Our Team
Jasmine Ward PhD, MPH, CHES
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Dr. Ward is a native of Chicago, Illinois but has made Arlington, Texas home. She is a proud graduate of Tuskegee University where she earned a BA in Psychology. She went on to receive an MPH in Health Behavior from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), and a PhD from UAB and the University of Alabama specializing in Health Education and Health Promotion. She is committed to building community and industry understanding of public health, increasing public health and equity priorities, advancing social justice to achieve health equity, and developing a diverse and highly competent pipeline of public health leaders. In addition to leading the BLiPH network, Dr. Ward supports various public health programs and organizations including serving as the President of the Black Caucus of Health Workers, a charter member of the Ethics Advisory Committee for Denton County (TX) Public Health Department, and the External Advisory Committee for the Graduate Public Health Program (GPHP) College of Veterinary Medicine at Tuskegee University.
Deirdre Speaks
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Deirdre has lived with HIV for over 20 years but is most passionate about her activism on eradicating stigma and ending the criminalization of people living with HIV. Deirdre Johnson is the Co-founder of Ending Criminalization of HIV and over-incarceration in Virginia (ECHO VA) coalition, a vast network of multiracial and gender-inclusive Virginians led by people living with HIV and their allies, fighting for freedom from stigma and injustice for all. Currently, Deirdre is the National Program and Strategic Planning Manager at Sero Project overseeing the AMP and Wellspring grant programs. She also serves as the State Lead for Positive Women's Network, USA, and is a graduate of their 2019 Policy Fellowship, the Sero Project Justice Institute (SPJI) alumni, a member of SisterLove, Inc. 2020 Leading Women’s Society, a U=U Plus Ambassador and has been featured as the top 100, 25 & 10 amazing people living with HIV by Plus magazine. Deirdre also hosts Pillow Talk with Deirdre Speaks, a weekly support group for people living with HIV that averages about 300+ years of experience participating.
Shadawn Mccants LPC-S, NCC
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Shadawn McCants is a Licensed Professional Counselor who has a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice and Psychology and a Master's degree in Counseling from the illustrious Prairie View A&M University. Shadawn is the owner and Clinical Director of Know and Live Counseling and Consulting, a private practice counseling agency in Houston, TX where she specializes in holistic wellness for women, adolescents, and couples. Shadawn McCants is a furious leader, healing practitioner, international activist, best-selling contributing author, model, and actress. In addition, she is the Co-Chair for the Texas Black Women's Health Initiative Houston chapter, CDC Ambassador for the Let's Stop HIV Together Initiative, I AM a Champion Ambassador with Thera Technologies, Recipient of POZ Top 100 Black Advocates, and a sought out public speaker and educator. While Shadawn has several pursuits that she is passionate about, her overall desire is to empower you to Know and Live. Until there is an End to the HIV Epidemic, she will be a catalyst to live BRAVELY and show up fully Positive and Positive!
Naomi Green MBA
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Naomi Green is a Black trans woman with an established history and reputation for advocating and serving trans people of color. She began her professional advocacy work as a Program Manager at Abounding Prosperity, Inc. in 2019, where she developed a holistic program for transgender women of color, “Transparency”, that included HIV prevention services, hormone replacement therapy, counseling services, support groups, name, and gender marker changes, and leadership development. She also developed a program for the people that adopted this holistic approach to HIV prevention. Currently, Naomi advocates through her work with organizations that provide funding by making sure that communities most in need, such as transgender people of color, are represented and receive prioritization in funding allocations. Her primary goal is to change one heart and one mind at a time in an effort to uplift and elevate BIPOC communities, especially those at the intersection of LGBTQ+, particularly transgender women of color.
