Community Health Scholars Program Cohort - 2023

Ayh'Anna Dennis-Nelson is currently employed at Detroit Parent Network, Healthy Family Navigator. She holds a BS in Criminal Justice. She is currently working on outreach and engagement community projects for Talking is Teaching programs and DPN enrolls child care subsidies. Volunteering and Active member of Mothering Justice organization.

Rosalind Sample is a dedicated and driven individual who is passionate about making a positive impact in her community. Living in Detroit, Michigan, she holds multiple roles that allow her to utilize her talents and expertise to bring people together and create lasting change. As the Community Outreach Coordinator for Pink Fund, Rosalind works to foster relationships and provide valuable resources across the US to Cancer Centers, social workers, patient navigators and individuals in need of financial support due to breast cancer diagnosis. Through educational programs, and personal connections, Rosalind has made it her mission to give back to those who are fighting for their lives. Simultaneously, Rosalind serves as a Worship Director at Evanswood Community Church. In this role, she orchestrates meaningful and engaging worship experiences that inspire and uplift congregants. By guiding the congregation towards spiritual growth and unity, she contributes to creating a close-knit community of faith that supports one another in their journeys. Rosalind's artistic talents are also put to great use with Creative Peace Circle, an organization that promotes healing through the power of art. As the founder and artist with her art studio, she designs interactive workshops centered on self-expression and therapeutic creativity. By offering these artistic outlets, Rosalind helps individuals in the Detroit metro area cope with life's challenges while fostering deeper connections within the community. Through active involvement in these three remarkable organizations, Rosalind Sample demonstrates her deep commitment to strengthening her community and helping others thrive in harmony. Each role effectively weaves together her passions for outreach, worship, and the arts while enabling her to give back in meaningful ways that truly make a difference.

Charlotte Burkes is from Detroit, Michigan and currently works as the Community Engagement and Education Lead at Detroiters Working for Environmental Justice. In her role, she develops outreach and education programs that increase awareness about environmental injustice and how it impacts health and well-being. Charlotte is a certified Community Health Worker who develops, leads and implements individual and group health education and resource coordination efforts for families dealing with environmental health issues in Detroit. Her main focuses include asthma and lead. When Charlotte is not working, she enjoys shopping, cooking, and hanging out with her husband and kids.

D’Anyai Nuba Carpenter is the Health & Wellness Program Manager at Second Ebenezer Church Help Hub. She is entrusted with designing customized programming to meet the needs of funders and participants at the SEC Help Hub. Ms. Carpenter is asked to rally volunteers and participants who both will benefit from engagement within the Help Hub. She is also entrusted with finding viable resources, community organizations and agencies to support the ongoing efforts of the SEC Help Hub.

Cynthia Gutierrez Navaro is from Southwest Detroit. She received her Bachelor's of Science in Biology from the University of Detroit Mercy. Currently, Cynthia is a Community Organizer at Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation.

Philesha Gough, M.S. Instructional Technology, is a Health Minister, Community Health Worker, Diabetes Prevention Program Lifestyle Coach and Advance Care Planning Facilitator who is committed to and passionate about promoting health and wellness to God's people from cradle to grave.

Kenyetta A. Cole is president of I-Cole Solutions, a provider of specialized technology solutions, particularly for the healthcare and non-profit sectors. She is a technically minded, data-driven, and innovative professional with over 15 years of experience in technical systems, operations management, and project implementation as well as change management within the healthcare industry. Ms. Cole holds expertise in implementing electronic health records, managing data security, systems integration, leading teams to achieve organizational goals, and maintaining compliance with regulatory standards. She is also adept at introducing and leveraging technology to help increase the use of healthcare information technology to improve, direct, execute, and monitor quality metrics to provide value driven care. Ms. Cole’s experience includes various technology, business development, and management consulting roles with organizations such as Kaiser Permanente, Ascension Healthcare, Spectrum Health, and Detroit Medical Center. She has contributed to development and execution of complex Hepatitis C (HCV) pathway to enhance screening, diagnosis, and triage to treatment for coordinating timely care which led to the organizations receiving the 2018 James A. Vohs Regional Quality Award for HCV pathway. She has also designed and implemented functionality providing the ability to capture point of care (POC) medical images from non-diagnostic image modalities that allows for the integration of those images with the existing digital imaging infrastructure. Ms. Cole has a passion to develop solutions that will end the “digital divide.” Thus, ensuring that underserved communities will no longer be negatively impacted by the lack of access to technology, or reliable internet coverage and gain access to quality health care. Always willing to give, Ms. Cole serves as a community advocate. She is a Life Member of the National Council of Negro Women, Inc (NCNW) and is a member of NCNW National Membership Committee. Currently, she serves as the President of the National Council of Negro Women, Inc. – Detroit Section. In this role, she increased the presence and awareness of NCNW’s mission by forging partnerships with organizations such as Karmanos Cancer Institute, University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center, American Cancer Society – Michigan, and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. She is also an active member of the following NCNW affiliates: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc and Eta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Ms. Cole earned a master’s degree in medical informatics from Northwestern University, and a bachelor’s degree in computer information systems from Davenport University.

