Lisa Peyton is the Founding CEO & President of The Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness. Her work as a passionate advocate for women’s health was spurred by Mother’s untimely death at age 64 from heart disease in 2006, after which Lisa established Black Women’s Wellness Day, an annual summit now in its 12th year that empowers women and girls to sustain healthy, wellness-centered lives. The Foundation is an outgrowth and progression of this work which has mobilized a movement in the Greater Madison community and across Wisconsin to intentionally address and improve Black women’s health. Based on her work and impact, Lisa was appointed in 2018 to serve on then newly elected Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers’ Health Policy Advisory Council through which she was able to influence proposed policies addressing maternal and child health and health disparities in Wisconsin.

Lisa also previously served as Assistant Vice President of Life, Learning and Events at Summit Credit Union (2014-2018) where she and her team led the company’s efforts on Diversity & Inclusion, Employee Wellness, Financial Education, Community Giving, and Corporate Events.

An experienced leader, manager, and educator, Lisa has led impactful work over the past 20+ years spanning the PreK – 16 education, non-profit, women’s health, and financial service sectors. She is actively engaged in a number of local efforts to promote thriving, sustainable communities, and has served on the boards of Unity Point-Meriter Health, the Center for Resilient Cities, Sustain Dane, and A Fund for Women, and presently on the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute Advisory Board.

Among Lisa’s lasting contributions to community is the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s highly successful DoIT Information Technology Academy (ITA), a pre-college technology training & college access program she designed and launched with colleagues in 1999 and now in its 21st year.

Lisa has been widely recognized for her work in women’s health and community stewardship and was recently named a national Go Fund Me Hero in 2019 for her change-making leadership; and was among local health innovators named on the Madison Magazine’s 2017 M List. In 2016 she was recognized as one of 44 Most Influential African Americans in Wisconsin by Madison365 Magazine. Other honors include the Wisconsin Alliance for Women’s Health Woman of Character Award (2015) for her efforts to mobilize Black women and partners to eliminate health disparities. She is the 2014 recipient of the Public Health Madison & Dane County Leadership Award, 2014 Brava Magazine Woman to Watch, and was nominated an “Everyday Health Hero” by the Wisconsin Women’s Health Foundation in 2013. Additionally, she is a 2008 UW Alumni Association Forward Under Forty Award honoree for her service and impact on the world by living the Wisconsin Idea.

A Mother of five, Lisa holds a Masters of Science degree in Educational Leadership & Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is also a proud former Hampton University student, home of the Pirates, where she completed her first three years of undergraduate studies.

Gabe Doyle serves as the Chief Health Initiatives Officer with the Foundation For Black Women’s Wellness. He has spent the past 15-plus years leading community health efforts in Milwaukee and Dane County. He began his career counseling victims of violence and designing hospital-supported, community-based programs for victims and their families. In his prior role with Milwaukee Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, Gabe led and developed a new division of Community Health Workers focusing on a social determinants of health (SDoH) framework. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and spent 5 years counseling adolescents, adults and families. The persistent social, economic and environmental factors driving disparities across Wisconsin and locally in Dane County inspired Gabe to explore the root causes of inequities, to strategically collaborate, and to effectively organize & align resources towards our most vulnerable communities and members. Prior to joining the Foundation, Gabe led the direction of health investments at a major philanthropic nonprofit in Dane County. While there, he redesigned the health investment process to prioritize funding to center the experiences of Black, Indigenous, Southeast Asian, Latinx/Hispanic and other marginalized communities. As a member of the Dane County Health Council, Gabe worked closely with the Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness as co-chair of the Black Maternal and Child Health care-coordination initiative and the Saving our Babies Project.

Corinda Rainey Moore is a dynamic leader, community steward, and passionate equity advocate who believes in leading by example. She’s a trailblazer who inspires others and strives to be the change she wants to see. Corinda presently serves as Community Engagement Manager with Unity Point Health-Meriter where she leads community investment efforts.

As a mental health professional and advocate with over 25 years of experience, Corinda was the first and only African-American to lead not just one but two community support programs for adults with severe and persistent mental illness in Dane County. Through her leadership, her support programs utilized Peer Support efforts to help and empower people suffering from mental illness. Corinda was also the first and only African-American to serve as Chair of the National Alliance on Mental Health, and of Safe Communities-Madison and Dane County where she led a significant fund development effort.