Nancy Grayson PhD
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Nancy is an experienced Public Health professional with a focus on achieving health equity and reducing health disparities. She is a dedicated servant leader, community organizer, educator, lifelong learner, advocate for the underserved, and a programmatic innovator. Nancy is committed to collaborating with States and NGOs to design sustainable solutions to mitigate challenges to health and well-being for adversely affected populations by unjust systems. She particularly focused on solutions at the intersection of food injustice and health inequity. She prioritizes engaging available resources to dismantle existing systems and structures that continue to unjustly burden historically disadvantaged communities through transformational approaches that amplify the voice of communities
Kenya Grayson
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Kenya Grayson holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with minors in Human Resource Management and Marketing from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma. She serves as the Project Manager for the BGSR program. Prior to joining Black Ladies in Public Health, Kenya worked in international sales and spent her junior and senior college summers working at a maternity clinic in Nairobi, Kenya. As a project manager for the BGSR program, Kenya shares her human resource background by bringing additional skills to the table for Black Ladies in Public Health beyond the scope of the BGSR program. Kenya has a passion for women’s health and greatly values the BGSR program for its potential to impact HBCU/PBI young people as future leaders and advocates for Black women’s sexual health and health in general. Being a recent graduate, Kenya is able to connect with the BGSR student ambassadors more deeply, which enhances the richness of their experience in the BGSR program.
Monique McDonald
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Monique (Mo) McDonald is from North Carolina by way of Michigan and holds two bachelor's degrees, one in Public Health and the other in Business Administration from Tennessee State University. She has recently started her MPH/MBA program at The University of Texas. Mo currently works for the state of Texas Health and Human Services as a coordinator and has multiple contacts as a project manager within community health.
While in undergrad, Monique started her career in Public Health with an internship with Black Ladies in Public Health in January 2021 and has continued with the team as a project coordinator. She uses her experience in project management in health promotion and education material development, coordinating health-related community events, and working with corporate communication to support BLIPH and the BGSR program as a coordinator and peer mentor. Monique is passionate about advancing health equity, addressing health disparities, and incorporating social determinants of health into all aspects of the U.S. healthcare system.
Xiomara Francis
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Xiomara Francis earned her Bachelor of Science in Community Health Education from Howard University in Washington, DC. While there she had the opportunity to be an Intern with Morehouse College Project Imhotep conducting public health research. Throughout her undergraduate studies, she also developed both personal and professional skills which now allow her to be a leader in her community. After graduating from Howard, Xiomara worked in education as an Academic Advisor and Interim Program Coordinator with the University at Albany Science and Technology Entry Program. She also continued her studies in Public Health by earning a Certificate of Public Health from the State University of New York at Albany. She is now pursuing her MPH full-time at George Washington University Milken School of Public Health in Washington DC. Serving as a Communications Consultant for the Black Ladies in Public Health (BLiPH), allows Xiomara to maintain her commitment to building and promoting healthier communities for current and future generations.
Melyssa Martinez MPH
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Melyssa Walker Martinez was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences from Chapman University and recently graduated from San Jose State University in California with a Master of Public Health degree. She was a graduate intern with Black Ladies in Public Health during her program and now supports them as a coordinator and peer mentor. She works as a clinical operations supervisor for an in-home medical group specializing in primary medical and behavioral care for individuals with complex needs, focusing on addressing social determinants of health. Melyssa is also on the program committee for Getaway Growth, a nonprofit organization dedicated to removing barriers and facilitating access to international travel and unique educational opportunities for underserved youth. She utilizes her clinical and public health knowledge and experience with administrative management, systems thinking, and leadership to continue advancing health equity.
Katrina D. Brown ESQ
Katrina is the founder and CEO of Creative Mind Law, a nontraditional law firm designed to serve nontraditional clients. Creative Mind Law is a firm where creative minds, influencers, and entrepreneurs can be secure. She believes that people should have ownership of their creative content and business ideas. Katrina established Creative Mind Law to help entrepreneurs secure their legacy. While working with her team, she provides professional and reliable services that will assist clients in protecting their creative work. Her business model also includes a community education and outreach platform. In 2020, she launched the "The Marked and Secured Brand" business owner incubator program to educate the BIPOC community about intellectual property and business law.
Dr. Elizabeth Delancy
EJD&D Associates Dance The Healing Art
Elizabeth “Liz” Delancy, is the Director of Dance at Albany State University and the CEO of EJD & D Associates. She is a proud alumna of Hampton University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Media Arts, and Florida State University where she earned both a Master of Fine Arts in Dance, and a PhD in Humanities, as well as a McKnight Doctoral Fellowship. Liz is a former professional dancer and community workshop leader with Urban Bush Women (NY), is a published author, an arts collaborator, a community dance educator, a member of the Georgia Council for the Arts, and the community liaison for Health Literacy for Albany (GA) Project, which is an initiative funded by Health and Human Services and the Office of Minority Health.
