2021 VIRTUAL
SIGNATURE CONFERENCE SERIES

Prior to her tenure at the Partnership, she was the Chief Executive Officer for the New York State Community Action Association where she launched the Association’s annual Symposium on Poverty and Economic Opportunity and its annual Report on Poverty in New York State. She has also served as the Sr. Vice President for Capacity Building for the New York Council of Nonprofits where she was the project director for the New York State Board Training Consortium.

Denise has more than 28 years’ experience in the nonprofit sector, has served on several nonprofit boards of directors, and was an appointee to the Governor’s Early Childhood Advisory Council in New York State. She has extensive experience in board governance, strategic planning, public policy/advocacy, leadership development, and organizational development. She is a Certified Community Action Professional (CCAP), a certified Results-Oriented Management and Accountability (ROMA) Trainer, and a Pathways to Excellence Peer Reviewer.

She started her Community Action career as a social worker with the Schenectady Community Action Program. She has a Masters Degree in Social Work from the University at Albany where she was also a Fellow on Women and Public Policy at the Center for Women in Government and Civil Society, and holds a Bachelor Degree in Social Work from Valparaiso University.

His leadership roles at the state and local level include co-chairing the New York State Health Department’s workgroup on health care workforce and co-chairing with Congressman Joseph Morelle the region’s Systems Integration initiative, a cross-sector effort to integrate services and data for families affected by poverty. As a member of the Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Commission, Norwood helps to guide funding for economic-development, job-development and anti-poverty efforts across the region.

From 1990 to 2005, Norwood served as a Rochester City Council member and chair of the council’s Committee on Housing and Community Development. During his tenure, he proposed and developed several new programs in housing, neighborhood development and police oversight.

Currently, Norwood serves on the board of the national Network for Regional Healthcare Improvement, which works to transform healthcare delivery, payment and information systems. Since 2009, he has served as an at-large member of the New York State Board of Regents. Responsible for the general supervision of all educational activities within the state, the Regents preside over the University and the New York State Education Department.

A leader in Rochester’s faith community, Norwood is also president and senior pastor at the Holy Jerusalem Spiritual Church. 

Wade Norwood is a graduate of the University of Rochester, where he received his bachelor’s degree in political science. He and his wife, Lisa Hardy Norwood, reside in Rochester’s 19th Ward neighborhood. They have two adult children.

For over two decades, she served as an Assistant Professor at Portland State University’s School of Social Work and now serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Joy DeGruy Publications Inc. 

Ms. DeGruy’s research focuses on the intersection of racism, trauma, violence and American chattel slavery. She has over thirty years of practical experience as a professional in the field of social work. She conducts workshops and trainings in the areas of intergenerational/historical trauma, mental health, social justice, improvement strategies and evidence based model development. 

Ms. DeGruy has published numerous refereed journal articles and book chapters and authored her seminal book entitled “Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome: America’s Legacy of Enduring Injury & Healing.” She has also developed an assessment scale for measuring respect with regard to African American male youth. 

Mr. Abdul-Wahid is currently Director of Greater Rochester Black Agenda Group, where he coordinates the mission and vision of the Black Agenda.

Mr. Abdul-Wahid service to our community follows;
• Founding Member of R.A.I.N. (Rochesterians Against Illegal Narcotics) a          Community Development organization.
• Former Commissioner on the Rochester/Monroe County Freedom Trail Commission.
• President Advisory Board SOY (Saving Our Youth)
• Founding Member of the Greater Rochester Black Agenda
• President of the Board, Monroe County Industrial Development Corporation.

Throughout his calling to assist, give and contribute, Mr. Abdul-Wahid has worked tirelessly to transform urban neighborhoods back into functioning communities where residents maintain a caring environment of healthy attitudes with consistent community development and public safety as a goal
and outcome. Mr. Abdul-Wahid has worked with various citizen’s groups to develop, The Downtown North St. business corridor, Brown Street neighborhood, Fulton Ave. neighborhood housing development, and the Genesee and Brooks Landing Development.

Mr. Abdul-Wahid assisted those neighborhoods to become empowered and they formed collaborations to improve the inner structure of those neighborhood, through the development of housing, business and public safety.
Mr. Abdul-Wahid has collaborated in the last decade to build a Youth Workforce Development Model with youth agencies and partnerships. This model serves summer youth employment programs and year around employment for youth. Mr. Abdul-Wahid believes that development and guidance to young people, who are looking to get back on track with their dreams and choices to have success, is important and a requirement for our village.

Mr. Abdul-Wahid continuous efforts for and with the Rochester community continues in the creation of citizen-run organizations and collaborations between city residents and public officials. Mr. Abdul-Wahid’s hard work, dedication and his commitment to serve the community is evident in the long hours and hands-on attitude he approaches on each committee, board and collaboration with which he is affiliated.

While there, she led the department’s efforts as a funder and provider of youth

development and asset-building programs, and youth employment for approximately 1,000 youth and their families each year. Jackie has an Associates, Bachelors and Master’s degrees in Business Administration and Management and is a true believer in early education as well as life-long learning.

