Previous Experience

Professional Accomplishments

2021-24

The NPN tests ways to transform food systems by bridging community power with organizational power to spark & expand food justice initiatives led by the community. I co-developed and implemented a model for an Advisory Council within the network responsible for designing a Nutrition Equity Fund and mentoring Food Systems Change Fellows. Another function of this work was planning and hosting networking events.

Buckeye, Central, Kinsman, Community Health Needs Assessment

2022-23

During my tenure at the Swetland Center for Environmental Health, I coordinated the Neighborhood Level Community Health Needs Assessment process conducted in the Buckeye, Central, and Kinsman Neighborhoods of Cleveland in partnership with Burton, Bell, Carr CDC, Better Health Partnership and Old Brooklyn CDC.

Swetland Center for Environmental Health

2019-24

While serving as the Senior Director of Operations and Partnerships at the Swetland Center for Environmental Health I planned and led several strategic and organizational change initiatives. Examples include: conducting and developing the center's Community Engagement and Racial Equity Action Plan, staff wide appreciative inquiry planning process, developing conflict resolution strategies across teams, training staff and students in management styles and approaches to work, and facilitating stakeholder strategic planning conversations to inform the centers' 5 year strategic plan.

Freshlink Ambassador Research Project

2017-2019

While working at the Prevention Research Center for Healthy Neighborhoods at CWRU, I implemented a community based participatory research project designed to increase the number of SNAP users at local farmers’ markets using a peer to peer ambassador approach. The community ambassadors were trained to conduct peer-to-peer outreach to promote awareness of and social connectedness to markets to increase SNAP transactions and enhance access to fresh fruits and vegetables.

Healthy Cleveland Initiative

2014-2017

As Director of the Healthy Cleveland Initiative at the Cleveland Department of Public Health. I developed partnerships that formed 7 working groups responsible for addressing various aspects of social determinants of health affecting the lifespan of Clevelanders. Within this initiative we were able to influence policy such as the establishment of the Tobacco 21 policy and develop creative methods of sharing messages around the impact of social and environmental structures that impact our community’s health. See our animated short as one example.

Cleveland City Council

2010-14

Working for Councilman Joe Cimperman as an Executive Assistant for Ward 3, I provided services to constituents of Ward 3 and supported the development of legislative policies and special projects of the council office. Policy initiatives included: Banning use of trans fats in local establishments, banning smoking on city owned property, and urban agriculture overlay district. During this time I also coordinated the development of the Healthy Cleveland Initiative.

Mental Health Services

2008-10

As a family preservation counselor I provided in home, Trauma Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) to youth and families referred by the Department of Child and Family Services.

Community Work

Open Streets Cleveland

Co-Founder

2015-18

I co-developed a series of Open Streets transformative events that celebrate the unique assets of four Cleveland neighborhoods while advancing a cultural movement of sustainable transportation and health. These events reclaimed the roads as public space that can and should be used by people and provide a safe, fun space to try new things.

San Diego Community Garden

Garden Leader

2013-2016

Alongside members of my church, we resurrected a previous farm stand as a community garden and developed a structure for sustainability of the community garden.

Friends of Jefferson Park

Founder

2014-18

In response to violence in our local neighborhood park, I created the Friends of Jefferson park with neighbors to infuse positive activities and programming in the park. This resulted in broader community engagement and use of the park.

Service