Harolyn has dedicated her career to public service to improve the health and well-being of children and families. Her experience includes management, operations, data analytics and policy and business development at the local, state and national levels. Currently, she serves as the director for the Division of Child Health Services at the Detroit Health Department, where she leads the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program, as well as children special health care services, vision and hearing screenings and childhood lead prevention programs. Harolyn has authored and co-authored a number of peer-reviewed publications contributing to the fields of healthcare quality and public health. She is a graduate of Tulane University School of Public Health and the University of Michigan Ross School of Business.
Youth Advocate and Mentor
Jasmin Barnett
Detroit, Michigan
Jasmin is passionate about helping people of color find their purpose in life. She believes youth are the key to leading community change and is dedicated to eradicating the everyday injustices youth of color face. Jasmin serves as the program director of the #OwnYourStory initiative at the Campaign for Black Male Achievement, where she organizes and leads narrative-change work so that Black youth and men control their stories of who they are and what they will become. Jasmin is also the founder and director of Ladies in Training, which empowers young girls to love themselves for who they are and explore programs that will change the trajectory of their lives. Jasmin is a “Millennial Changemaker” and a recipient of Skillman Foundation’s ‘50 People Who Represent the Heart of Detroit.’ She is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and a graduate of Howard University.
College and Career Advisor
Terry Burleson Jr.
Battle Creek, Michigan
Terry is dedicated to eliminating barriers, uplifting voices and mentoring youth. He is committed to creating an environment where all young people’s college and career aspirations can be achieved. At Battle Creek College Access Network, he assists in the administration of the Legacy Scholarship, while managing student success programs, outreach and marketing for the network. As a strong advocate of one-to-one mentorship, he serves on the board of Big Brothers Big Sisters. Terry has previously worked as a substitute teacher and college advisor. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan.
Equitable Education Leader
Charity Davidson
Detroit, Michigan
A champion for equity in education for 15 years, Charity is devoted to developing and accelerating the leadership and talents of educators and systems leaders who are committed to changing the lives of students. Working with middle school students through adults, her passion for education touches students’ lives at every stage. As a senior managing director at Teach for America-Detroit, she supports corps members and the vast alumni network of those working to shape the political, economic and social future of our country. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan and National Louis University.
Educator and Youth Advocate
Rashard Dobbins
Detroit, Michigan
Rashard began his career as an actor. His passion for performance coupled with his enthusiasm for civil rights lead him to education. After graduating from Georgia State University, he taught at elementary schools in both Atlanta and Detroit, where he witnessed firsthand the impact of instruction and guidance both inside and outside of the classroom. Today, he is the CEO of Class Act Detroit, an organization he founded to provide after-school arts education that is transforming the lives of youth throughout Detroit.
Behavioral Health Destigmatizer
Nina Fabian
Detroit, Michigan
Fighting the stigma around mental health and increasing access to health care is Nina’s passion. She is committed to improving the health and well-being of her Detroit community, and is pursuing a medical degree at Michigan State University in service to her goal. A former educator, Nina believes in the power of youth and supporting their growth. Nina will graduate with her degree in the Spring of 2019. She also earned her bachelor’s in nutrition science from Michigan State University.
Accessible Nutrition Champion
Melanie Hall
Battle Creek, Michigan
Improving access to healthy foods for families struggling to make ends meet is Melanie’s passion. For more than 15 years, she has dedicated her career to improving the overall health and well-being of communities. Her innovative approach to relationship-building and collaboration make her a leader in the nutrition industry. She currently manages the Women, Infants and Children Nutrition Assistance (WIC) programs and partnerships for the Kellogg Company. A graduate of the University of California Berkeley and Tufts University, Melanie is a registered nutritionist with a master’s in nutrition communications.
Youth Engagement Specialist
Marwa Harp
Dearborn, Michigan
A dedicated advocate for the Arab American community of Dearborn, Marwa is advancing social justice and racial equity. Her background spans sectors and continents with experience in public health, philanthropy and community organizing, and travel across 10 countries. Marwa believes we can change the world by listening more closely to youth, and works to do just that at the Center for Arab American Philanthropy. Marwa is a graduate of Harvard University. She plans to enter medical school in fall 2019.