Karen Solomon Edwards is a native Detroiter, retired public health administrator, and kidney transplant recipient. Serves as a consumer advisor, patient advocate, mentor, and kidney ambassador. Currently, a vice-lead for the National Kidney Foundation’s Region V Kidney Action Coalition, which serves the States of Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, and Michigan. Serves as a community partner of Karmanos Cancer Institute’s Office of Cancer Health Equity and Community Engagement (OCHECE)’s Oakland County Cancer Action Council, a member of the African American Resilience in Surviving Cancer (ARISE) Cancer Action Council, and the COVID-19 Council. Karen also serves as a consumer advocate and board member of Strive Health, LLC for the States of Michigan and Texas. Most recently, she is concluding a NKF Scientific Program Initiative on Improving Vaccination in Chronic Kidney Disease. Interests include, reading, writing, and traveling. She is a member of the Lions Club, Toastmasters, Gamma Phi Delta Sorority, Incorporated, and approaching her 50th year as a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated in 2024. She is also eagerly anticipating celebrating her 50th high school graduation this summer, August 2023 from Cass Technical High School. Notably, her greatest passion is being with her Hana Nicole, granddaughter who is her mentor. She pushed, praised, and prayed for her Nana through her most turbulent times during her kidney journey.

Dell Stubblefield, Community Engagement Specialist, has been with HOPE Village Revitalization since its inception. Dell is a resident of the HOPE Village community in Detroit and a senior advocate; she also has a special interest in addressing environmental issues that can impact the community in a negative manner. Dell is part of the community gardening movement in HOPE Village, working alongside seniors at the Village of Oakman Manor and an advisory board member with the Center for Urban Responses to Environmental Stressors (CURES) at Wayne State. In addition, Stubblefield worked on the Citizenship for Health Program with the WSU College of Liberal Arts and Sciences History Professor Marc Kruman and Social Work Professor Emeritus Joanne Sobeck. The Citizenship for Health Program is a collaboration between Focus:HOPE's Urban Learning and Leadership Collaborative (ULLC), and WSU's Center for the Study of Citizenship, School of Social Work, and Integrative Biosciences Initiative to promote citizen empowerment and control over health disparities within communities.

Nealmetria Loper is a certified Community Health Worker in the state of Michigan and sits on numerous councils and advisory boards around health inequity and disparities in her community. Nealmetria is the owner and CEO of An Angel Is Here a nonprofit in Detroit that gives training, resources, support, and necessary items to pregnant moms and moms with children up to age 12 that are needed for health. Ms. Loper also serves as a Nutrition Assistant and advisory member of Michigan Feeding Families, a steering committee member with the Early Childhood Investment Corporation and community consultant at Wayne metro, among many other community roles.

Amanda Paige is the Director of Programs at the Bailey Park Neighborhood Development Corporation.

Aida-Kai Anderson is a social worker, by trade, and has worked in the community since 1997 providing families (children and parents) with support and resources. Aida-Kai Anderson is involved with the Detroit #1 Kiwanis Club as a chapter editor and board member, Tyre Chapter #39 Order of the Eastern Star and Grace Community Church. Anderson is an alumni of the Masters of Social Work program at the Wayne State University School of Social Work.