A devoted wife of 38 years, she and her husband Michael are Co-Founders of North Star Rites of Passage, LLC, a consulting company providing Afrocentric programming to youth and families, including Rites of Passage for males and females, staff training in cultural responsive programming, and parenting skills training in the Strengthening the Black Family workshop series.

As a strong advocate for parent and family engagement, Jackie is active in several community efforts, including the Black Women’s Leadership Forum, the Black Agenda Group, the Sankofa Study Group, Racial Equity Justice Initiative, and other efforts supporting the greater Rochester community.

In March 2017, Deanna joined the News10NBC team. She anchors the 5 p.m. show and also reports on consumer advocacy issues.

Deanna is a three-time cancer survivor and is actively involved in community activities that enrich the lives of cancer survivors and promote research. She was recently awarded the prestigious Thrive Award, an honor The Cancer Support Community gives annually to one person who exemplifies a passion for assuaging cancer’s suffering. Her commitment to advocating for her community has been evident throughout her career including stops in Dallas, Indianapolis, Little Rock, and Lubbock. That advocacy has earned her 12 regional Emmy Awards which included being named the region’s top consumer reporter.

She was instrumental in the movement for bail reform and worked as a statewide organizer for criminal justice reform. She currently works for the New York Civil Liberties Union as a political strategist and Civil right Organizer. with a focus on criminal justice reform. In addition to the incredible work she has done in the community, she also serves as chair of the Advisory Board for the YWCA, and is Co-leader and Diversity Chair for Action Together Rochester where she fights for progressive causes through collaboration, education, equity and advocacy in our community. In the wake of BLM, Ashley co-founded Free The People Roc to address mass incarceration, police brutality, the school to prison pipeline and other issues that have harmed the Black community in Rochester. Ashley’s experience with homelessness, mass incarceration and poverty is at the heart of the work she does for equity and equality.

Humphrey joined KeyBank’s Corporate Responsibility Team in 2017. She joined KeyBank in 2012, serving as Vice President and Area Retail Leader for Key’s branches in the City of Buffalo. Before starting her career in banking with HSBC in 2001, Humphrey was an account executive with WGRZ-TV and WIVB-TV.

Humphrey holds a B.A. in English/African American Studies from the University of Buffalo and a MS degree in Executive Leadership and Change from Daemen College and is a Phi Beta Kappa. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., The Links, Inc. and is a graduate of Leadership Buffalo’s Rising Leaders Program.

Active in the community, Humphrey serves on the Board of Directors for the Sisters Hospital Foundation, Buffalo Center for Arts and Technology, WNY Women’s Foundation and Communities of Giving Legacy Initiative Council. She has received several business awards: Business First 2020 Woman of Influence, 40 under 40 and I.D.E.A. Awards, and Black Achiever in Industry. Humphrey holds several volunteer positions, in addition to leading Key’s partnership with the East Side Avenues initiative.
She is the proud mother of a young son, Chadwick.

The Commission works to provide resources to the women and girls of Erie County, to ensure that they participate fully in matters that have an impact on their lives and toward the elimination of gender-based discrimination and the promotion of women’s economic, societal and political empowerment. Dr. King has served as an adjunct graduate faculty member in the Higher Education Student Affairs Administration Program at Buffalo State College and in the Graduate School of Education at the University at Buffalo.

She has developed and taught courses and conducted workshops on popular media culture, social justice advocacy, multicultural competency, privilege, gender, race and class. Dr. King’s research interests include examining the role that gender, race, class and popular culture play in informing women’s and girls’ identity development and access to opportunity. She serves on the New York State Council for Women and Girls, the board of the Family Justice Center, the Executive Committee of the University at Buffalo Gender Institute, the Minority and Women Business Enterprise Utilization Advisory Board, and the Erie County and City of Buffalo Joint Certification Committee.

MBK, or My Brother’s Keeper, was launched by former President Barack Obama in February 2014. The MBK Alliance encourages local leaders and their respective communities to come together to develop and implement a coherent “cradle-to-college-and-career strategy” to improve life outcomes for all young people by using existing evidence-based and data-driven strategies to develop long-term and sustainable strategic action plans. It also calls on leaders to identify and partner with all community stakeholders in order to assess local needs and existing assets, determine collective priorities and set common goals for improvement.

In his new role, Ray has been charged with overseeing the City of Rochester’s community programs that address the MBK challenge, which targets mentoring and support for the personal, academic and social success of boys and young men of color.

Ray has been involved with the work of the MBK Alliance since 2014 and has engaged in both national and statewide forums, sharing best practices that can be implemented here in Rochester.”
The Coordinator of Roc MBK Initiatives will organize and assist in managing all efforts under the initiative being conducted by RCSD and the City of Rochester.

Jawwaad has had a very diverse legal background over the last 40 years.
He has served as in house counsel for Fortune 500 corporations in Washington DC; international corporations based out of Los Angels Ca; the Monroe County District Attorney Office as an Assistant District Attorney, private defense attorney, and he has spent over 25 years on the bench for the New York State Family Court for Oneida County.