Goody Howard
Ask Goody Pleasure as Activism Sensual Intelegence
Goody Howard, MSW, MPH is a master-level educator, speaker, and changemaker that has been connecting people to pleasure with confidence for 17 years. Her mantra is “Sexual Health is Public Health!” and she makes comprehensive sex ed accessible, intentional, and fun! While Goody’s pleasure-focused offerings are her most popular, she also walks the walk that DEI talks. She's collaborated with companies like Meta and colleges like SMU, Tulane, and UCLA to guide and educate sexuality and equity for educators, social workers, and health professionals. Goody Howard is a globally recognized, award-winning, sex ed superhero committed to shifting the culture forward on campuses, for companies, and in communities. Goody Howard is, literally, your favorite sex educator’s favorite sex educator! Keep up with the latest workshops, events, and information by visiting askgoody.com, joining the “Goody Gang” email list, and/or connecting on social media. She’s @askgoody everywhere likes can be clicked. Until then, Be Good or Be Good At It!
Kenneth Johnson, MHA
Kenneth Johnson is a native of Daytona Beach, Florida. Kenneth resided in Daytona Beach until his family moved to Columbus, GA. Kenneth attended Albany State University where his major was Healthcare Administration with infancies in Public Health. While attending Albany State University Kenneth was involved in many clubs and organizations such as: The Center for African-American Males, The ASU Marching Band, Student Government Association, The Management Club, Student Activities Advisory Board, Acquire The Fire Bible Study Fellowship, HIV/AIDS Peer Educator, BACCHUS and GAMMA Peer Educator, Resident Assistant, and Lead Intern for the Division of Student Life under Dr. Stephanie Harris-Jolly. After graduating from Albany State University Kenneth attended Columbus State University where he pursued his Masters in Public Administration-Healthcare. Kenneth has worked over two decades in Public Health with a focus on Community Health.
Selena Smith, MPA
Selena Smith is leading highly complex organizations effectively and efficiently, overall contributing to the organizational success. She has a passion for developing and fostering diversity-driven initiatives to motivate and lead teams of professionals to achieve their set goals.
Her success is proven through being fiscally responsible managing multi-million dollar budgets annually for over 17 years, allowing an institution and the people served to meet and go beyond the projected outcomes by more than 87%. Staff and student recruitment and retention were at an all-time high because of her effective leadership.
Jaye Wilson
Myelinated Moms
Jatesha “Jaye'' Madden-Wilson is a Black Woman, Mom, Social Entrepreneur, Social Impact Speaker, Maternal Health Advocate, Published Author and Self-sufficiency Coach. Starting as a small mommy meetup group, Melinated Moms quickly grew into a health equity-focused women empowerment organization that changed the way community engagement related to maternal health. As her organization has grown, she has incorporated the additional titles of published author, and she was recently appointed by the Governor of New Jersey as a Special State Officer for the New Jersey Maternal Health Quality Collaborative. Melinated Moms is a MOM Profit™ – a community-centered women empowerment social enterprise supporting moms and women to become better versions of themselves through advocacy, education, awareness and entrepreneurship. We provide support for our community by creating opportunities for moms and women across the Melinated Spectrum to connect, engage and empower each other with the right support behind them. We primarily work with nonprofit and philanthropic organizations to curate community engagement opportunities that learn from the communities that we support; creating trust and real-time change with the community members as the primary stakeholders and changemakers.
Black Ladies in Public Health
Black Ladies in Public Health Foundation is a network and resource for Black women and allies working, studying, and/or advocating for equity and Public Health. We are working to place communities of Black women at the center of innovation and transformation for public health careers and equitable outcomes.
Deidre Speaks
Since 2000, Deirdre has lived, learned, and experienced HIV on her own terms. She utilizes her sense of humor and a lively personality to openly share her medicine and medical adherence journey with the world using #MedsWillMakeMeDance. Deirdre is transparent about how she is not allowing HIV to have control of her, but fearlessly taking control of HIV.
ViiV Healthcare
Viiv Healthcare is the only pharmaceutical company solely focused on HIV, with a vision to end the HIV epidemic and make sure no one living with HIV and AIDS is left behind. Founded in 2009, ViiV Healthcare was created to take an innovative approach to the challenge of HIV — and we do.
