Alia has dedicated her career to deep listening, bridging, coalition building, and collective action to build equitable communities. She has over 15 years of experience advancing health, social, and racial justice in non-profit, government, and higher education. She brings a systems approach that centers the needs of, and builds power for those most impacted by inequities and has shaped notable health and racial equity efforts in her previous roles at Public Health Madison-Dane County and the Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness. Alia is also a racial justice consultant with the nINA Collective and an Instructor in the UW School of Medicine and Public Health. She leads with the values of joy, growth, and love as an antidote to injustice.

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Ariel Robbins is the Project Manager for the Dane County Health Council Care Coordination project working to eliminate black-white racial disparities in low birthweight and infant mortality through a county-wide technology-based care coordination system. She has worked in the nonprofit sector for the past 8 years on projects with varying focus areas including access to healthcare, health equity and health education. She received her Bachelors of Science in Community Health from the University of Texas at San Antonio and her Masters of Public Health from the University of North Texas Health Science Center. In her downtime she enjoys volunteer work and is especially proud to mentor black youth who are experiencing adverse homelife situations.

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Betty Banks was born and raised in Madison and lived in Greenbush until she was 5 years old, when her grandparents bought two houses on East Dayton Street. After graduating from Central High School, Betty embarked on a career dedicated to supporting families and empowering youth.

As co-founder of Club TNT (Today Not Tomorrow), an initiative she co-founded with the late Gaddi Ben Dan and Jeanne Erickson to empower people of color to share their own stories and report on community events, Banks spent decades helping countless youth build self-esteem and embrace positive lifestyles. In 1984, Banks with Gaddi Ben Dan, co-founded the Wisconsin Free Press, a community-based publication that pioneered the first-ever Black-owned newspaper in Madison to solicit and receive mainstream advertising. The duo also co-founded The Ambassador Times Journal, The Madison Times (before handing the keys to Betty Franklin-Hammonds), and VOICES newspaper.

Banks’ passion for preserving history led to the creation of ‘Stony The Road,’ a project celebrating African-American pioneers in Madison.Banks founded Project Babies with Erickson, which focuses on empowering families to take proactive roles in their children’s health and development. Overall, Banks has been involved in multiple endeavors and projects that support and strengthen families and inspire youth to be the best that they can be.

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Carola Gaines has dedicated over 31 years to advocating for Medicaid and SSI families through her work with Quartz and UW Health. As Community Liaison Manager for Quartz, she supported nearly 45,000 BadgerCare Plus members, developing innovative programs to improve healthcare access, including home visits, OB transportation, and the Moms/Baby Gift Bag project.Carola also serves as a Community Research Associate for UW-Madison’s Community Academic Aging Research Network, focusing on addressing health disparities in the African American/Black community. A UW-Madison alumna with a degree in Journalism/Communications, she also pursued graduate studies at the School of Social Work.

Deeply committed to community service, Carola has held leadership roles with Mt. Zion Baptist Church and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She serves on several boards, including The Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness and The Rainbow Project. Her contributions have earned her numerous awards, including the YWCA Woman of Distinction, United Way’s Mike McKinney Award, and the 2024 Inaugural Quartz Community Service Award.

Recently retired, Carola now lives in Texas with her husband of 43 years, Arnold “Clyde” Gaines. She is a proud mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, and sister, continuing her legacy of service and advocacy.

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.

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Donna Miller is the Cook County Commissioner of the 6th District, serving her second term. She is the Chair of the Asset Management, Contract Compliance, and Veterans Committees, the Vice Chair of the Workforce, Housing, and Community Development Committee, and the Chair of the Forest Preserve District Capital Development & Ecological Restoration and Contract Compliance Committees.  She has a background as a healthcare consultant working with leading pharmaceutical and biotech companies and tremendous experience in training, and development, bringing together collaborations for new businesses with healthcare companies. Donna has been involved with community, civic, and political activities throughout her life, including an internship on Capitol Hill, Red Cross volunteer, and working in communities disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS and Sickle Cell. Notably, she was instrumental in bringing together government providers and advocate stakeholders to include Cystic Fibrosis in newborn screening in Illinois. She has also been active in hosting Community Blood Drives throughout the State of Illinois and has been a strong vocal advocate for Maternal Morbidity.Commissioner Miller was also presented with a Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award from President Joe Biden for her work in medical equity and awareness. Wife to the Honorable Dr. David E. Miller and mother to two sons, Donna is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated – Lambda Tau Omega Chapter.

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Ayanna Robinson, MPH, PhD is a public health researcher with over 15 years of experience in leading and supporting research and program evaluation across a variety of topics, including maternal and child health, HIV/AIDS, and overdose prevention. Currently, Dr. Robinson is the Director of Research and Evaluation at Black Mamas Matter Alliance. She received her PhD in Health Promotion and Behavior from the University of Georgia and a graduate certificate in Interdisciplinary Qualitative Studies. Dr. Robinson is also the founder of Black Girls’ Breastfeeding Club, LLC and bEarth Work

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Ken Loving, MD became the Chief Executive Officer of Access Community Health Centers in 2010, previously serving in the roles of Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Loving has been a practicing family physician at Access since 1996 and is bilingual in English and Spanish.  He received his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Illinois, College of Medicine at Chicago, and completed his residency training in family medicine at Cook County Hospital Family Practice Residency program.  Dr. Loving completed the University of Wisconsin Physician Leadership Development Program in 2009.  As CEO, Dr. Loving develops and implements Access’ strategic goals and objectives and gives direction and leadership toward the achievement of Access’ philosophy, mission, and goals, along with ensuring an environment where Access providers and staff provide high quality healthcare services.