The primary responsibilities of this role include coordinating and developing the educational programs of RRH. The RRH CNEO will ensure all accredited teaching workforce and nursing programs are fully compliant with regulations and meet the educational needs of all trainees. Quality, Safety and Innovation at Rochester Regional Health, she works with clinical leaders to continually improve the system’s overall performance and ensure patient safety. Dr. Stamps also serves as the chief nursing officer (CNO) council’s representative to the Executive Leadership Team.

She has restructured the Infection Prevention Program system-wide and expanded Daily Safety Check to include long term care facilities, launched a Safety Champion Program and helped Rochester Regional Health, and built partnerships with local colleges to increase the number of students choosing nursing careers and supported the expansion and diversity of the Isabella Graham Hart School of Practical Nursing. Dr. Stamps is currently a member of the Rochester Academy of Medicine board of directors. Past board chair for the Rochester/Finger Lakes division of the March of Dimes.

She is a member of the American Organization of Nurse Executives, New York Organization of Nurse Executives and Leaders. She is on numerous advisory boards such as Premiere, Medical Quality Improvement Committee and Northstar Advisory Board. A trustee board member for Genesee Baptist church as well as leads the Health Ministry program. The immediate past Northeast Regional Director for Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc. She is widely published, and has conducted research on the topic of Horizontal Violence.

Deb has also published on the innovative collaborative nurse leadership model, the Chief Nursing Officer Council. Maybe include.Deborah earned her associate’s degree in nursing from Monroe Community College and her bachelor’s degree in nursing from SUNY College at Brockport. She earned a master’s degree in the Gerontological Nursing Practitioner program at Nazareth College in Pittsford, a master’s degree in business administration from Rochester Institute of Technology, and an education doctorate in executive leadership from St. John Fisher College.

She is nationally certified as a Nurse Executive by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

Tracy L. Williams, is also the founder of the TLW Group Inc, is a social entrepreneur, real estate investor and author. He graduated from R.I.T. with a BA in marketing and economics. The TLW Group Inc. is a Rochester based real estate company dedicated to improving the urban living experience. 

Over the years, Tracy’s work with various inner city programs culminated in the curriculum for his book The Come Up. In this book he teaches young, inner city males how to improve their thinking process. It’s success created a demand for his follow up book, The Come Up for Men. His novel Urban Development was created to approach these issues from a different angle.  He has also authored three fully illustrated children’s books, Eagles Belong in the Sky and Marvin’s Garden, and Millionaire Marvin, each built around valuable life lessons. 

Recently Tracy incorporated all of these elements with a bike ride across the nation to raise awareness about urban living conditions, educational disparities and health. 

Tracy holds a MS degree with a focus in marketing and economics from the Rochester Institute of Technology and is working on the expansion of the The Come Up curriculum to include women and families. He has two more fully illustrated children’s books soon to be released.

Bradley is also the co-founder and mentoring coordinator of the G.I.R.L.S. Sports Foundation, Inc.
She is a member of the Edison Street Community Church, where she was ordained as an elder in August 2019. Bradley earned her Master of Arts in organizational leadership from Medaille College, where she has served as an alumni mentor and an instructional speaker. She is passionate about impacting the lives of anyone she encounters because she believes that everyone has a divine purpose here on Earth! Bradley challenges individuals of all ages to adopt new ways of thinking and to accept the truth about who they are destined to be: masterpieces!

While with the Office of Mental Health, Naomi was also contracted as an adoption assessor for the Erie County Surrogate’s Court, and worked as a private clinician in Rochester, receiving referrals from two prominent physicians. After authoring the novel, the Write1.com in 2005, Naomi was recruited by Rochester’s Democrat & Chronicle to write in 2006 as a contributing writer for the Good Counsel, local advice column.

While living in North Carolina, after working as the clinical director at an inpatient program for people experiencing mental health and substance abuse problems, Naomi opened a private practice, where she received hundreds of referrals from the Juvenile Justice system and various Department of Health and Human Services to provide in-home treatment to residents in SC and 9 counties in NC. In addition, she is a certified trauma-informed therapist by the University of Buffalo and trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), a treatment from trauma through the EMDR International Association.

Latise advocates for all human beings (especially for the disenfranchised) and influences systems to create practices, policies, and cultures that respect individuality and focuses on diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice.

With over 20 years of leadership experience, Latise has counseled and coached hundreds of individuals, leaders, and organizations in the government, non-profit, and corporate sectors. She designs, manages, and facilitates enterprise-wide innovative solutions around strategic planning, change management, and leadership. Latise has experience leading Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion strategic plans and implementation, including within a multi-billion-dollar hospitality organization.

Latise is the Founder and Chief Impact Officer of HOPE Consulting and an adjunct faculty at Medaille College. She holds an M.S. in Counseling, M.S. in Creativity and Change Leadership, and a Ph.D. in Leadership and Policy (focus- Organizational Development). Latise is a sought after speaker and a published researcher.

Curtis L. Jones, Jr. earned his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, with a minor in Theological Studies, from Thiel College in 1998. He continued his education at Gannon University where he completed the Leadership Erie program. Mr. Jones, Jr. began his career working at a non-profit organization which provided behavioral health services for children and their families. Since then he has spent 20 years professionally dedicated to serving youth in Erie County.