Corinda has and continues to volunteer for numerous organizations, among them: Madison College, Safe Communities, Madison Network of Black Professionals, Leadership Wisconsin, Boys and Girls Club, NAMI, Urban League of Greater Madison, Urban League of Greater Madison Young Professionals, Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness, Madison Black Women Rock, and the Madison Reading Project.

A mentor, leader, and voice for the underserved, Corinda’s contributions have been recognized by the communities and organizations she has served including the Madison 365 Most Influential African-Americans in Wisconsin, YWCA Woman of Distinction, Brava Magazine Woman to Watch, In Business Magazine Woman of Industry in Advocacy, Wisconsin Women’s Health Foundation Champion in Women’s Health, Restorative Justice Peacemaker Award, Urban League of Greater Madison Presidential Award, Black Women Rock Visionary Leader Award, and the Madison College Outstanding Teacher Award. She is also the 2017 Athena Award Winner from The Business Forum of Madison, a coveted honor.

Corinda has been married to her husband, Bobby, for 37 years, has two daughters, Kenyatta & Kionna, and 8 grandchildren.

Adrian Jones is a public health leader and reproductive justice advocate with over 15 years of experience in community health improvement. In her present role with UW Health, she manages efforts to advance the improvement of health outcomes and to reduce disparities in Dane County through community collaborations and targeted programming.

She previously served as Community Health Educator for Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, and is a sexual and reproductive health educator specializing in working with women and young adults. Adrian has taught comprehensive sexuality education in schools and provided sexual health trainings to youth-serving professionals, and has trained community health educators locally and statewide. She also previously worked as a Program Coordinator for the Girls, Inc. Program at Goodman Community Center, and is a gifted developer of adolescent health programming.

Adrian is a graduate of the University of WI Madison where she received a dual Bachelor’s degree in African American Studies and Women Studies with a certificate in Sexuality education. In her spare time, Adrian enjoys spending quality time with her husband and two pre-school aged daughters.

Gale D. Johnson has been the director of the Wisconsin Well Woman Program (WWWP) in the Department of Health Services for the last 20 years. The WWWP is the Wisconsin component of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program. Since 1994, the WWWP has provided health screening services to more than 70,000 Wisconsin women. Ms. Johnson is a past Chair of the Council for Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Control and past president of the Wisconsin Association of Black State Employees. Ms. Johnson is an active member of the Wisconsin Women of Color Network (WWOCN). Recognizing the importance of women living long healthy lives, Ms. Johnson has coordinated health programs for the WWOCN for more than 10 years and is a national expert and frequent speaker on health equity and women’s health.

Dr. Debbie Jones is a Hospitalist physician for SSM Health – Dean & St. Mary’s in Madison, WI, the first to hold a hospitalist role in the State of Wisconsin. She has been a full-time Hospitalist for over 17 years. Dr. Jones has been the director of 2 Hospitalist programs – Family Health Plan (Milwaukee, WI) and Swedish American Hospital (Rockford, IL). She is a board certified Internist who received her education at Loyola Stritch School of Medicine (Maywood, IL) and her formal training at St. Joseph Hospital (Chicago, IL). Dr. Jones is a member of the Society of Hospitalist Medicine. In her spare time, Dr. Jones leads and supports many efforts locally and nationally to advance women and persons of color in Medicine. Her work has been recognized by many organizations, most recently the Madison Metropolitan Chapter of the Links, Inc who honored her in 2018 with a Community Impact Award. Dr. Jones is also a breast cancer survivor- diagnosed in 2002 and lends considerable time to supporting others through prevention education and survivorship.

Jasmia Hamilton serves as Program Manager of the Well Black Woman Institute. A Chicago transplant to Madison, Jasmia has lived, learned, and worked in the community for nearly a decade. She earned a Master of Arts in Gender and Women’s Studies and a Bachelors in Gender and Women’s Studies with minors (certificates) in Global Health and LGBT+ Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She has completed additional graduate-level coursework in Organizational Leadership and Change at Edgewood College. Prior to joining the FFBWW, Jasmia worked with mission-driven teams in education (K12 and higher education) and with area non-profits. In these roles, Jasmia implemented culturally responsive and identify-conscious practices as a student services coordinator/advisor, collaborated as a member of a racial justice team, and co-managed equity-focused professional learning and programming. She is ecstatic to join the Foundation at this moment which provides her the novel opportunity to be an inaugural collaborator for the launch of the Well Black Woman Institute. She is thrilled to see the new possibilities and transformative impact that actualizes when Black women are well, uplifted, and thriving.