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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.

Dr. Sayida Peprah-Wilson is both a Psychologist and Doula, with over 15 years of experience in both fields. She specializes in multicultural psychology, trauma, suicide prevention, and perinatal mental health, and has practiced in community-based, in-home, psychiatric hospital, and prison settings. An advocate for human rights in childbirth, she is a member of the Black Women Birthing Justice Collective and a Movement Partner with the Black Mamas Matter Alliance, promoting research, education, and community-based services to positively transform the birthing experiences of Black families. Dr. Sayida is the Founder and Executive Director of the non-profit organization Diversity Uplifts, Inc., with a mission to improve the well-being of women, birthing people, children, and families and increase cultural competence and humility among the providers who serve them. She also currently serves as a member of the California Doula Medi-Cal (Medicaid) Implementation Co-Design Team and Workgroup.

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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.

Dr. Veronica Gillispie-Bell is a Board-Certified Obstetrician & Gynecologist and an Associate Professor at Ochsner Health in New Orleans, Louisiana. She is the Senior Site Lead and Section Head of Women’s Services at Ochsner Kenner, the Director of Quality for Women’s Services across the Ochsner Health System, and the Medical Director of the Minimally Invasive Center for the Treatment of Uterine Fibroids. Dr. Gillispie-Bell earned her medical degree from Meharry Medical College, completed her residency at Ochsner Health, and holds a Master of Applied Science in Patient Safety and Healthcare Quality from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She also holds certification in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University. Known nationally for her expertise in managing heavy menstrual bleeding due to fibroids, she is highly skilled in advanced laparoscopic and robotic-assisted surgeries in addition to her obstetric care. As Medical Director of the Louisiana Perinatal Quality Collaborative and the Pregnancy Associated Mortality Review for the Louisiana Department of Health, Dr. Gillispie-Bell is a leading force in addressing maternal health disparities. Her work focuses on improving birth outcomes and eliminating racial disparities in maternal health across Louisiana. Dr. Gillispie-Bell has testified before Congress, led congressional briefings, and was an invited speaker at The White House Maternal Health Day of Action, where she advocated for policy improvements in maternal care and outcomes. Dr. Gillispie-Bell has held numerous leadership roles on both local and national platforms, and her clinical and advocacy work has earned her wide recognition. She has been quoted in national outlets such as USA Today and The New York Times and has appeared as a featured speaker at the Essence Festival, on Good Morning America, CNBC, Scripps News, and the 1619 Project Docuseries.

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Dr. Zsanai Epps is the Senior Director of Reproductive Justice Initiatives for the Black Women’s Health Imperative. She leads national programming at the intersection of policy advocacy and leadership development. Her focus areas include sexual and reproductive health, rights and justice, chronic disease prevention, and mental and emotional wellness. Zsanai received her Bachelor of Science in Health Education, Master of Public Health, and Doctor of Public Health degrees from Morgan State University. She is also an adjunct faculty member at Morgan State University in the Department of Public and Allied Health.

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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.

Jamarah Amani is a Black, Femme, and Queer community midwife whose mission is to do her part to build a movement for birth justice. Jamarah is the architect of the Black Midwives Model of Care and the Birth Justice Bill of Rights. She is also the founder of Black Midwives Day, a nationally recognized holiday.

Jamarah is the Executive Director of Southern Birth Justice Network, co-founder of the National Black Midwives Alliance, and a founding member of the Queer and Transgender Midwives Association. Jamarah currently leads Mobile Midwife Clinic in Miami, providing midwifery and doula care to South Florida families in a converted ambulance; and Miami Birth Justice Initiative, transforming hospitals to center birth justice. An alumni of Echoing Ida Collective, Jamarah writes op-eds for media and has been featured in many publications such as the Miami Herald and the Washington Post. Jamarah has spoken publicly on birth justice around the world, including Congress and the United Nations. She is currently producing a documentary entitled “Legacy Power Voice: Movements in Black Midwifery.”Her recent awards include the TrailBlazer Award from the City of Miami (2019), the Birthworker Award from Black Mamas Matter Alliance (2022), and the Community Champion Award from the Miami Foundation (2024).

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James Hogue, a native of Detroit, Michigan, comes from a large family of twelve siblings. His early exposure to a bustling household environment, along with being an uncle to over 20 nieces and nephews, naturally steered him towards a career in birth education. James is a trained birth doula, having completed his training through the National Black Doulas Association. His journey into birth education became deeply personal and a clear calling during his wife's challenging pregnancy with their son, which involved complications like oligohydramnios and preeclampsia. The situation highlighted the critical importance of adequate prenatal education and preparation for unexpected challenges. Motivated by his experiences, James founded the nonprofit organization "Fathers Assisting Mothers." His mission through this initiative is to educate and empower expectant fathers, equipping them to provide essential support to the mothers in their lives during this pivotal time.

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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 15th 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 Greater Madison and across Wisconsin to intentionally address and improve Black women’s health.

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.

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.

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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.

Tamara N. Thompson is a Black femme activist, Lactation Counselor, Doula, Childbirth Educator, and Student Midwife. Tamara is a founding member of the Wisconsin Doulas of Color Collective, co-founder of Harambee Village, a community based-doula organization, and Maroon Calabash, a Black Womyn led Reproductive Justice organization. Tamara’s activism work includes the intersections of pregnancy and racism, incarceration, trauma, gender identity, infant loss, trauma, economic status, and access to human milk.

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