Curtis’ commitment to the greater Erie community is further evidenced by his participation on numerous community groups and organizations. He has served on boards for both non-profit and economic development organizations in Erie. Currently Curtis, among numerous other activities, serves as the Chairperson for the Enterprise Loan Fund. Additionally, Mr. Jones, Jr. completed his third consecutive term on Erie’s City Council in 2018. During this tenure he was Council President for two years. Recently Erie City Council selected Mr. Jones, Jr. to complete an additional year of serving Erie as a councilman.

She completed her residency in Internal Medicine at NYU Lutheran in Brooklyn, NY, and infectious disease fellowship at the University of Rochester. She currently has a clinical inpatient practice comprised of both general infectious diseases and HIV medicine patients. Dr. Branche is also Co-Director of the NIH funded UR Vaccine Treatment and Evaluation Unit.

Dr. Caldwell‘s career includes work in law enforcement, politics, academia, community, and consulting. She serves on the National Advisory Council for the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity (NCORE) and is the Advisor to the Human Resources and Professional Development committee. She was also a member of the Board for the World Affairs Council of Harrisburg, the PA Governor’s Multicultural Interagency Commission- Black History Committee, the Diversity Forum Committee, and the Diversity and Inclusion Professionals of Central Pennsylvania.

Daniel knew at a young age that education would be the key to her success to overcome the daunting statistics that many foster care youth and young adults face. Daniel is now a proud graduate of SUNY Oswego, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in broadcasting and mass media and a Master of Arts degree in English. Daniel is currently pursuing her doctoral degree in executive leadership at St. John Fisher College in Rochester, New York.

Daniel currently serves the WNY community in the area of Health Equity. Additionally, Daniel has held a variety of positions that have enhanced her personal and professional development as well as her community. She has served as a leadership development, an educational trainer, an adjunct English instructor and an Intensive Preventive Social Worker. Daniel is also the founder of Fostering Greatness Inc, a nonprofit organization that moves to change the current narrative of foster care in Western New York by giving foster care youth and young adults of color who have aged out or left the foster care system an opportunity to do more than survive but to thrive and achieve their greatness at their fullest potential.

Fischer has been named to the Commission on Racial and Structural Equity, a body recently created to develop policies and legislation to address racial inequities in Rochester and Monroe County. She serves the United Way of Greater Rochester as the first chair of the executive steering committee of the Pride Leadership Development Program and as a member of the executive steering committee of the Latino Leadership Development Program. Fischer is a board member of the Greater Rochester Health Foundation, an LGBTQ+ community representative on the University of Rochester Medical Center’s Community Advisory Council, and a member of Latinas Unidas. 

Fischer holds a bachelor’s degree in gender studies from Empire State College and is a Certified Diversity Professional. She is pursuing a master’s in leadership and organizational change at Nazareth College. 

Board certified in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Dr. Harris has been in clinical practice since 1995. She continues to practice geriatrics in Rochester, NY. Dr. Harris attended the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, G.A. and completed a combined Internal Medicine and Pediatrics residency at Wayne State University in Detroit, M.I. Dr. Harris is a past president of the Southern Tier district of the American College of Physicians. She has served on numerous boards in the Rochester and Southern Tier community in addition to extensive involvement in medical education. In her spare time, she enjoys time with family, sewing and a variety of outdoor activities.

Some of Holland’s top priorities in her new role at the School of Medicine and Dentistry include communicating the Medical Center’s Equity and Anti-Racism Action Plan. Holland earned a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Geneseo. She currently serves on the boards of the Alzheimer’s Association, Bivona Child Advocacy Center, and Causewave Community Partners. She is also a member of Latinas Unidas.

Dr. Mathis recently returned to Rochester and serves the patients of Strong Recovery, URMC’s outpatient dual-diagnosis clinic, providing a full range of addiction and psychiatric services. A contributing author to several peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, her academic interests include health equity and racial justice, psychotherapy and psychopharmacology for the treatment of substance use disorders, the integration of psychodynamic principles into general psychiatric practice, and medical education.

As Commissioner of Public Health, Dr. Mendoza’s goal is to improve population health by strengthening the collaboration between clinical medicine and public health in our community. He has a particular focus in leveraging science and best practice to address the disparities in health and health care here in Monroe County.
Dr. Mendoza joined the Health Department in 2016. In this role Dr. Mendoza oversees the health department’s $61 million dollar budget and over 250 employees and contractors whose responsibilities span a diverse array of services designed to protect public health in Monroe County.
Prior to 2016, Dr. Mendoza served as Medical Director for Highland Family Medicine. During his seven years in this role, Dr. Mendoza oversaw the adoption of the Epic EMR, Meaningful Use, certification as a Level 3 Patient Centered Medical Home, and helped to lay the foundation for expanded team-based care, the current expansion of HFM, and the newly certified Nurse Practitioner residency program.
Board certified in family medicine, Dr. Mendoza continues to see patients as a primary care physician at Highland Family Medicine, and he continues to serve as a teaching physician on the inpatient service at Highland Hospital.
He received his MD and undergraduate degrees from the University of Chicago, his Masters in Public Health from the University of Illinois, and his Masters in Business Administration from the Simon Business School at the University of Rochester. He completed his graduate medical training at the University of California-San Francisco, and served an additional year as Chief Resident at the San Francisco General Hospital.
He is an active member of the community, serving on the Boards of Directors of Willow Domestic Violence of Rochester, Common Ground Health, and the Rochester RHIO.
In his spare time, Dr. Mendoza enjoys spending time with his wife, two children, and their two golden doodles. His hobbies include running, cycling, and cooking.