Micaela Berry-Smith serves as Program Manager for Maternal and Child Health Initiatives with the Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness. She brings to the Foundation an impressive track record of work and service in birth equity leadership, early childhood education, and social entrepreneurship. For over 15 years, Micaela has worked  extensively with children and families in diverse settings, and has led several high-impact efforts including most recently serving as Co-Executive Director of Harambee Village Doulas, and previously as Assistant Director for the YMCA’s before and after school programs for middle school children. Micaela has also managed her own Nanny service in the Greater Madison area, matching in-home childcare providers to working professional families. She completed a double major in Early Childhood Development and Art Therapy at Metro State University in St.Paul, Minnesota and is a DONA trained Doula, certified Infant Specialist, certified Lactation Consultant, a Protective Factors and Ages and Stages Trainer, and a former Head Start Teacher. Micaela is a 2019 Madison Magazine MList Awardee recognized as an outstanding Innovator.

Christine Russell serves as Director of Health & Wellness Programs with the Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness. She brings over 15 years of experience supporting and administering health and wellness programming for hospital systems, global pharmaceutical companies, and national health management organizations, bringing greater health, wellness, and outcomes to employees and families. Christine is also a practitioner with training as a fitness instructor and wellness coach, rounded out by her experience with program implementation, data analytics, marketing, and communications, and leading strategic initiatives. Christine’s passion for community impact has inspired her local work in Greater Madison to support underserved individuals and their families through maternal care, financial, and physical well-being. Her transition from corporate wellness to community health drives her commitment to further support her own community.

Lauren Rock is committed to building community and connections. She leverages her relationships and talent to amplify the impact of early learning, health and wellness, and global nonprofit leaders like the Girls on the Run, Urban League and United Way. Over the past 8 years of her experience design and fundraising career, Lauren has successfully raised more than $25 million dollars to create meaningful relationships amongst 2,000 individuals. Lauren has been recognized as a 30 Under 30 Nonprofit Leader by Young Nonprofit Professionals Network of Atlanta, and for her trailblazing leadership by the National Urban League. Lauren’s personal and professional lives are strengthened by her passion for creating opportunities for others to pursue their dreams and advance positive change.

Erica Wright, MBA ® , CFP ® , ChFC ® , Co-Founder of the Bell & Wright Financial Group of Northwestern Mutual, is focused on creating a lifetime of clarity and confidence for women, retirees, and business owners through a modernized financial planning experience.

As part of the 1% of African American CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERs™ in the world, Erica believes it is her duty and is intentional about bringing financial education and strategy to those demographics who have been underrepresented in the past, particularly women.

Like many of the clients she serves, Erica is committed to trailblazing paths for future generations. She was the first in her family to obtain both her undergraduate and graduate degrees. She is also the first African American woman in Wisconsin to receive the CFP ® designation at Northwestern Mutual. Erica is also the longest lasting African American female advisor in her agency’s 137-year history.

Erica teamed up with fellow Marquette Alum, James Bell, in 2019 to form the Bell & Wright Financial Group, a virtual financial planning organization that serves clients nationwide. Erica is passionate about her family. She and her husband James have the honor of being parents to TWO sets of twins. Because she is originally from IL, her household is split on game days as her husband cheers for the Packers and she is loyal to her Chicago Bears.

Tiffany Malone is a real estate consultant, affordable housing advocate, a change agent for racial justice in the real estate industry, and a loud voice for building generational wealth for Black families. Tiffany works with buyer and seller clients in the greater Madison WI area as a licensed Realtor at Alvarado Real Estate Group and is one of the co-creators of OWN IT: Building Black Wealth, an innovative local initiative that is changing the game when it comes to educating and creating access to funds for Black and Brown families to build wealth through real estate and homeownership. Tiffany is deeply committed to diversity and inclusion work within the real estate industry. Being raised by a single Black mother who overcame many obstacles, she witnessed first hand how she was treated and the opportunities she missed because of her race and gender. Tiffany is motivated to change that and her goal is to make a difference in the lives of others, to build generational wealth for her family, and to advocate for others who want to do the same.

