Lisa Peyton is the Founder 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 17th 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.

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.

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.

A Christian Holistic Wellness Coach with over 5 years of experience, Coach MJ has guided men and women in faith-based fitness through weight training, group sessions, and nutrition planning. She’s a published author, a mother of two amazing young men, and a former vocational ministry leader.

Now, she’s walking fully in her purpose — helping others live disciplined, God-centered lives in mind, body, and spirit. 

Christina brings a background in corporate IT, nonprofit leadership, program development, project management, and higher education to her role at Maydm. Her mission is to get more girls, minorities and low-income youth interested in computing careers. She holds a B.A. in Psychology and M.S. in Information Systems from DePaul University and a Ph.D. in Management Information Systems from the University of Illinois at Chicago, along with 12 years of IT corporate experience and 13 years of academic teaching and research experience. Christina was an Associate Professor of Information Technology at UW-Whitewater and nonprofit director prior to joining Maydm.

Outside of work, Christina is a married mom of four and a chronic overachiever who is constantly juggling multiple priorities. Christina has been a Project Management Professional (PMP) since 2002, ITIL Foundations certified since 2004, Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) since 2014, and Certified Scrum Product Owner since 2019. She is President of the Sun Prairie Police Commission, board member for Wisconsin Literacy, board member for Ghana Code Club, past board member for Collaboration for Good, 2023 YWCA Madison Woman of Distinction, 2023 Juneteenth Unsung Hero, a 2022 Madison 365 Wisconsin Most Influential Black Leader, 2019 Madison Magnet Impact Award finalist, 2018 UW-Whitewater College of Business and Economic 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.

Johnny Winston, Jr. of Johnny Winston Community Action Resource Education Services is a multi-faced entrepreneur focused on providing consultation and educational services in CPR training, fitness & wellness and leadership solutions and the acquisition of future assets.

As a long-time resident of Madison, WI, he is a retired Firefighter/Emergency Medical Technician. Winston was a Firefighter and during his tenure, he was promoted to various positions, including Training Officer, Fire Investigator, Lieutenant, and Division Chief.

In addition to his career in the fire service, Winston has served in various capacities for several community-based programs for underserved children, youth and families, including but not limited to: South Madison Neighborhood Center (now Boys and Girls Club of Dane County), Dane County Human Service’s Neighborhood Intervention Program, Briarpatch, Vera Court and Bridge Lake Point Waunona Neighborhood Centers, Madison School and Community Recreation. He was elected to the Madison Metropolitan School District Board of Education for two terms from 2004 to 2010, serving as the Board President from 2006-2007.

Johnny Winston, Jr. completed his undergraduate and graduate education in Fire Science (A.A.), Public Administration (B.S.), and Management (M.S.), and is a Certified Public Manager (CPM) and has a certificate in Servant Leadership.

Johnny has four daughters and five grandchildren. His hobbies include weightlifting, attending concerts, attending sporting events, and traveling.

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.

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!”

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Nyra Jordan has been with American Family Insurance for over 20 years serving in various leadership roles throughout the organization. Nyra is currently the Associate Vice President of Community & Social Impact where she leads strategic and philanthropic investments for the American Family Insurance Dreams Foundation. In addition, she oversees efforts to form collaborations that increase access to opportunity, social equity, and financial mobility including support for individuals impacted by the criminal legal system. Nyra holds an Bachelors Degree in mass communication from UW-Madison, a Masters of Science in criminal justice administration from Valdosta State University, and a Masters of Arts in social innovation and sustainability leadership from Edgewood College. Nyra is Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors for Madison Regional Economic Partnership (MadREP) and serves on the Board of Trustees for Edgewood College. Nyra is also a TED speaker and her efforts to support fair chance employment and capital access to underrepresented founders have been featured in major publications including Fast Company and Forbes.