She is currently working at Services for the Underserved in the capacity of Vice president of Treatment and Recovery Services in the Behavioral Health Division. Under her purview, she leads a team of devoted clinicians and administrators managing Assertive Community Treatment Teams, Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, Care Coordination Services, Home and Community Based Services, and Crisis respite residences. Dr. Natchaba also serves as an adjunct professor at the Silberman School of Social work at Hunter College.

The training curricula are used by 108 ACT teams, consisting of over eight-hundred people collectively, throughout the state. Pascale is also an adjunct lecturer at the Columbia University School of Social Work and Fordham University School of Social Work. At Columbia University, she teaches Adult Psychopathology and Wellness in a residential and on-line setting. At Fordham University, she teaches Assessment and Diagnosis and Clinical Seminar.

Pascale Jean-Noel received her BSW and master’s degree from Adelphi University School of Social work, Garden City, NY. She holds a Clinical License in Social Work and has over twenty years’ experience in social-service settings. Prior to her current position Mrs. Jean-Noel worked in managerial as well as direct-care roles in Foster Care, Outpatient Substance abuse, Inpatient Psychiatric Hospital and on ACT.

For the past few years, she has been responsible for building a robust primary care network that is adaptive to new challenges and opportunities in health care. She plays a critical role leading the Rochester Regional delivery system transformation under the evolution of new payment models. She spearheads innovative strategies and technology to redesign delivery of medical services in a way that reduces cost and improves quality while integrating care across the continuum. Dr Wiefling has served in multiple leadership roles for the system, including chief quality officer and senior vice president and executive director of the Rochester General Medical Group. Prior to joining Rochester Regional, she was the CEO of the Anthony L. Jordan Community Center.
Dr. Wiefling earned her medical degree from the University of Wisconsin Medical School and completed her dual residency at the University of Rochester. She held a clinical faculty position at the U of R and has worked as an FDA Pediatric Advisory Committee consultant. Dr. Wiefling’s career accomplishments also include being a founder in the creation of multiple health service organizations in the region, including Rochester Integrated Health Network, Greater Rochester Health Home, and Finger Lake Performing Provider System. She volunteers on the boards of the Greater Rochester Health Foundation, SUNY Brockport College, St. Ann’s Community, and the Al Sigl Community of Agencies.

She is also a Rochester native and single mom who has lived and worked in the Rochester community for over 30 years. Inspired by her own birthing experience, she accepted a position at the agency, known then as Perinatal Network of Monroe County (PNMC), and has worked with every agency grant and every program related role progressing to the Executive Director position.
Sherita's focus fueled by HBN's mission is to ensure every parent has the education, information, and support needed to have a healthy baby born into a nurturing home. Her work centers on Black families and the racial health and birth disparities surrounding pregnancy. She's affectionately known as, "The Baby Lady", for simply, "Saying the THING" in kindness, and crafting innovative interventions based in listening to consumer lived expertise and collaborating to improve the systems we work within to provide care. She believes in the skills of bringing everyone impacted by an issue together to decommission barriers, and that the elimination of racial health and birth disparities is possible with the right collaborators and strategies; if we work with our entire community until we succeed. Each of our lives, and those of our descendants depends on it; for Babies, their Parents, and our entire Community.

Ms. Dozier has a long and distinguished professional and volunteer career advocating for health equity. She has served as Interim Director of the Black Men Latino Men Health Crisis, Inc.; as Board member of the Rochester, NY affiliate of the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS; NYS AIDS Institute’s HIV Advisory Body. Ms. Dozier serves on Common Ground Health’s High Blood pressure community collaborative; African American Health Coalition,  Currently, Ms. Dozier serves as a member of Health Disparities Workgroup for Facing Race, Embracing Equity (FR=EE).  One of Common Ground Health’s programs; Ms. Dozier oversees 30 barbershops and beauty salons of the Get it Done Initiative; training owners and stylist to educate their customers on HIV/STI, HBP and other health concerns in Black and Latino communities.

The HIV/AIDS epidemic has been a particular focus of Ms. Dozier’s community work. She is an alumna of the HIV/AIDS Community Mobilization College of the Black AIDS Institute in California. She has also supported the Rays of Hope Initiative of the Rochester Area Task Force on AIDS and coordinates National Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS in the local area.  Ms. Dozier serves as a Community Advisory Board member of the Rochester Victory Alliance HIV Vaccine Trials at the University of Rochester Medical Center; as well as a member of the NYS AIDS Institute’s HIV Advisory Body.