Keena Atkinson, the visionary founder, and CEO of R’oujie Wellness, is a versatile wellness professional specializing as a nutritionist, wellness coach, dance fitness instructor, and a 500hr trauma Informed social justice yoga instructor with an Ayurveda perspective. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from UW Madison, Keena’s journeys from homelessness to homeowner and 15 year old mom, giving birth while in the foster care system, domestic violence survivor navigating the federal prison system to a dedicated mother, parenting and raising her two sons intentionally while becoming the creator and host of the transformative 2023 R’oujie Wellness Retreat exemplifies her remarkable resilience. A writer, speaker, and poet, Keena hosts podcasts including “R’oujie Ruminations and Revelations” and “Good Bad Breakthru,” found on all streaming platforms. Her YouTube channel @keenasfa offers over 80 on-demand yoga classes and more. Keena’s holistic approach emphasizes parenting, hair, emotional well-being, personal development, and women’s hormonal health, reflecting her passions for positive psychology, social, emotional and brain health development, literacy and liberation. Please find her on all social media at keenasfa or on her website at http://www.roujiewellness.com

My name is Sharon Hardiman, Certified Personal Trainer, and owner of Excel Wellness with SSHerese. I provide individual personal training however I am also open to additional fitness opportunities to help transform lives one body at a time. My goal is to walk in my purpose while pursuing my passion.

DJ GEMINI GILLY is a Midwest-based DJ and curator. Growing up on a variety of genres from her older brother’s collection (East Coast and Southern Hip-Hop, Funk, Disco, 90s R&B), she gained a love for music at a young age, occasionally stealing his CDs to listen to her favorite tracks. After countless times of being the designated AUX cord operator, she recognized that DJing/curating was her true passion and embarked on her journey as DJ GEMINI GILLY.

DJ GEMINI GILLY fuses her #blackgirlmagic and love for black music with creative mixing and blending to create an eclectic set that brings people together. Additionally, since teaching herself how to DJ in 2018, DJ GEMINI GILLY joined the World Champion Milwaukee Bucks DJ Squad and has performed for Summerfest World Festival, Soho House, Black Futures Lab, and countless others. In 2023, DJ GEMINI GILLY curated her own event series, GEMS ONLY, which celebrates black community and black cultures of all kinds through music.

Beyond DJing, DJ GEMINI GILLY has her master’s degree in social work and actively advocates for black folx. She hopes that she can inspire other black youth to take their passions and translate them into careers.

Niambi is an Author, Cultural Agility Strategist, Thought Leader, Cultural Intelligence Specialist, Spiritual Alchemist, and a certified Trauma-Sensitive HeartMath® Practitioner. For the past 30 years, she has been passionately working as a nationally recognized Transformation Advocate, training with Indigenous Shamans, spiritual teachers, and master Shadow Work practitioners. Niambi is the Founder and Chief Learning Officer of the Earth Purpose Institute for Divine Understanding, which is all about fearless, nurturing, and inclusive online learning.

She is also the CEO and Lead Consultant for Cross Cultural Agility, LLC. where she trains, coaches, facilitates, and consults individuals and corporations on issues supporting cultural intelligence and new pathways to inclusion.

In addition, as the Founder Emeritus of The Butterfly Movement, Project Butterfly, and Camp Butterfly, Niambi used the powerful symbolism of caterpillar/butterfly metamorphosis to spark emotional and spiritual transformation in countless women and girls worldwide. Learn more here: https://youtu.be/gPdM6qqjBBI?si=8GPqbK0baERGhN2t

Niambi has also co-contributed to the book “African Americans and Community Engagement in Higher Education” published by SUNY Press and is a regular contributor to the American Camp Association’s Camping Magazine. She has authored books like “Project Butterfly,” “Inspiring the Souls of Our Girls,” and “What Color Is Your Soul: Healing the Illusion of Our Separateness.”

