Our Mission:
Providing people with knowledge, skills and strategies to make social systems and policies more equitable for Black people and communities.
Our Vision is to organize individuals, families and the organizations that serve them, into communities empowered with skills to advance social equity and justice, with a focus on Black individuals and families.
Our Core Values
Human dignity
We are conscious of and actively support the basic right of every human being to have respect and to have their basic needs met.
Health/Healing
We promote the wisdom of mind and body soundness that flows from meeting spiritual, emotional and physical needs through self-awareness and preventive discipline.
Community
We foster depth and commitment as we engage people individually and in groups so that both independent creativity and interdependent cooperation are maximized.
Expressiveness/Joy
We create spaces that allow people and communities to express self openly, cooperatively in ways that and stimulate thoughts and imaginations. Through these spaces, we encourage open expression of ideas and opinions to bring conflicts into the open and resolve disagreements collaboratively.
Efficiency/Planning
We think about and design systems, acts and purposes in an efficient manner before implementing them.
Accountability/Ethics
The ability to enrich others by addressing their conduct in relationship to their value systems. This ability flows from one’s personal awareness of one’s own system of moral principles. This ability assumes the capacity to understand another’s level of ethical maturity.
Our Staff
Wilhelmenia Wilson, Executive Director
Wilhelmenia Wilson is a descendant of the African Diaspora. Her ancestors arrived, as enslaved people, at Somerset Plantation in Creswell, North Carolina on July 10, 1786 from West Africa on a ship chartered by Josiah Collins, the plantation owner. Leveraging human resilience, using education as a means to create personal and community agency and law/policy to dismantle state sanctioned oppression, her lineage has ascended in the United States through 6 generations. Wilhelmenia holds a BBA in Accounting with a concentration in Information Technology from Georgia State University and a Masters in Leadership from St. Mary's College of California She lives in Northern California and is the proud mother of two adult children.
Ayanna Davis, Deputy Executive Director, Program and Policy
As the fifth generation of her family to live in Berkeley and the East Bay, “Mama Ayanna” is passionate about our community’s health and wellbeing. Ayanna comes to HBF as a knowledgeable health and wellness practitioner with a background in radio journalism, activism, organizing leadership, birth justice advocacy, legal research, event and natural wellness program management. She received her Master of Science degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine from ACHHS in Oakland. She is an experienced small businessperson, a passionate community leader and activist with a history of educating, empowering and advocating for marginalized peoples and is dedicated to the work of eliminating health inequity. With experience as Internal and External Wellness Manager for Rafiki Coalition for Health and Wellness, Ms. Davis provides leadership through implementation, facilitation and supervision of HBF’s program activities as she works with collaborative partners and consultants; builds relationships with community organizations, key community members and stakeholders; and participates in coalition building.
Erin Alexander, Program Manager
Erin Alexander manages, plans and implements programming designed to bring health and racial equity to Bay Area Residents, and the Berkeley Community. She is passionate about strategizing on innovative solutions to Health Inequity, Climate Justice, and the Mental Health Crisis in Communities of Color, and how all three of these intersect. Her work as the Solar Industry Liaison for the Communities Renewable Act of 2013 in Washington, DC helped pass legislation that provides low-income communities access to the Solar production of energy on a community scale. She has an MBA with an emphasis on Social Impact and Innovation from Mills College. As a mother of three children, and grandmother of seven, Erin is working diligently to create a healthy planet for the future and to ensure that the language of the Earth is not forgotten.
Akilah Shaheed, Office & Communications Manager
Akilah is an author, birth-worker, and full-time mother, born and raised in the East Bay Area of Northern California. From a strong family of enslaved Africans and Indigenous Americans, she continues the family tradition in advocating for the rights of herself and others. Her career in community work began in the City of Hercules with the Teen/Youth Council at age fifteen. Using her voice for more opportunities for youth, she was an active organizer for events such as Clean Up Day, Multi-Cultural Festival, and the annual Mother’s Day Fashion Show.
Blossoming into a frequently requested workshop facilitator and motivational speaker she continues her journey of self-discovery. It is Akilah’s passion to share the importance of expression for populations that are systemically silenced. Utilizing her experiences with systemic racism and societal microaggressions, she intentionally shares information for healing modalities; with the intent of passing generational healing instead of trauma. Joining the Healthy Black Families, Inc family in December 2018, she can continue to be part of the change she seeks in the world through HEALing THY Black Families.