Faith and leadership are important hallmarks of Ms. Dozier’s community activities. She has served in several positions at Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church; and her most rewarding position, is serving as an Usher at the church.   Former Black Church Studies Advisory Board of Colgate; as well as serving on the boards of Bring on your Dreams, Inc. and the Interdenominational Health Ministry Coalition (IHMC) Executive Committee.  

Ms. Dozier has also served on the University of Rochester Medical Center Rochester Faith Collaborative Coalition. Ms. Dozier is a proud graduate of the African American Leadership Development Program (AALDP) Class of 2009 (Disciples of Change - rumored to be the best graduating class ever). Ms. Dozier is a member of the Black Women’s Leadership Former, Rochester, NY.  She served as a Cultural Broker for the Rochester Monroe Anti-Poverty Initiative and is a member of the Greater Rochester Black Agenda Group n(BAG).

Ms. Dozier holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Healthcare Administration. 

Her two decades of work experience also include the areas of Education, Developmental Disabilities, and Community Health.

Ms. Funchess is involved in several national and community-based coalitions and organizations such as The Child, Adolescent, and Family Branch Council for the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), The National Network to End Disparities in behavioral healthcare (NNED), African American Leadership Development Program (AALDP), African American Health Coalition (AAHC), Black Women’s Leadership Forum (BWLF), Greater Rochester Black Agenda Group (BAG), Greater Rochester Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI), Community Task Force for School Climate (CTF), Roc The Future Parent Engagement Community Action Network (PECAN). She also served as a Commissioner of Schools for the Rochester City School District.

She is a devoted wife and mother of four children (two boys and two girls). Her mission is to use her knowledge of systems and communities to create opportunities for youth and families to be empowered and successful and to break down the walls that separate us and build bridges to unite us as one community where every child is our own, we have front porch neighborhoods, and we use language that respects everyone.

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Christopher has volunteered and worked within the HIV prevention field for over a decade starting as Nashville’s visible, vocal advocates as Young Brothers United Peer Coordinator with Nashville CARES and worked with the Metropolitan Interdenominational Church First Response Center as the Project Manager and co-creator of Project UNO providing empowerment, outreach, and education surrounding issues concerning the LGBTQ plus communities of color.
A shift in life brought Christopher to the city of Rochester, New York in 2014 to continue the efforts in working with LGBTQ communities of color as the Manager of The MOCHA Center. Now Christopher works with the University of Rochester at The Rochester Victory Alliance as the Community Education and Recruitment Coordinator with HIV and COVID-19 Vaccine research. Christopher is also a grad student at Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School where he is working on his Masters in Kairos Studies. On July 5, 2015 Christopher was ordained by Rev. Edwin Sanders at Metropolitan Interdenominational Church in Nashville, TN. They are clear about their godly mission: To love, serve, and inspire people, helping them to identify and meet their needs while providing revelation to illuminate and cultivate their intimate connection and relationship with self, God, and community.

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Deeply involved in the Rochester community, Jackson volunteers for numerous community-based organizations and sits on several community boards and committees. She is the founder and CEO of the Interdenominational Health Ministry Coalition and leads “Renewing of the Mind,” a mental health education-training program for community members.

A native of Geneva, New York, Jackson earned a registered nursing degree from Los Angeles Valley College and a bachelor's in science in organizational management from Roberts Wesleyan College. She also holds a Certificate of Gerontology from St. John Fisher College and is a certified HIV educator and counselor for the New York State Department of Health.

Phyllis also serves as Associate Pastor of Joint Heirs Kingdom Ministries Church, in the city of Rochester.

Linda received her Bachelor of Social Welfare Degree from Niagara University in 1983, and later received her Master of Social Work Degree from Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester, New York.

Linda has served as Director of Health Services with Action for a Better Community, Inc. in Rochester, NY. since December 2008 and is responsible for oversight of the New Directions Outpatient Substance Abuse Services Clinics. Prior to Action for a Better Community, Linda held the position of Associate Director for Clinical Services with Restart Outpatient Substance Abuse Programs employed by Catholic Family Center in Rochester for nearly six years where she supervised the Outpatient Men, Women, Latino and Intensive Rehabilitation Programs from 2003-2008.

Linda’s academic work include roles as Adjunct Professor with Keuka College in the Undergraduate Social Work Division and former Adjunct with Monroe Community College in the Human Services Department. She is Field Instructor for Social Work and Mental Health Interns with several higher education institutions.

Linda is a member of the National Association of Social Workers, she serves on several Committees, Partnerships and Boards. Linda has three daughters and one granddaughter. She is a member of Elim Christian Fellowship of Buffalo where her husband, Rev. Dr. T. Anthony Bronner is Senior Pastor.

She is an adjunct professor at Monroe Community College and has taught in the Health/Physical Education Department for over 10 years. Her background includes work as a holistic health coach, along with more than 12 years of experience as a social worker.
Pollack lives in Rochester and is a member of the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation, in Ontario, Canada. Working with Indigenous peoples in the area of forgiveness is something that is sacred and personal to her heart, as she desires to see all Nations heal.