Kimberly Bryant is a renowned technology industry leader, visionary and founder of ASCEND Ventures and the Black Innovation Lab. As the CEO of ASCEND Ventures, Kimberly is committed to creating opportunities for marginalized founders building impact-driven companies particularly in her hometown of Memphis, Tennessee. With her flagship Black Innovation Lab, she cultivates and invests in a pipeline of leaders who use technology to make a societal impact while creating pathways to equity and generational wealth through entrepreneurship and ownership. Before ASCEND Ventures, Kimberly founded Black Girls CODE, a social-change organization aimed at introducing girls of color aged 6-18 to technology and computer science, with a focus on entrepreneurship. Under her leadership, Black Girls CODE grew from a grassroots initiative to an international organization with chapters across the U.S. and South Africa and more than 100,000 students. Kimberly is dedicated to changing the face of technology by investing in opportunities for women, girls and all, using technology as a lever for progress.

Carola Peterson-Gaines has worked for Unity Health Insurance and the UW Medical Foundation for 22 years, as the BadgerCare Outreach Coordinator. A nurse by training, she currently serves 17,000 BadgerCare Plus (BC+) members as the Community Liaison and Advocate. Her goals are to coordinate and provide a heightened level of support to the BC+ providers and BC+ membership. Carola, actively develops and implements programs to improve access to care for BC+ members, coordinates patient care and inform them of new state programs and initiatives. She advocates for members with high-risk health care needs and works to educate BC+ members about preventive health measures such as early prenatal care.

Carola leads and serves on numerous community initiatives including, the Dane County Immunization Coalition, Safe Sleep Coalition, Dane County Asthma Coalition, Fetal Infant Mortality Review Board, Black Women Wellness Day Planning Team, and the African American Health Network to name a few. She is the Wisconsin State Coordinator of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority (DST), and Immediate Past Chapter President of the Madison Alumnae Chapter (DST). She has received many awards, including the YWCA- 2010 Woman of Distinction, Dane County Walk of Honor Award, the South Madison Community Service Award, Charles Hamilton Houston Service Award, 2013 Madison Metropolitan Links Community Award, Wisconsin Women of Color Network Distinguished Service Award, 2015 Urban League of Greater Madison President’s Award, the 2016 Black Women’s Leadership Collaborator Award, and the 2018 Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness Legacy Award.

Dr. Tiffany Green is an economist and population health scientist and a nationally recognized expert in racial/ethnic and nativity disparities in reproductive health. She is currently Assistant Professor of Population Health Sciences and Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Green earned her Ph.D. in economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her B.A. in economics from Florida A&M University. Her research focuses primarily on understanding the individual-, family-, and structural-level determinants of disparities in women’s health and birth outcomes. Dr. Green’s mission is to shed light on how and why Black women, regardless of socioeconomic status experience the worst maternal and child health outcomes of any racial/ethnic group—and what evidence-based solutions might ameliorate these persistent inequalities in health and wellbeing. Most recently, she was selected as a member of the inaugural cohort of the Society of Family Planning’s Changemakers in Family Planning grantees and as a University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health Centennial Scholar. Dr. Green is also honored to serve as the co-chair of the Black Maternal & Child Health Alliance of Dane County, where she is committed to centering and uplifting the voices of Black mothers and ensuring that Black children are free to reach their highest potential.

Nyra Jordan has been with American Family Insurance for over 20 years serving in various leadership roles throughout the organization. Nyra is a social impact investment director at the American Family Institute for Corporate and Social Impact where she is advancing the creation of economic opportunities for historically overlooked communities including those impacted by incarceration. Nyra holds an undergraduate degree in mass communication from UW-Madison and has a master’s in criminal justice administration from Valdosta State University. She also has a master’s in social innovation and sustainability leadership from Edgewood College. Nyra’s goal is to utilize venture capital investment as a vehicle to drive social change while leveraging the thought leadership of innovative community partners.

Rosa Thompson is the founder and Executive Director of the Black Girl Magic Conference and Black Girl Magic Educational Services, a community dedicated to providing safe and affirming spaces for Black girls, rich and engaging programs centered around identity, social-emotional development, STEAM, and the arts with opportunities to network and be mentored by Black women entrepreneurs and professionals in the Madison community.