Patrina White is a Community Organizer and Advocate. She most recently served as the Executive Director of Kennedy Heights Community Center on the northside of Madison. Mrs. White led daily operations and finance, human resources, and community programming for children and families including an early childcare center, after school programming for school aged youth, and family-centered education and support services. In her role, Mrs. White also worked extensively with a number of city, county and community-based agencies to support the Adult Resources initiative to secure employment for families in Kennedy Heights and the Greater Madison area. Prior to her departure, Mrs. White was able to secure a mental health and counseling partner to provide neighborhood youth with personal, social and psychological support services during the COVID pandemic.

‍Mrs. White served on the 24th Leadership Greater Madison committee that worked with Feed Kitchen and other nonprofits to understand and solve food insecurities on the northside. Her passion started early on in life when her grandmother and mother would come home from a long days’ work and feed the community with the food they brought back from her mother’s restaurant in Chicago. Mrs. White’s leadership and volunteer work also includes two years with the United Way of Dane County as a Loaned Executive.

In 1990, Mrs. White received the Operation Desert Storm Achievement Award after she prepared and submitted a proposal to the CEO at Metra Railway in Chicago to organize a fundraiser for deployed troops. The outcome of this plan was over 72,000 pounds of personal supplies and toiletries shipped to our troops abroad.

The mission of the Foundation resonates with Mrs. White because she enjoys being part of conscientious organizations and movements that focus on helping people and confronting systemic social inequality. She has served as an FFBWW Wellness Ambassador for the since 2015.

Vera Lewis serves as Chief Development Officer for The Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness.

She is a purposeful leader renowned for her expertise in marketing, communications, and over 10 years in fund development. With a rich background in crafting and executing impactful business strategies, Vera has consistently demonstrated her ability to energize teams, foster collaborative partnerships, and drive organizational success.

Before joining FFBWW, Vera served as the Vice President of Development and Communications at the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) in Chicago where she played a pivotal role in shaping growth strategies and overseeing all development and communication efforts. Her work involved cultivating connections with organizations focused on marginalized communities, enhancing fundraising outcomes, and managing key donor relationships.

Prior to DBSA, Vera excelled as the Director of Development & Strategic Partnerships at AgeOptions, where she spearheaded the development of innovative revenue-generating programs and diversified funding streams. Her strategic initiatives led to securing high-level sponsorships and forming new partnerships, which significantly boosted the organization’s financial growth and community impact.

Her earlier experience included leading corporate partnership development and marketing efforts at the National Black MBA Association, driving substantial revenue growth through strategic corporate sponsorships.

Vera holds a Master of Arts in Business Administration from DePaul University and a Bachelor of Arts in Advertising from Loyola University Chicago. She is a member of the American Marketing Association, the Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc. and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., the largest African American women’s organization in the world. Vera’s professional development reflects a commitment to excellence and community outreach.

Dr. Michelle Robinson serves as Chief Programs and Partnerships Officer for the Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness. Before joining the FFBWW, Dr. Robinson served as the inaugural Director of the Office of Health Equity at the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) in the Office of the Secretary where she was responsible for establishing a clear vision and focus for the agency’s health equity work, including programs and policy efforts for statewide workforce planning and equity and inclusion; and complementing and amplifying the work of the related diversity, equity, inclusion, access, wellness and health equity initiatives across all of DHS’s internal and external programs and operations. Dr. Robinson previously served as the Director of the Office of the Inspector General and the Equity and Systems Change Research and Policy Officer (ESCRPO) at the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families (DCF) where she was a member of the Secretary’s cabinet and the agency’s leadership team. As ESCRPO, Dr. Robinson provided strategic leadership and direction on internal and external equity, and health equity initiatives and, as the Inspector General, was responsible for establishing an internal review team and Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) program for the agency. During her tenure in state leadership, Dr. Robinson served as vice-chair of the Governor’s Health Equity Council (GHEC) – a council charged with creating a comprehensive plan that will achieve long-lasting and equitable health outcomes for all Wisconsinites by addressing health disparities; and is the primary author of its report Building a Better Wisconsin: Investing in the Health and Well-being of Wisconsinites. 

Prior to entering state service, Dr. Robinson was a member of the award-winning Race to Equity Project at Kids Forward. She contributed her expertise on disparities and racial equity research, policy, practice, and community engagement.