During a five-year period, she went from an entry-level position with no education to director of an entire department holding a master’s degree in higher education and administrative affairs from the State University at Buffalo. Almonte discovered during this process that there were some flaws in her belief system about herself, which took her on a journey of self-awareness. Through this journey, she became aware of her ability to communicate with people in way that inspired, motivated and respected who they were. Almonte now has conducted several trainings on goalsetting, staff/executive team building, trauma-informed care/reflective strategies and many others related to organizational and personal development.

Before launching Best Innovations Consulting, Best was global head of talent development at Aon Corporation and was head of learning strategy for the consulting side of Hewitt Associates to drive business growth. Having accumulated over 30 years of strategic planning, talent management and leadership effectiveness experience with Scott Paper Co., Shell Oil Co. and Moog Inc., Best continues to be recognized and praised for her focused, collaborative, results-oriented approach. Her people philosophy is simple: Inclusive leaders build inclusive organizations, and inclusive organizations enable thriving communities.

Best is a popular facilitator and a curious lifelong learner. She has been a speaker for several academic and professional groups including Ashridge Executive Education of London, Princeton, Rutgers University, Association for Training and Development, Finance and Insurance Workforce Summit, and the Organizational Development Network. Additionally, Best has been recognized in "Who's Who in Black Chicago," honoring a collection of Chicago's most interesting personalities and distinguished achievers. She is most recently recognized as a founding member of the Josh Bersin Academy and is master certified in “Cultivating Cultures of Inclusion & High Performance.”

Best is an honors graduate of Drexel University with a bachelor’s degree in marketing and communications, and she has a master’s in learning and organizational change from Northwestern University.

Kesha Carter is a CDP (Certified Diversity Professional), she also holds a Six Sigma Green Belt from Villanova University and a PHR (Professional Human Resources) certification from the Human Resource Capital Institute. She earned her master’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Keuka College.

Kesha is a board member of Rochester RHIO and The Women’s Council. She was a and Young Athena finalist 2019-2020 and Democrat & Chronicle “Woman to Watch” in October 2016. Kesha is also a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated.

Words she lives by: There is no such thing as failure, only many different lessons in how NOT to do something.

Professionally, my passion is helping global companies discover the essence of who they are at their core. Through award-winning employer brand and employee value proposition development, I’ve found fulfillment in discovering innovative ways to bring the humanity of employee stories to life to redefine internal cultures and connect critical external talent to their dream jobs.

As a DEI consultant, I’ve helped organizations connect the dots between history and modern-day reality. With an unwavering dedication to helping companies improve the daily lived experiences of those most marginalized, I’ve helped teams increase cultural competency and executives push past the performative, to begin delving into meaningful change.

Accolades include:
- Named to the Comparably List of Inspiring Employer Brand Leaders
- Launched global employer brands for Fortune 50 Pharma & Biotech companies
- Award-Winning content marketing strategy builder for talent attraction
- Fostering Diversity & Inclusion certification from Yale School of Management

Stephanie has more than 10 years of combined experience in health and human services, and community-based youth mentoring. Prior to accepting this most recent position, Stephanie was a Family Support Specialist with Say Yes Buffalo for three years and provided preventive services to a direct caseload of students in the Buffalo Public Schools.

She holds a dual Bachelor’s in Urban Studies and Sociology from Canisius College, as well as a Master’s in Public Administration from Hilbert College. She currently volunteers as a Say Yes Buffalo Mentor; serves on the Board of Directors for Theatre of Youth; is a member of the Emerging Philanthropists of Color through the Community Foundation of Greater Buffalo; and serves as an Advisory Board Member for both the United Way of Buffalo & Erie County’s Next Generation United Council and Buffalo Niagara Partnership’s BN360 Young Professionals.

She serves as the medical director for two youth detention centers, Industry School and Monroe County Children’s Center in Rush, NY. She also serves as the medical director of Rochester Regional Health’s five School Based Health Centers in the city of Rochester. She also serve on many community committees, boards, and initiatives focusing on community health especially for the youth of Rochester.

Danette has served as a consultant to a wide range of clients including: The United Way of Greater Rochester, the Greater Rochester After School Alliance, the New York State Network For Youth Success, the City of Rochester Department of Recreation and Youth Services, and the Center For Youth Services. Danette currently serves on several boards, initiatives and committees throughout the community related to children, youth, community development, leadership and business. She is also Managing Partner at Strings For Life, LLC as well as Project Founder and Director of the award winning Strings For Life Music Project.

Currently, he serves as the Program Director for the Wilson Foundation. Junior supports community efforts to address trauma, poverty, housing instability, and racial inequities. He is currently in the dissertation stage of a Ph.D. in Human Development at the University of Rochester, where his research focuses on educational equity, with close attention to culturally affirming asset-based practices that ameliorate educational struggles that are developed across the life course.

She is also the founder and visionary of the Women of Color Summit-Upstate NY which addresses the systematic barriers for women of color who are seeking C-suite and leadership roles.  In addition, she is the founder of the PEEEEEEK Initiative; a parent led movement which strategically works to Elevate the voices of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) to eliminate inequities and barriers within the mental health system.  