A proud graduate of the Madison Metropolitan School District, Rosa attended college at Clark Atlanta University and completed her graduate studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Rosa always knew that she wanted to teach in the same school district where she was educated. Rosa now not only teaches and leads in the District, but is impacting the lives of thousands of young women each year. The Black Girl Magic Conference, held in Madison, Wisconsin since 2018, convenes African American and Multiracial girls in grades 4th – 8th, exposing them to inspirational guest speakers, dynamic breakout sessions, a lively DJ, fitness classes and many more activities that affirm the girls’ sense of pride in their culture and confidence in their intelligence, culture and abilities. In 2018, the first Black Girl Magic Conference hosted 80 girls. Since that time, the one day conference has grown significantly from 80 girls to more than 1,000 girls.

“We’re bringing strong, intelligent and dynamic women together with smart, ambitious girls – showing them that they can be lawyers, entrepreneurs, educators and CEO’s. That’s what Black Girl Magic Educational Services does, we uplift the magic in Black girls, revealing their confidence and creativity!”

Dr. Christina Outlay is the Executive Director of Maydm. Maydm provides girls and youth of color with classes, camps, field trips, and paid high school internships to prepare them for careers in science, technology, engineering, and math. Dr. Outlay holds a B.A. in Psychology, an M.S. in Information Systems from DePaul University, and a Ph.D. in Management Information Systems from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She has 12 years of Information Technology (IT) corporate and military experience from State Farm Insurance, Allstate Insurance, Apartments.com, and the U.S. Navy Reserve, and 15 years of academic teaching and research experience. A Chicago native, Dr. Outlay moved to Wisconsin in 2012 and was an Associate Professor of Information Technology at UW-Whitewater and nonprofit director before joining Maydm. While at UW-Whitewater, Dr. Outlay ran the CyberGirlz middle school summer camp and funded the endowed Christina N. Outlay Information Technology scholarship for Black UW-W IT majors.

As a Black woman with an IT background in corporate and higher education, Dr. Outlay knows the challenges and opportunities for women and other underrepresented groups in STEM. She is committed to showing our youth that a future in STEM is possible for them and providing them with the STEM knowledge, training, and opportunities with local employers to be successful. She regularly talks with employers about the human and business benefits of recruiting and retaining a diverse STEM workforce. She challenges employers to remove the systemic barriers to hiring women and people of color.

Dr. Outlay is a chronic overachiever, constantly juggling multiple priorities, mainly focused on getting Black and Brown people into spaces where they usually don’t have enough representation. She is the President of the Sun Prairie Police and Fire Commission, where she was directly involved in appointing Sun Prairie’s first Black Woman Assistant Police Chief, first Black Sargeant, and first Black Woman patrol officer. She is a Ghana Code Club board member, Wisconsin Literacy board member, past board member for Collaboration for Good, active member of the South Central Wisconsin chapter of Jack and Jill International, and Life Member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. Dr. Outlay has also been previously recognized as a 2022 Wisconsin Most Influential Black Leader, 2019 Madison Magnet Impact Award finalist, 2018 UW-Whitewater College of Business and Economics Service Award recipient, 2017 Brava Woman to Watch, and 2013 UW System Outstanding Woman of Color in Education. She has been quoted in The Capital Times, Madison 365, and Wisconsin State Journal.

In her personal time, Dr. Outlay is a married mom of four and enjoys spending time with family, traveling, reading, gardening…and she LOVES to dance.

Felica Turner-Walton serves as the Doula Network Coordinator for FFBWW. A wife and mother of 6 children (two of whom are not Earthside), Felica leads purposeful work inspired by her children and devoted to protecting the health of mothers, babies and their families. She is a Certified Grief Educator, Grief Support Specialist, Certified Peer Specialist, Maternal Mental Health Peer Support Specialist, Certified Parent Peer Specialist, and End of Life Doula. She is also a member of the Black Maternal Child Health Alliance (BMCHA), Postpartum Support International (PSI) and Mom Congress.

