The Black Women Thriving East of the River Team
CO-LEADS
Kara Blankner
Jane Bancroft Robinson Foundation
The director of programs at the Jane Bancroft Robinson Foundation, Kara served as Co-Lead for the SDI project. In philanthropy, Kara is committed to deep, ongoing collaborations with grantee partners to develop meaningful solutions to our most intractable community health challenges.
Manon Matchett
Independent Consultant: Civic Agent of Change
Manon is actively engaged in a variety of civic, political, and social justice causes East of the River, where she’s lived since 1996. Throughout her work, Manon strives to ensure her community is no longer neglected. She served as Co-Lead for the SDI and is currently the director of strategic partnerships at the Jane Bancroft Robinson Foundation.
PATIENT NAVIGATION WORKGROUP
Sade Anderson-Brown, Ph.D. - Co-Chair
RODIA LLC
A racial equity and racial justice consultant based out of Maryland, Sade has generational family ties to Wards 7 and 8. Sade strives to lift up and center those most directly affected by inequity and injustice, by helping shift power and resources.
Amari Pearson-Fields, Ph.D. - Co-Chair
Breast Care for Washington
Born in Washington, D.C., Amari is a native Washingtonian who lives in Maryland. Her grandparents lived in Southeast Washington, D.C. She is an enthusiastic advocate for health justice. She has worked to address health disparities for more than 30 years.
Lynda Brown
Bread for the City
In 2002, Lynda joined Bread for the City and became Southeast Center Director in 2007. Lynda manages the daily operations for the Ward 8 Center, and recommends policies and practices for growth and expansion of services. Lynda has managed several programs that provided needed services for DC residents. Growing up in Ward 8, she is passionate about serving those communities.
Claudia Campos Galván
Nueva Vida, Inc.
Claudia is chief programs officer and mental health director at Nueva Vida, a culturally sensitive cancer support network for Latinx families in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. She has over 18 years of combined national and international experience working to address health disparities. She holds a Masters's degree in Clinical Psychology and Mental Health and is a Licensed Graduated Professional Counselor for D.C.
Lisa Fitzpatrick
Grapevine Health
Lisa resides in DC, where she works as a physician, health advocate, health educator, and entrepreneur. In her role at the organization Grapevine Health, she improves understanding of health information through connection.
Delia Houseal, Ph.D., MPH
NEAN Consulting LLC
Delia is the founder and principal of NEAN Consulting LLC, a public health and business management consulting firm, based East of the River. A Ward 7 resident, Delia is also an elected government official serving Single Member District 7E06 and as the Chair of Advisory Neighborhood Commission 7E. She serves as the program and policy lead for the End-Stage Renal Disease Quality Incentive Program at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Megan Loucks
DC Primary Care Association
Megan works for the D.C. Primary Care Association where she works to improve health equity in the District, especially in Wards 7 and 8. She enjoys working collaboratively with health center staff and community partners to develop and implement sustainable solutions to complex health challenges.
Shantie Morgan-Palmer
Evelyn's Closet
Through the organization Evelyn’s Closet, Shantie collects and provides clean clothing to Washington D.C.’s underserved residents. She has a keen ability to inspire and an unwavering determination and perseverance.
Ronnette Moton
Institute for Public Health Innovation
Ronette is a community health worker employed by the Institute for Public Health Innovation and working at AmeriHealth Caritas. A resident of Ward 8, with over 10 years of experience in her role as a CHW, Ronette brings expertise in navigating individuals through the complex health and social service system.
Mandi Pratt Chapman, Ph.D.
George Washington Cancer Center
Born in Maine, Mandi lives in Virginia, writes proposals, and analyzes data for publication at the George Washington University Cancer Center. A leading LGBTQ-focused health research executive, her goal is to build capacity in patient navigation and systems change towards health equity, a perspective that she has brought to the initiative. She has worked in community outreach, cancer survivorship, and patient navigation in Washington, D.C., for the past 15 years. She has educated school staff about children returning to school after cancer treatment.
Erin Price, LICSW, OSW-C
Smith Center for Healing and Arts/The George Washington
University Cancer Center
Erin is connected to Wards 7 and 8 through her current work at the Smith Center for Healing and Arts, and previous work with GW cancer center. She’s worked with cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers who live East of the River, and has seen and heard the barriers they face to receive adequate cancer care.
Lorena Parrish
Wesley Theological Seminary
The Reverend Dr. Lorena M. Parrish is the Associate Professor of Urban Ministry and Director of the Community Engagement Institute and Center for Public Theology at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. as well as co-founder and co-director of Wesley’s Specialization in Children and Youth Ministry and Child Advocacy program. An ordained minister and skilled bridge-builder, Dr. Parrish is a womanist scholar-activist who specializes in urban ministry and practical womanist theology and ethics; and who is committed to uplifting communities through meaningful collaboration and community engagement.
Julia Rowland
Smith Center for Healing and the Arts
Julia provides senior counsel to the Smith Center, helping them raise visibility and recognition for their unique work, while also working as a trained clinician, helping patients navigate through their cancer journey. She is deeply connected to Wards 7 and 8 through the SDI project and the friendship and work of Thelma D. Jones.