Kameka Goodwin, Program Coordinator - Sister Together Empowering Peers (STEP)
Kameka Goodwin is a born and raised Berkeley Girl to the heart. As a community Health worker and a preschool teacher, Kameka strives everyday to empower her community to thrive and live a full life. Having an entrepreneur as a mother has exposed Kameka to first hand community and self advocacy work. Preparing children for the future is something Kameka is passionate about with her family as well as her wonderful community.
Deborah Hailu, Program Coordinator - Telling Our Stories (TOS)
Deborah Hailu is centered in and fueled by ideology and work centering emancipation of the Black diaspora from systemic constructs which she knows to be the insidious masking and morphing of justified enslavement. Constantly seeking and co-creating spaces where “we are free from the gaze of the oppressor so that we can work for us, by us, on us”, she is non-compromising in her love of her people. She considers herself lucky to have been raised in the shadow of revolution abroad and to have been under the tutelage of revolutionary elders in the United States.
Her work at Healthy Black Families, Inc is one offshoot of liberation rooted work in which she engages. While laying the foundation for the Telling Our Stories program, she encapsulated her thoughts around the importance of the program with, “If we do not tell our truths ourselves, others will define our truths”.
Raheemah Nitoto, Program Coordinator - Thirsty 4 Change (T4C!)
Raheemah Nitoto has devoted her life researching human wellness. She is a Holistic Health and Nutrition Educator with a B.A., in biology with an emphasis in human biochemistry from Mills College. She has also studied at La Casa de Saude in Capim Grosso, Brazil; a nonprofit clinic focused on nutrition, natural healing and herbal remedies and certification in naturopathy and holistic nutrition at the Global College of Natural Health. It’s Raheemah’s dream to help people decrease the incidences of chronic disease in their lives and communities through nutrition and other natural means. For eight years she has been honored to work in partnership with Alameda County Nutrition Services and Allen Temple Baptist Church, serving our East Oakland community.
Our Board
Suzette Chaumette, President
Suzette is a Community Health Scientist with 20+ years international and domestic patient engagement experience for clinical and community settings including for The Permanente Medical Group, Louisiana Office of Public Health, U.C. San Francisco, U.C. Berkeley, and Zamni Lasante (Partners in Health, Haiti). Her expertise lie in patient engagement, developing multilingual patient-facing content, health and wellness communications, and workshop facilitation.
Suzette holds a B.A. in Biological Sciences from Holy Names University and an MPH in Community Health Sciences from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine and is a Cultural Humility facilitator.
The founder of Chaumette Consulting, Suzette believes in strong collaboration & consults with public and private institutions to develop programs that support effective, efficient partnerships between client and provider.
An Oakland, CA native, Suzette enjoys much of what the Bay Area offers - farmers markets, hiking, gardening, music and dance. She and her husband have two young children and are both supporters of the arts.
Sitar Moody Scott, Vice President
Sitar Mody Scott is a mental health professional affiliated with Sankofa Holistic Counseling Services Inc.
Dr. Vicki Alexander, Founder, Emeritus
Dr. Vicki Alexander is an influential leader at the local, state, and national level. As the Co-Chair on the Measure D Campaign for Soda Tax in 2014 she continues to inspire and advocate for health to ensure her children and grandchildren will live in a healthier society. A retired Physician, Obstetrician and Gynecologist and Public Health. Retired MCAH Director and Health Officer, for the City of Berkeley. Founder of Healthy Black Families Inc. Lifetime commitment to health equity and social justice. Board of Director, for the Praxis Project and previously on the Board of Directors for the California Black Health Network.
Troy White, Treasurer
Troy has a Master of Science Degree in Financial Analysis & Investment Management, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management and a U.C. Berkeley Professional Certificate in Personal Financial Planning. He is also a Certified Treasury Professional with extensive experience and knowledge in educating customers on Investments, Securities Settlement Issues, Mortgage Warehouse Lines, Mortgage-Backed Securities, DTC, FED delivery, P&I Payments, Corporate Actions and other operations specific issues. He has held Series 7, 63, 65, Life & Health, CA Real Estate agent, Notary and NMLS licenses.
Troy creates investment strategies for the firm's clients with a focus on Wealth Management and Personal Financial Planning. Before entering the Financial Services Industry, he spent many years in the Arts and Entertainment industry. Now he expresses his creativity through business and finance & by teaching financial literacy and entrepreneurship. Through tax planning he is able to help clients receive more and pay less as he prepares their tax returns.