Outside of the Foundation, Felica is the founder of the Healing Our Hearts Foundation, a community-based grief support organization and education service supporting families who have experienced a loss. A native of Detroit, MI, Felica grew up in Greenwood, MS where she saw first-hand the lack of support for families in loss due to gun violence, infant/maternal loss, or natural causes. Her work as an advocate for Infant and Maternal Health started after the passing of her son Zaire in 2016, an experience that ignited Felica’s leadership and advocacy in the maternal and child health space. Felica currently holds Wisconsin certifications as a Peer Support Specialist and Parent Peer Support Specialist. Felica is also a Maternal Mental Health Peer Support Specialist. She is a graduate of United Way of Dane County Boardwalk Program, and the University of Wisconsin Odyssey Program. She is also a current LEND trainee, supporting initiatives for families of Children and Youth with Special Healthcare Needs (CYSHN). Felica volunteers with many organizations within Dane County and strives to push partnerships and collaborations. She likes to spend her time helping others along their own healing journey.

She is a recipient of the 2022 Amy Awards, dedicated to Amy and Jocelyn Gannon. In her spare time, Felica loves crafting, traveling, and spending time with her family.

Ravyn Cruse is a University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute Fellow serving a 2-year placement with the Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness (July 2023 – July 2025). In her role with the Foundation, Ravyn serves as the Black Maternal and Child Health Alliance Coordinator, working to advance efforts to empower and support Black women and birthing people to secure birth equity. Originally from New Orleans, Louisiana, Ravyn completed her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at Fisk University in Nashville, TN, and earned her Masters of Public Health degree from Xavier University in Louisiana. Ravyn’s career interests include advocating for and addressing vulnerable populations’ experiences with inadequate healthcare, healthcare access and poor patient experiences. During her graduate career, she has gained experiences in behavioral health, recreation development, emergency planning and grant writing while using her health equity lens to explore gaps and to propose equitable and culturally competent approaches. As a University of Wisconsin Fellow, she continues the mission of the Institute of operationalizing health inequity. With the values and missions of the Foundation of Black Women’s Wellness and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, Ravyn looks forward to positively impacting the lives of Black women in Dane County while striving to be a Well Black Woman.

Erin Bailey has served as a Program Manager for The Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness since February 2020. She is a current PhD student at UW-Madison’s School of Human Ecology in the Civil Society and Community Research program. She is a 2009 SoHE graduate with a B.S. in Human Development and Family Studies with a certificate in Gender and Women’s Studies, and a 2017 SoHE graduate with an M.S. in Human Ecology. Erin brings over 17 years of experience working with underserved communities, fostering programming and research in the fight against health disparities. For almost two decades she has worked for The Witness Project of Madison in several capacities, the most recent of which is Director of Programming. The Witness Project is an evidenced based breast and cervical cancer prevention and screening program for African American women. Erin previously served as the community based researcher for the Cancer Health Disparities Program, a population science program at the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center.

Erin Bailey has served as a Program Manager for The Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness since February 2020. She is a current PhD student at UW-Madison’s School of Human Ecology in the Civil Society and Community Research program. She is a 2009 SoHE graduate with a B.S. in Human Development and Family Studies with a certificate in Gender and Women’s Studies, and a 2017 SoHE graduate with an M.S. in Human Ecology. Erin brings over 17 years of experience working with underserved communities, fostering programming and research in the fight against health disparities. For almost two decades she has worked for The Witness Project of Madison in several capacities, the most recent of which is Director of Programming. The Witness Project is an evidenced based breast and cervical cancer prevention and screening program for African American women. Erin previously served as the community based researcher for the Cancer Health Disparities Program, a population science program at the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center.

Lawanda Chambers is a board certified licensed professional counselor, yoga instructor, and owner of LIFE Wellness and Counseling Services. Lawanda believes in lifting individuals forward everyday by building lasting relationships in the community and empowering individuals through collaboration. She fights for equity because she is determined to addresses the barriers and disadvantages in the community that limit the ability for Black/Brown people to be successful.

You can connect and learn more about Lawanda’s professional work here:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawanda-chambers-liftingife/
https://www.instagram.com/liftingindividualsforward/
www.lift-ife.com
https://www.instagram.com/embracemecs/
embracemylife.org
https://www.instagram.com/blacksistatalk/
www.blacksista-talk.com

Bianca N. Cotton is a hope dealer whose smile radiates the room. She is a wife, mom, 6x author, host of CAN TV’s signature Behind the Confident Smile Podcast, and founder of Behind the Confident Smile, a movement where women and girls are inspired to walk in love, live in hope, and be healed from past hurts. She most recently completed a leadership fellowship program, Willie’s Warriors with the Chicago Foundation for Women.