Satira Streeter
Ascensions Psychological
Satira is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and the executive director of Ascensions Community Services, Inc. Her research has focused on African-American Inmates and College Students, Learned Helplessness, Risk Factors, and Explanatory Styles. Satira’s life mission is to be a healer and a helper, providing culturally relevant therapeutic interventions and empowerment to the people of her community.
Marsha Williamson
Washington National's Youth Academy
A native Washingtonian and a Ward 7 resident since 1998, Marsha is intimately familiar with the struggles faced by the residents. She is a retired educator and an academic coordinator at Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy. She is a passionate communicator for the health and well-being of African-Americans.
Marquita Iddirisu
Quality improvement specialist for preventative health
Marquita is a preventive health quality improvement specialist at the DC Primary Care Association where she leads the cancer screening portfolio. Prior to this role, she worked for 6 years as a cancer patient navigator based in Southeast Washington, D.C.
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT WORKGROUP
Abby Charles, MPH – Co-Chair
Institute for Public Health Innovation
Born in Trinidad and Tobago, Abby is the program director at the Institute for Public Health Innovation, where she coordinates a team that addresses regional policy, research, training, employment, and systems change to expand the workforce of community health workers, primarily East of the River. She supports multi-sector collaboratives to achieve goals through facilitation, coordination, and communication.
Natasha Dupee - Co-Chair
The George Washington University
A lifelong resident of Wards 7 and 8, Natasha works at George Washington University supporting students with disabilities. Her passion is to change, create, and defend policies that support all people in having access to a quality life.
Charnal Chaney
The W.I.R.E.
A native Washingtonian from Ward 8, Charnal is a trauma-informed yoga instructor and community advocate who provides safe spaces for healing through trauma, teaches mindfulness and restorative yoga to help cope with everyday life. She assists children with incarcerated parents achieve their goals and coordinates events for The W.I.R.E. in the D.C. area.
Nkechi Feaster
Service to Justice and numerous others
With close personal ties to Wards 7 and 8, Nkechi advocates on issues that affect most impacted community members. She serves on the boards of the Washington Legal Clinic and the Diverse City Fund, where she brings her own unique perspective and lived experience of a DC community member to the table. She is also a co-owner of Service to Justice.
Lisa Fitzpatrick, MD
Grapevine Health
Lisa resides in DC, where she works as a physician, health advocate, health educator, and entrepreneur. In her role at the organization Grapevine Health, she improves understanding of health information through connection.
Julie Green
New Futures
Julie works at New Futures, where she leads the organization’s work to help underserved youth obtain certifications and college degrees across Washington D.C. She approaches problems through a community engagement and relationship-building lens.
Shanta Hendry
Bread for the City
Born and raised in Washington D.C., Shanta is a social worker and is connected to East of the River communities through Bread for the City. As a social worker, she provides a variety of support systems to her clients on a daily basis.
Lecester Johnson
Academy of Hope Adult Public Charter School
Lecester Johnson is the Chief Executive Officer of Academy of Hope Adult Public Charter School, an adult education provider in Washington, D.C., with locations in Ward 8 and Ward 5. Lecester has led successful education and workforce development programs supporting individuals experiencing barriers to economic opportunities. A passionate advocate, Lecester never gives up on anyone or anything.
Nicole Lynn Lewis
Generation Hope
Founder and CEO of Generation Hope, which provides direct service support to young parents earning their college degrees, partners with colleges and universities to provide technical assistance, and advocates nationally for the unique needs of student parents. As a former teen mother herself, Nicole now works to change the statistic that fewer than 2 percent of teen mothers will earn their degrees before age 30. Nicole is a nationally known author and speaker with her book, Pregnant Girl, available now.
Lorena Parrish
Wesley Theological Seminary
The Reverend Dr. Lorena M. Parrish is the Associate Professor of Urban Ministry and Director of the Community Engagement Institute and Center for Public Theology at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. as well as co-founder and co-director of Wesley’s Specialization in Children and Youth Ministry and Child Advocacy program. An ordained minister and skilled bridge-builder, Dr. Parrish is a womanist scholar-activist who specializes in urban ministry and practical womanist theology and ethics; and who is committed to uplifting communities through meaningful collaboration and community engagement.
Tiffani Powell
DC Central Kitchen
Born in Antigua, West Indies, Tiffani is a leader at DC Central Kitchen, charting career paths for graduates of its culinary job training program. Most of the graduates live in Wards 7 & 8. She provides guidance on education plans, quality employment opportunities, financial literacy, credit building, home ownership, entrepreneurship, and other wrap-around services. She also develops partnerships with area educational institutions and employers to identify new opportunities for clients for career advancement. She lives in Silver Springs, Md.
Beverly Smith-Brown
Momma’s Safe Haven
As a native Washingtonian and founder of Momma’s Safe Haven, Beverly is dedicated to giving back to her community. She was raised in the southeast section of the city in a low-income single-parent home. She gathers like-minded people to make a positive difference in their community, one event at a time.
“The value is not necessarily just in the outcome, but in the process, and this is the best approach to foster creativity and innovation, but also to mitigate conformity and bias in the results.”
“The SDI is seeding transformative participant experiences, creating space for bigger and bolder program design centered on Black women, and providing ample opportunities for growth among community and CBO leaders and the initiatives and institutions they are so well positioned to influence.”