 Sara’s 25-year career in nonprofit services ranges from direct care front line social worker to senior level administrator in addition to managing her event management and training consulting business. Sara has extensive experience providing leadership development training and capacity building services to small nonprofit and faith-based organizations as well as managing professional conferences throughout North America. Sara is nationally known for her ability to “convene and influence groups” in the streets, within various communities, institutions, pews, and in board rooms. Sara obtained her Master’s degree in Human Service Administration from St. John Fisher College, Rochester NY. 

Ms. Overton most recently served as the Director of Equity and Partnerships at the Chalkboard Project. She is also the Executive Consultant for Joy DeGruy Publications. She assists Dr. DeGruy in researching historical trauma and developing new models and methods for culturally responsive service delivery. Ms. Overton has also assisted with training and development for government agencies in creating and sustaining equitable policies and practices.

​With over 14 years of practical experience as a professional in the field of social work, she has served as Child and Family Therapist, Curriculum Developer and Culturally-Specific Treatment Specialist in several states, with various community based organizations and government entities. Ms. Overton serves on the following Boards and Councils: College Possible, Oregon Student Voice, Organic Oneness and Oregon Educator Equity Advisory Group.

​Ms. Overton is also an active member of the Bahài’ Faith which espouses the oneness of the human family.

Prior to this, Aqua had a 30+ year career with Xerox Corp, where she held a variety of positions in Engineering, Marketing, Product Development, Global Purchasing, Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management, Lean Six Sigma and Channel Partner Management. She is a mature, confident and innovative executive with strong interpersonal skills, adept in building strong teams who deliver exceptional business results.

Aqua is a 40-year member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., the first Greek Sorority established by African-American college educated women. She is a member of the Rochester Chapter of The Links Incorporated where she has served in several leadership positions. She is the Chair of the Keuka College Board of Trustees, a member of the RIT Saunders School Dean’s Advisory Council (DAC), and a member of the Susan B. Anthony Museum and House, Inc. Board of Trustees. She also serves on the board of Yoga 4 A Good Hood. Aqua’s hobbies include reading, shopping and traveling. She is a practicing yogi.

Vince received his Master’s degree in clinical psychology/counseling from Trevecca Nazarene University in July 2012. He began practicing at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee; the tutelage at Vanderbilt University helped shape his early career by informing his theoretical approach to maintain a trauma-focused perspective. Vince moved to Philadelphia in 2015, worked with the inner city impoverished youth and their families, and homeless veterans. Here, Vince also obtained pedagogical training at Drexel University that focused on family system theories. Shortly after that, he worked with various populations from the Northcentral region of Pennsylvania to the inner cities of upstate New York. Currently Vince joined Hillside Family of Services in 2020 to work with victims who present sexualized behaviors. Through that transition, his mental health approach evolved. Given the structural impediments that BIPOC's face every day, his goal became to increase accessibility. Vince has been working as an educational, mental health, and social justice consultant for Multi-Cultural Resource Center for Children and Families Inc. This platform allows him to discuss a culturally relevant, responsive, sustaining, and anti-racist message in the community of mental health.

Aqua is a 40-year member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., the first Greek Sorority established by African-American college educated women. She is a member of the Rochester Chapter of The Links Incorporated where she has served in several leadership positions. She is the Chair of the Keuka College Board of Trustees, a member of the RIT Saunders School Dean’s Advisory Council (DAC), and a member of the Susan B. Anthony Museum and House, Inc. Board of Trustees. She also serves on the board of Yoga 4 A Good Hood. Aqua’s hobbies include reading, shopping and traveling. She is a practicing yogi.

Dashiell is also the lead of the new Black Equity and Excellence Fund, which supports community-based projects for the Black community of Central New York that promotes and encourages self-sufficiency and improves the physical and economic conditions that affect quality of life. Dashiell enjoys making sure people of color have access to resources, knowledge and funding in an equitable way and prides herself on working closely with residents and community members to feel comfortable throughout the grantmaking process.
Dashiell is originally from Auburn, NY, however, has lived in Syracuse, NY for the past 8 years. She has spent time living in Utica, NY and Rochester, NY. She enjoys hiking, trying new vegan recipes, painting with acrylics, and listening to Alternative R & B. Dashiell is a certified Peristeam Hydrotherapy Specialist and is passionate about Black Maternal and Reproductive Health. She is the Founder and CEO of The Honey V, which is a women’s wellness spa and plant-based product line that uses holistic forms of healing for women of color and their feminine health needs. Dashiell is also the CEO of 20eleven Solutions, a philanthropic consulting firm.

He is also a counselor, a trainer, a consultant, and a coach. He has a M.A. in counseling from New Jersey City University. He also has a M.S. in Administration for Metropolitan College (previously known as Audrey Cohen College.) Luis has been involved in the implementation and application of Evidence Based Practices since 2003. Luis has expertise in the areas of Trauma Informed Care, Motivational Interviewing, Dual Recovery, Group Dynamics, Cultural Humility, Stages of Change, Harm Reduction, WRAP, CBT, Wellness Self-Management, and the ACT Model. He has facilitated workshops in over 100 conferences nationally and in Canada. He has conducted consultations in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. He is also member of the American Counseling Association and ACA-NY.