A committed servant leader beyond her professional capacity, Dr. Robinson works to give back to the various communities she is a part of, serving as a member of the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s School of Education Board of Visitors and the Archer Center’s Advisory Board. The Archer Center, founded in 2001, is described as “where Texas meets the world” and is the Washington D.C. campus of the University of Texas System “providing talented undergraduate and graduate students from across the UT System with the opportunity to live, learn and intern in the nation’s capital.” Dr. Robinson has also served as an advisor to multiple fellows selected in the National Academy For State Health Policy’s (NASHP) Emerging Leaders of Color Fellowship. She was recently appointed to serve as a member of NASHP’s Population and Public Health Steering Committee, a term beginning January of 2024. 

Dr. Robinson has had the esteemed honor of being recognized for some of her many contributions through receiving the 2018 Madison Community Leader Award by Church Women United, the 2018 Collaborator of the Year award by the Progress Center for Black Women, the 2017 Community Justice Award by the Urban League of Greater Madison, and being named one of the University of Wisconsin’s Outstanding Women of Color in Education in 2014. In 2022, Dr. Robinson was awarded the Outstanding Leadership Diversity Award by the State Council on Affirmative Action (SCAA) and the Division of Personnel Management (DPM) Department of the Administration.  The award is designed to “recognize an individual leader in state service who has demonstrated a devotion to inclusivity, diversity, equity, and wellness promotion within their area of influence.”

Dr. Robinson holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Sociology with a minor in Educational Sciences from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a B.A. in Sociology with a minor in Government and certificates in Ethics and Leadership and Social Inequality, Health and Policy from the University of Texas at Austin. 

James, a Detroit native and one of 12 siblings, was shaped by family and fatherhood. After supporting his wife through a high-risk pregnancy, he became a certified doula through the National Black Doulas Association. He founded Fathers Assisting Mothers to empower dads to show up, speak up, and support during birth and beyond.

Korbey White is an equity champion, founder and CEO of the See Hear Learn (LLC) where he partners with organizations to help them reach their equity and belonging goals. He holds a bachelor’s degree in international business relations and African American Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a Diversity, Equity, and an Inclusion Certificate from Cornell University. He is Lean Sigma 6 certified.

Korbey serves on the Madison College Board of Trustees, the Verona Area School District’s Board of Education (Board Clerk), the Board of the Dane County Immunization Coalition, a Vice President of the Sherman Phoenix Foundation, and is the Vice President of the 100 Black Men of Madison where he also serves as the Wellness Committee Chair. Korbey is the Health Program Manager for the State of Wisconsin where one of his task is to address social determinants of health. Just recently Korbey was named Executive Director of Improve of Your Tomorrow Wisconsin (a mentoring firm targeting young men of color in the state of Wisconsin). Korbey is also a proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated, the Rotary Club of Madison, and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

Dr. Dominique Pritchett is on a mission to create cultures of wellness where people are valued as souls—not statistics. As a global speaker, licensed mental health therapist and founder of Speak to the Soul™, Beloved Wellness Center™ and Space for Sistas®, she helps people evolve mental capacity for success without burnout.

Strength training isn’t just about building muscle – it’s about building resilience, confidence and peace of mind. I guide women to stay consistent with workouts that support healthy aging, improve bone and muscle strength, and boost mental wellbeing. Together, we’ll create sustainable habits that empower your body and mind for life!

Jasmia has a decade of progressive experience in the higher education and nonprofit sectors. She is a skilled social impact practitioner who has collaborated on high-impact teams to lead successful initiatives in leadership development, higher education student success programming, and project based equity-minded consulting. She has experience with locally and nationally renowned organizations including YWCA Madison, the Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Jasmia is a doctoral candidate at Edgewood University pursuing a Doctorate of Business Administration. She is passionate about creating positive and concrete social transformation. Does this sound familiar? She is also the former program manager of the Well Black Woman® Institute and continues to cheerlead the work of FFBWW.

I’m Michelle Bozeman and I am obsessed with changing the narrative of the economically disadvantaged to be advantaged. My entire life has been guided to help people who battle with getting life back on track. Born and raised in Chicago, I moved to Madison for education and a better life.  