Indigenous Resilience Healer
Hon. Joshua Hudson
Bay Mills, Michigan
Joshua is a citizen of Bay Mills Indian Community and is passionate about healing intergenerational trauma and creating safe spaces in Indian Country for Two Spirit and LGBTQ youth. He brings more than 10 years of community, human and outreach services experience, spanning coast to coast and centered on health and healing. He currently serves as an elected judge for Bay Mills Indian Community. A graduate of Central Michigan University, Joshua is a rising human and civil rights advocate.
Social Justice Collaborator
Carina Jackson
Detroit, Michigan
An educator, entrepreneur and organizer, Carina works to lift up her community at every level. She currently is the chief operations officer at Mariners Inn, a shelter and treatment center that is an anchor for those struggling with homelessness and substance abuse. She is passionate about social justice and has leveraged her leadership to advance equity by serving as a 92Y Ford Fellow, German Marshall Memorial Fund Fellow and Leadership Detroit Class XXXVII.
Business and Diversity Leader
Dr. Tracy Joshua
Battle Creek, Michigan
Tracy is an experienced executive leader who has made diversity and inclusion a central part of her change efforts. Presently, she is vice president of procurement indirect for the Kellogg Company. Her experience spans sectors and countries, including work in the public sector turning around Detroit Public Schools, and the private sector for various pharmaceutical, automotive and startup operations. She was recently appointed to the Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council. Tracy has also served on the boards of City Year Detroit, Michigan State University Multicultural Business and Great Lakes Women Business Enterprise. She is a graduate of Michigan State University, Georgia Tech and Walsh College.
Health Disparity Dismantler
Dr. Danny Kalash
Taylor, Michigan
A dentist, advocate, consultant and researcher, Dr. Danny is dedicated to improving health care access for all. His work is focused on identifying and dismantling the health disparities and inequities in his community. He researches social, behavioral and environmental determinants of health and advocates for health care reform and public policy change. He is also a pediatric dentist at Golnick Pediatric Dentistry. Dr. Danny holds degrees from the University of Michigan, University of Florida and University of California.
Community Health Advocate
Celeste Sanchez Lloyd
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Celeste is a dedicated community health advocate, partnering with organizations to promote healthy outcomes for African American and Latina women throughout their pregnancies and onward. For more than 10 years, she has worked with underserved communities to advance diversity, equity and inclusion in fostering health. Celeste also serves on the Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative board to increase educational opportunities for children of color. She earned her master’s degree at Western Michigan University and her bachelor’s degree at Purdue University.
Social Progress Champion
Maali Luqman
Detroit, Michigan
An administrator, educator and activist, Maali takes pride in serving her community. For more than 15 years, she has worked domestically and abroad to advance human rights and education as a tool for empowerment and social progress. She currently serves as associate dean of student services for Wayne Community College District, which provides culturally rich experiences and excellent services to support more than 72,000 students each year in achieving their goals. Maali is a graduate of Harvard University and the University of Michigan.
Community Empowerer
Linda Samarah
Dearborn, Michigan
Linda believes she was put on this earth to empower and create through her writing,
teaching, art and advocacy. She is dedicated to capturing the stories of Arab Americans in her community to drive change toward greater social justice and equity. She is a communications specialist for the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS), where she supports the National Network for Arab American Communities and ACCESS’ Campaign to TAKE ON HATE,” among other initiatives. She previously worked for the Arab American Heritage Council, where she led the production of a documentary series about Flint’s Arab American community, which is housed at the country’s only Arab American National Museum. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan-Flint.
Youth Motivator
Henry Sapp
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Henry is dedicated to positively impacting his community by inspiring young men and bringing healing to the soul through laughter. He co-founded and serves as CEO of Better, Wiser, Stronger, Inc., which mentors young men and provides them with support, education and guidance to develop the confidence and life skills they need to grew into successful adults. He is also a prolific comedian who travels throughout the United States. His talents as a multifaceted entertainer bring joy and community together, performing at many charity events, including Gilda’s Laughfest, a 10-day community festival that attracts 50,000 attendees annually to West Michigan.
Community Advocate
Felipe Lopez Sustaita
Lansing, Michigan
Felipe is a higher education advocate, community leader and migrant farmworker. His passion for higher education is fueled by his dedication to lifting communities out of poverty. As executive director of the Hispanic Latino Commission of Michigan, Felipe works to advance educational, professional and entrepreneurial opportunities for Latinos and Hispanics. He also regularly returns to work in the agricultural fields of Michigan to show his four sons the value of hard work and keep himself grounded. He is a graduate of Michigan State University and Ferris State University.
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