Bianca holds a graduate degree from DePaul University where she created her own Master’s Degree concentration focusing on Management and Leadership Consulting in the Nonprofit and Corporate Sectors and she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Illinois Wesleyan University. With over 10 years of nonprofit experience, Bianca has become an instrumental social change agent in the Chicagoland area.

Meet Alex Booker, a passionate boutique farmer on a mission to nourish Black food vendors in the Madison, WI area with fresh produce deeply rooted in the diaspora’s heritage. For Alex, farming is not merely a profession; it’s a profound connection to his ancestral roots in Mississippi, where generations before him cultivated the land. Through his agricultural journey, Alex has discovered the transformative power of working with the roots, both metaphorically and literally. As he lovingly tends to a diverse array of herbs, he witnesses the incredible potency and wisdom that nature’s bounty bestows upon us. Beyond the fields, Alex’s heart beats for his community, and he fervently believes in the importance of food sovereignty education. By hosting engaging and enlightening gardening workshops, he aims to reignite his community’s relationship with their food systems. Empowering individuals with knowledge about cultivation, nourishment, and sustainability, Alex envisions a future where the community embraces their food traditions with pride and self-reliance. Alex Booker exemplifies the epitome of resilience, cultural heritage, and the transformative potential of sustainable farming in every seed planted and harvest reaped. His unwavering dedication to his craft and commitment to revitalizing the connection between people, land, and culture make him a true visionary in sustainable agriculture and community empowerment.

Meet Alex Booker, a passionate boutique farmer on a mission to nourish Black food vendors in the Madison, WI area with fresh produce deeply rooted in the diaspora’s heritage. For Alex, farming is not merely a profession; it’s a profound connection to his ancestral roots in Mississippi, where generations before him cultivated the land. Through his agricultural journey, Alex has discovered the transformative power of working with the roots, both metaphorically and literally. As he lovingly tends to a diverse array of herbs, he witnesses the incredible potency and wisdom that nature’s bounty bestows upon us. Beyond the fields, Alex’s heart beats for his community, and he fervently believes in the importance of food sovereignty education. By hosting engaging and enlightening gardening workshops, he aims to reignite his community’s relationship with their food systems. Empowering individuals with knowledge about cultivation, nourishment, and sustainability, Alex envisions a future where the community embraces their food traditions with pride and self-reliance. Alex Booker exemplifies the epitome of resilience, cultural heritage, and the transformative potential of sustainable farming in every seed planted and harvest reaped. His unwavering dedication to his craft and commitment to revitalizing the connection between people, land, and culture make him a true visionary in sustainable agriculture and community empowerment.

Amy Crowe, CUDE, CEPF, is a personal finance expert with 25 years of experience in writing, speaking and educating about money. Her thoughts, ideas, and advice have been featured on television, in print and online magazines, on podcasts, at conferences and on expo stages. With a degree in communications from the UW-Stevens Point, Amy started her career marketing financial services at Summit Credit Union and today leads their award-winning signature community financial education programs, Project Money and Project Teen Money.

Amy is passionate about illuminating the connection between mindset and money behavior, and empowering others to make breakthrough changes that result in financial transformation. Whether presenting in workplaces, college lecture halls, high school classrooms, or community settings, her lessons are meant to inspire and motivate others into action through storytelling and connection to practical resources and trusted tips to build wealth.

Inspired by her many years as a Girl Scout troop leader, Amy is also deeply committed to working with girls and moms to master smart money management and has developed financial literacy programming for the Badgerland Council of Wisconsin.

Amy has a college age daughter and lives in the Madison area with her husband. She enjoys traveling and photography.

Della is a Community Herbalist in training, multi-hyphenate creative, and mother. After a life of medical difficulties and a major health scare in 2013 with lasting effects, she dedicated herself to finding alternative ways to heal from the inside out.

That passion birthed Herban Living Holistics (www.fuelgoodwellness.com) and Renaissance Bxtches (www.renaissancebxtches.com); her businesses focus on empowering black and brown individuals. Her purpose is to create safe spaces to explore all aspects of health and wellness by providing programs and resources that promote health integrity.