With over 25 years of community, public and civil service, I have a BA in Business Administration emphasizing on Human Resource Development, Non-Profit Management and Marketing and Communications.  

I am honored to have served on several boards such as Turning Point of Madison College, Southside Raiders Football and Cheer, Inc., One City Learning Center, and the Madison Black Chamber of Commerce.  I was the head cheer coach for the Southside Raiders serving a 9-year tenure having more than 150 girls ages 7-13.  

I have volunteered for many organizations including The River Food Pantry, Middleton Outreach Ministry, Southside Raider Cheerleaders, Nehemiah, FOSTER of Dane, Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness, Urban League Young Professionals, United Way of Dane County Women’s Leadership Council, Urban Triage, UJAMAA Business Network, UMOJA Magazine, Urban League Guild, EOTO, Susan G. Komen, League of Women Voters.   

Currently serves as the Associate Matron of Friendship Chapter #2 of Madison, Order of the Eastern Star, State of WI, Prince Hall Affiliate, an Masonic organization that continues to give back to communities worldwide.  

I am a proud mother of five adult children (Raymond 34, Reeba 33, La’Neice 31, Mia 27, and LaDell 24) and nine grandchildren.  

In my spare time, you can catch me in the gym, dancing, cooking, singing karaoke, bowling, excelling my baking business, spending time with family and traveling with my husband, Lawrence. I love sports and is a DIE-HARD fan of the Chicago Bears, Chicago Sky, Chicago Bulls and Chicago White Sox.  

Eryne Jenkins serves as a contracted Program Coordinator for the Well Black Woman® Institute at The Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness. With a robust background in public health program administration, evaluation, and community-based research, Eryne is dedicated to driving evidence-based change in health equity education programs and research initiatives.
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Motivated by her personal experiences with family members navigating preventable medical conditions, Eryne focuses on expanding opportunities for underserved populations within health care and higher education. She has successfully collaborated with community organizations to forge partnerships that enhance program visibility and impact. Notably, she played a key role in implementing Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction at Vanderbilt Health, aimed at improving the well-being and retention of Nashville-area public school teachers.

Eryne’s commitment to health equity began during her tenure as a health equity intern with the Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness, where she supported the operations and strategy of the annual Black Women’s Wellness Day virtual events. She further honed her skills through the Equity Leaders Fellowship with the New Hampshire Area Health Education Center, focusing on the importance of inclusion and representation in public health initiatives.

Eryne is excited to bring her experience and strategic insights to the Well Black Woman® Institute. A native of Magnolia, Delaware, Eryne is actively involved in her community through organizations like the Red Cross and as a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She holds Bachelor’s degrees in Biology and Environmental Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and earned her Master of Public Health from the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College in 2024.

In her free time, Eryne enjoys exploring playing the clarinet, learning new languages including Mandarin Chinese and Serbo-Croatian, and traveling with friends and family.

Christopher Kilgour, the founder of  Color In The Outdoors, has spent his entire life working with and for organizations that focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion for BIPOC, LGBTTQ+, people with disabilities, and other historically marginalized or underrepresented communities; Color In the Outdoors is an outdoors DEI activity and advocacy organization focused on creating and supporting opportunities for these communities. CITO is for anyone who has never spent time outdoors and doesn’t know where to start, who has spent time outdoors but didn’t have a good experience in the process, or who considers themselves an avid lover of the outdoor world and wants to continue to expand their experiences, skill sets, connect with like-minded people, and expand their horizons in natural spaces. 

Christopher also works for the University of Wisconsin–Madison – where he is currently the Outreach Manager at the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies. Prior to that he helped to create, and then manage, the tribal programs component for the Information Technology Academy (ITA), a multi-year, pre-college prep program through the Department of Information Technology (DoIT). While in that role, he served on the Division of Information Technology Equity and Diversity Committee.