ViiV partners with people living with HIV and their communities to work together toward delivering and supporting more effective solutions in care. The voice of the HIV community informs everything they do to improve the lives of all people living with HIV, with an emphasis on those who most often get left behind.
Tuskegee University
The Tuskegee University Center for Rural Health and Economic Equity has a focused mission of improving the social, physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of black and brown people living in America. Through the Center, Tuskegee University’s world-renowned research faculty will have the necessary support to provide ethical trans-disciplinary approaches to numerous disparities including cancer therapies, diabetes and cervical cancer prevention, violence prevention, mental health, nutrition deficiencies, and now HIV prevention and care!
Alicia E. DiggsPhD (abd), MPH, BSw
Alicia Diggs is a native of Philadelphia PA but resides in North Carolina. Alicia has a bachelor’s degree in Social Work, a master’s degree in Public Health and has completed doctoral courses for a Ph.D. in Public Health with a focus in Advocacy and Leadership. Alicia works for the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill Center for AIDS Research (UNC-CFAR) as the Manager for the Office of Community Engagement. Alicia is a local, national, and global speaker and subject matter expert for HIV and AIDS and a participant of “I’m Still Surviving” a living women’s history of HIV/AIDS. Alicia is also a published author of an autobiography entitled, Standing on My Healing: From Tainted to Chosen.
Zimora Evans
Zimora is a 30 year old trans woman who has been living with HIV for 12 years. She is a performer in the Dallas / Fort Worth area and has been performing for 12 years. She is also in the ballroom scene.
Zimora has been doing trans advocacy work for the last 4-5 years and loves helping people navigate this thing called life.
Connie L. Johnson
A native of Orangeburg, SC, Connie’s faith-based upbringing provided her with the solid foundation she needed to overcome her mother’s death and an HIV diagnosis as a young woman. As a spoken word artist and singer\songwriter, Connie has discovered the power of creativity as a means of healing. Her career as a community advocate began more than twenty years ago as a youth worker in various after-school programs. Her passion for youth and families has ultimately guided her academic pursuits.
Lisa Johnson-Lett
Lisa Johnson-Lett is a military veteran who served in the U.S. Army for a decade. She is a nationally recognized speaker who is a member of Toastmasters Speaker Bureau. Lisa is a champion for the HIV/AIDS community. She has dedicated her life as a HIV/AIDS with 28 years lived-experience- focusing on Black Women, Reproductive, Justice, and Trauma Informed (HIV-specific) Care. Lisa serves as a Peer Mentor who is a member of the Positive Leadership Council at AIDS Alabama, Positive Women Network (PWN)- AL Chapter member and on a larger scale, PWN Board of Directors. Lisa also sits on the Board of Directors for AIDS Drug Assistance Program Advocacy Associates (aaa+) and an engaged member of the Ryan White Planning Council for 340B. Lisa is on the National Council Advisory Board (NCAB) for RIBBON while assisting in the planning and development for HIV community members at the 1917 Clinic who services close to 4,000 patients statewide. Lisa is a product of selfless service as she aims to transcend lives for the HIV community.
Valencia Landry
Valencia Landry is a shining example of a woman living and thriving with HIV. Valencia is a leader and change agent in the Dallas- Fort Worth area who is respected by her peers. She is very committed to educating and raising awareness of HIV Prevention in her area. As a leader on the HIT Advisory Board, she and others created the Tarrant County HIV Roadmap: 8 Steps to Your First Appointment, and Thriving Guide, a guide for newly diagnosed and a resource book for consumers. She has presented at conferences on the local and national levels. Valencia inspires and empowers women.
Chauntey Sanders
Chauntey is a 43-year-old post-op trans woman, born and raised in the Hill District of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She attended CAPA high school for dance and later studied cosmetology at South Side high school. Chauntey came out as gay at the age of 14, but still struggled with her personal gender identity! She started her transition at the age of 18 and never looked back! She was incarcerated for 16 years and this is where she started her activism! She now has her own non-profit organization called: The Love Diamond Project! It’s new, but it’s making noise! Something fun about Chauntey is that she loves to sing and dance and crack jokes!
Helen Zimba
Helen is an international HIV and reproductive justice leader with extensive experience in the field of community health. Helen has dedicated much of her life advocating to end the stigma and isolation plaguing women living with HIV.