outreach initiatives, focus groups, and advisory committee participation. She then became a subcontractor to train and prepare youth advocates in activities such as giving testimony at city council meetings.

 

Seventeen years later, in her new position as the Community Engagement Coordinator at Saving Our Legacy, African-Americans for Smoke Free Safe Places – The SOL Project, Pleshette is responsible for organizing collaborative partnerships with community-based organizations, faith-based leadership, and residents to further education, advocacy, and policy efforts.

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LaWanda T. Sanders

LaWanda T. Sanders is a research biologist at the National Institute of Health (NIH), where she has served for over 20 years, and the Program Manager with the Leadership Council for Healthy Communities (LCHC). At LCHC, she manages the Tobacco Control and Food Access Program and Vaccine Equity Inclusive Initiative Program. She is educator, entrepreneur, and community advocate for our African-American communities.

 

She completed her undergraduate studies at Shaw University and Duke University in North Carolina, and holds a Masters in both Biomedical Science and Education Leadership/Administration from George Washington University.

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Jerome West

As an internationally-certified Preventative Specialist, Ohio-certified Prevention Consultant, and licensed Chemical Dependence Counselor, Jerome West has extensive knowledge and expertise in both behavioral health preventive science and nicotine addiction. He holds an AAS in Human and Social Services from Stark State College, a BA in Organizational Management from Malone University, a dual MA in Religious Education and Religious Counseling from Liberty University, and is pursuing his MBA in Healthcare Management at Western Governors University. He has worked with adolescents and adults in marginalized and trauma-affected communities for over 15 years. West was formerly the executive director of a non-profit organization, where he implemented initiatives based on empirical evidence for social-emotional learning and substance addiction prevention. Moved by Cleveland’s ranking as having the highest smoking rate in the United States and the disparities caused by tobacco use, Jerome developed and implemented the Nicotine Dependence Prevention and Treatment Program at MetorHealth System in 2022.

 

West is a fervent supporter of behavioral health and education, and the emotional and intellectual challenges he encountered as a teenager serve as his inspiration. As a thought leader, West employs his innovation and contagious self-efficacy to equip organizations with the necessary resources to eliminate emotional health and education disparities, ensuring equity, the maximization of protective factors, access to high-quality care, and cultural competence in service delivery. Through his advocacy work, West aims to establish a society in which people with mental health issues have access to the necessary support. He believes that by addressing these disparities and fostering cultural competence, we can eliminate the stigma associated with mental health and guarantee that everyone receives high-quality care. West enables organizations to implement effective strategies that will ultimately result in a healthier and more equitable society through his innovative approach.

Leadership Fellows

Tel. 888.881.6619 x 109

Email. admin@aatclc.org 

1796 18th Street Suite C
San Francisco, CA 94107 

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