Through his leadership and involvement with organizations like the Dane County Minority Affairs Commission and the City of Madison Equal Opportunities Commission, the State of Wisconsin Department of Personnel Management (DPM)  Affirmative Action Council, serving on boards for Operation Fresh Start, and Rooted, his service on advisory panels for private and governmental organizations focused on improving their DEI practices, and appearing in numerous publications, a book chapter, and several podcasts, Christopher continues to advocate for “moving the needle” towards positive and sustained change.

Jasmine Banks is the founder of the Underground Hiking Collective, a community built to reconnect Black, Indigenous, and People of Color with nature and with themselves. A lifelong Madisonian and passionate outdoorswoman, Jasmine creates spaces where rest, resilience, and restoration take root. Through shared hikes and intentional reflection, she encourages those in community to pause, breathe, and find healing in the outdoors. Her work reflects a deep belief in the power of community, connection, and collective wellness.

Anthony Cooper Sr. serves as founder and CEO of Focused Interruption, a mission-driven organization committed to public safety, restoration, and community empowerment. Grounded in his own lived experience with incarceration, he champions second chances and leads transformative reentry programs that connect men and women leaving prison with mentorship, job readiness, housing resources, and ongoing community support. Anthony is a strong advocate against gun and community violence, elevating restorative practices as a path to safer neighborhoods. 

He partners with hospitals, churches, community organizations, law enforcement, school districts, and neighborhood centers to build a shared safety net and strengthens communities by building villages that work together. By modeling a path of accountability and hope, he demonstrates that it is possible to pursue a different life and contribute meaningfully to families and neighborhoods.

Anthony’s impact extends far beyond Dane County. He collaborates with local government, law enforcement, schools, faith-based groups, and nonprofit partners to build safer, more resilient communities. He also engages in state and national initiatives aimed at strengthening all communities through restorative practices, policy development, and cross-sector partnerships that reduce recidivism and expand opportunities for everyone.

Known for his practical leadership, authenticity, and commitment to equity, Anthony inspires individuals and communities to view safety as a shared responsibility and a collective investment.

Charisse Daniels-Johnson is a mother of eight, ASE Cooperative co-founder, multimedia artist, and herbalist whose work moves at the intersections of art, nature, healing, and community. Rooted in restorative practices, she tends to both people and the land, guided by a deep reverence for nature and ancestral wisdom.

As an artist and practitioner of tantric and somatic healing, Charisse centers embodiment, ancestry, and joy, claiming pleasure as a birthright and a pathway to collective liberation.

Founder of Earthly Temptation Wellness and Crash Box Therapy

Sarah Branch is a visionary entrepreneur, healer, and mental wellness advocate based in Madison, Wisconsin. As the founder of Earthly Temptation Wellness and Crash Box Therapy, Sarah is dedicated to helping individuals prioritize their emotional and spiritual well-being.

After navigating her mental health journey, including a diagnosis of bipolar II disorder and dyslexia, Sarah sought out holistic, accessible ways to heal. That journey led her to create Earthly Temptation Wellness, a community-rooted space offering spiritual wellness tools, herbal remedies, and healing services that support people in reconnecting with themselves.

In 2025, Sarah launched Crash Box Therapy, Madison’s first-ever smash room and therapeutic space. This one-of-a-kind venture was inspired by her own need to let out built-up emotions in a safe and meaningful way. Combining emotional release techniques with wellness-based services, Crash Box Therapy has become a revolutionary space for people to feel, heal, and grow.

Sarah’s work reflects the power of lived experience and intuitive leadership. Her businesses are more than space; their movements are built around self-love, radical care, and community transformation.

Christin Calloway, leads  Black Girl Bloom, a newly funded program of the Madison Metropolitan Chapter of The Links, Incorporated. Her work centers on creating opportunities for Black girls to flourish, build confidence, and connect through leadership and sisterhood.

Tiffany Sopha is a powerhouse ICU Registered Nurse, Cardio Dance Fitness Instructor, and Nursing Assistant Instructor at Madison College. She cares for critically ill cardiac, neuro, and trauma patients, while also leading high-energy dance classes and shaping the next generation of healthcare professionals. Passionate about education and empowerment, she uses every platform—whether it’s the ICU, the classroom, or the dance floor—to inspire others, promote wellness, and help people show up as their best, most confident selves.

Jolie Brox received her Xtreme Hip-Hop step aerobics certification in May 2023. By the end of November 2023, she was ready to go full speed, not only changing her own life, but the lives of others looking to start or maintain a healthier lifestyle with step aerobics. Jolie has also been the co-owner of Fit4YouMKE LLC for the past 13 years, where she specializes in handcrafting health and wellness products such as Milwaukee’s Best Lavender Lemonade.

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Diane is recognized for her natural ability to lead dynamic teams that include government, funders, community and business leaders. Diane is skilled at rallying these leaders to work cooperatively and collaboratively toward a shared goal. She is connected to and partners with leaders in the Aging field at the local, regional and national level. Diane excels at encouraging others to build strong and effective relationships with stakeholders, both internally and externally.

Opal Ellyse Tomashevska is the Director of Multicultural Business Strategy for TruStage. Opal is responsible for leading the development, direction, and execution of the company’s Consumer Insights and Multicultural Engagement (CiMe). The CiMe team exists to help Trustage and credit union partners better understand consumers, identify business opportunities, develop action plans, and execute those plans using a multicultural lens to better serve more customers and generate substantial business growth. She is also a published poet, emcee, bestselling author, and podcast host. In 2020 Opal was named as one of Wisconsin’s Most Influential Black Leaders by 365 Media and received the Dominican Mission Alumni Award from Edgewood College in 2022. The Dominican Mission Award recognizes alumni who have demonstrated a commitment to social justice or a history of extraordinary volunteer experience in the community, country, or the world.

Opal holds a Master of Science in Organizational Development from Edgewood College and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. Opal also holds a Credit Union Development Educator (CUDE) designation. Opal serves as the Vice President of the Lussier Community Education Center Board of Directors, on the Advisory Council for The Melanin Project, and as the Communications Director for the African American Credit Union Coalition (AACUC) Midwest Chapter Board.

Brittney Rodriguez, has been a licensed beauty professional for over 10 years. While training Esthetic students at the Institute of Beauty and Wellness in Milwaukee, WI, Brittney was introduced to products made of the best natural ingredients and experienced services derived from ancient holistic modalities. Almost two years after the birth of her youngest daughter Mercedes, and four years after the birth of her oldest daughter Leilani, Brittney discovered she had been experiencing Postpartum Depression. She found her way back to holistic modalities, but instead of teaching them she was now on the receiving end and the results were nothing short of healing. It was at this point that Brittney understood  this was the missing piece to her traditional skincare business.  Brittney loves to share how her daughters inspired both the name and the expansion of her business, along with her focus on improving mental health, education and the overall wellness of women and girls.

Meet the Property Whisperer: 25 Years of Real Estate Shenanigans, Repairs, & Fortress-Building

After years of wrangling properties, managing tenants and property management companies, and surviving more home improvement projects than HGTV has reruns, Quintel Freeman-Allen is a seasoned landlord, home improvement wizard and accidental therapist who is now leveling up. What started as a humble purchase of her mom’s first home (and a not-so-humble collection of power tools and safety equipment) is now evolving into a full-fledged business with a portfolio of homes—with a side hustle into asset protection consultancy to build legacy wealth, because apparently “just winging it” isn’t a legal strategy.

Raised between Brooklyn, NY and the DMV (DC, MD & VA), Quintel Freeman-Allen holds degrees in English Language and Information Science from Hampton University in VA and the University of Illinois @ Urbana-Champaign, respectively. She uses both—to win arguments at brunch with her friends and to evaluate property listings; hire general contractors and service specialists; assess financial products and services, and mitigate tenancy laws. Known for wielding her librarian and records management skills to tame chaotic filing systems or negotiating metadata and decoding bureaucratic riddles into policy documents that her coworkers might actually read, Quintel brings a rare blend of precision research, empathy, and caffeine-fueled brilliance to every real estate project.  With a knack for bringing order, clarity, and just a hint of existential flair, she elevates real estate operations from the mundane to the masterful—maximizing a property’s potential within budget to transform a house into a home. Overthinking every detail, her home improvement redesign goal is to create a place of comfort and belonging.

Described as “a walking TED Talk with better shoes,” Quintel is also a former Peace Corps Volunteer who served as an English Language teacher and librarian in Zimbabwe.  She enhanced her students’ learning environment by spearheading the construction of a library building. She organized a book drive and secured furniture donations to stock the facility, and also performed basic maintenance to ensure its continued upkeep. Now, as the owner of Neeron LLC, an acquisition entity with asset protection consultancy that’s equal parts real property investing and group therapy, Quintel works at the grassroots level supporting and networking with like-minded investors to build community through affordable quality housing.

Outside of work, she lives with her family and dog, Vanta B., who has stronger opinions than most humans. She enjoys authoring erotica, biking trails, researching and curating detailed plans for future road trips, laughing at the ironies of daily living and pretending not to be competitive at game night If you need someone who can bring order to the whirlwind that is the real estate industry, inspire action with nuggets of healthful investment insight and help you remember where you left your keys—she is your person.

Dr. Thema Bryant is a psychologist, author, professor, sacred artist, and minister who is leading the way in creating healthy relationships, healing traumas, and overcoming stress and oppression. Dr. Thema Bryant is the author of Homecoming, which paints a road map for dismantling fear and shame to live a free and authentic life, The Antiracism Handbook: Practical Tools to Shift Your Mindset and Uproot Racism in Your Life and Community, and Reclaim Yourself: The Homecoming Workbook. Expanding her work, Dr. Thema Bryant partnered with Gwyneth Paltrow’s goop on the Audible Original The goop Pursuit: Coming Home to Yourself, a four-part audio series taking listeners on an intimate journey of learning and unlearning. Dr. Thema also hosts The Homecoming Podcast, which is dedicated to helping listeners reconnect with themselves and heal from past wounds. In her recently released book Matters of the Heart (February 4, 2025; Penguin Random House), she empowers readers to connect with themselves and to others, delving into topics such as: control issues, emotional unavailability, practical activation activities, case studies, and teaching how to shift mindset and patterns around romance.

Dr. Thema Bryant completed her doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Duke University and her post-doctoral training at Harvard Medical Center’s Victims of Violence Program. Upon graduating, she became the Coordinator of the Princeton University SHARE Program, which provides intervention and prevention programming to combat sexual assault, sexual harassment, and harassment based on sexual orientation. She is currently a tenured professor of psychology in the Graduate School of Education and Psychology at Pepperdine University, where she directs the Culture and Trauma Research Laboratory. Her clinical and research interests center on interpersonal trauma and the societal trauma of oppression. Most recently, she was the 2023 president of the American Psychological Association (APA), the leading scientific and professional organization representing psychology with more than 150,000 members. She is a former president of the Society for the Psychology of Women and a former APA representative to the United Nations. Dr. Thema also served on the APA Committee on International Relations in Psychology and the Committee on Women in Psychology. 

Her notable accolades include a 2013 APA award for Distinguished Early Career Contributions to Psychology in the Public Interest. In 2016, the Institute of Violence, Abuse, and Trauma presented her with their media award for the film Psychology of Human Trafficking, and in 2018, she received their Donald Fridley Memorial Award for excellence in mentoring in trauma. The California Psychological Association recognized her for Distinguished Scientific Achievement in Psychology in 2015. She is the editor of the APA text Multicultural Feminist Therapy: Helping Adolescent Girls of Color to Thrive and is a foundational scholar on the topic of the trauma of racism. In 2022, the International Division of the APA honored her for her International Contributions to the Study of Gender and Women, recognizing her work in Africa and the Diaspora. Dr. Thema is an ordained elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church and leads the mental health ministry at First A.M.E. Church in Los Angeles. Most recently in 2023, she received the Silverman Lifetime Achievement Award for Social Justice in Psychology. 

Dr. Thema has raised public awareness regarding mental health by extending the reach of psychology beyond the academy and private therapy office through community programming and media engagement, including but not limited to Headline News, National Public Radio, CBS, the Washington Post, the LA Times, and CNN.