Tashae Crossland, Secretary
Tashae Crossland is a native of Oakland, CA. She graduated from California State University Fresno with a Bachelors of Science in Health Science with an option in Community Health and Argosy University of the San Francisco Bay Area with a Masters in Public Health (MPH). She loves to read, do research, and teach. She is Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) credentialed through the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC). She has a strong passion for educating the community on disease prevention as a resident Health Educator with the American Heart Association. When she’s not working she loves to bowl and spend time with her Godchildren, niece, and nephew.
Codany Holiday, Board Member
Codany Holiday is an acclaimed vocalist and performing artist. As a youngster growing up in the Bayview Hunter’s Point area of San Francisco, Holiday’s love for music provided him with a vehicle to explore his inner self. This self-knowledge led him to discover a deep love and appreciation for self that has provided him a grounding that has supported and continues to sustain and give focus and direction to his life. Adept in recording, writing, and music production, Holiday has honed a talent that has enabled him to travel the world and share his soul-stirring vocal talent to enlighten and inspire hundreds of thousands.
As a young man, Holiday was a single parent; having gained custody of his daughter when she was very young. He considered it his primary and most valued responsibility to create a whole and grounded woman. She has now become a mother and, in so doing, extended his parenting spectrum as a grandfather to her two girls.
Perceiving the needs of children and young people in our communities, Holiday is passionate about guiding young people to experience a level of self-knowledge and self-love that he discovered as a young man in hopes that it will provide a grounding force of power for their lives as well. To begin addressing this calling, Holiday recently registered as a volunteer at the Alameda county probation department and is actively creating other avenues to be of service.
Rosalind Welch, Board Member
A results-oriented self-starter, Rosalind has successfully developed and executed marketing communication campaigns that increase voice, audience and revenues. In the past, she has been a vital part of organizations such as Glide Foundation, East Bay SPCA, Office of the President-University of California, Kaiser Permanente, YWCA of San Francisco. Currently, Rosalind holds the position of Senior Director of Marketing & Development at RCF Connects (Richmond Community Foundation), while maintaining her position as founder of a marketing agency (Sienna Communications). Ms. Welch regularly consults with small business clients assisting up-and-coming businesses with message development, social media strategy and reputation management.
Brian Sullivan, Board Member
Brian is currently the Director of Technology KIPP Public Schools Northern California. Brian is an IT professional with over 18 years of experience. He has managed a wide array of diverse technical networks. Throughout his career, he has provided technology solutions for over 40,000 students and helped to launch the technical infrastructure of over 50 Schools. Perhaps one of his proudest accomplishments was connecting four technically underserved Memphis schools directly to a California Data Center, nearly quadrupling their internet speed and server performance. He most recently joined KIPP Northern California as their Director of Technology. A proud SF Native, and UC Berkeley Alumnus, Brian is passionate about technology and its potential applications to improve the lives of African Americans. Specializing in Cyber Security, Data Center Design, and Data Science and Visualization, Brian hopes to help Healthy Balck Families adopt a renewed interest in utilizing Data best practices to analyze, improve and ultimately enrich the lives of our families. He Firmly believes, Data is power.
Shawn Granberry, Board Member
Mr. Granberry is founder and CEO of HipHopTV, LLC and has worked in the entertainment industry for over 25 years. He started his career in the A&R department at Tuff-E-Nuff Productions. 2-Tuff-E-Nuff productions worked with such artist and companies as Toni, Tone', Tony, En Vogue, Madonna, Club Nouveau,Con Funk Shun,Timex Social Club, Regina Belle, Alexander O'neal, BET Networks, ABC and Fox Networks. In high school Mr. Granberry also teamed up with Shakir Stewart to produce some of the biggest parties Oakland, CA has ever seen for high school students. While attending UC Berkeley, he continued his entertainment career by creating several very popular club nights and concerts in the San Francisco Bay Area. After college, Mr. Granberry worked as a close confidant to Shakir Stewart and also continued to produce events like, Def Jam's, "How To Find A Mega Star". Mr. Granberry also worked very close with famed movie producer, Robert Watts at Transformer Entertainment. While working with Stewart and Watts, Mr. Granberry began researching the new broadcast model now known as Over the Top broadcasting (OTT). After returning to UC Berkeley to fully study this model, Mr. Granberry founded Watch Now Networks, Inc. Mr. Granberry's passion in working with inner city youth so he also founded The Scholar Athlete Union and Bears Youth Basketball with help from childhood friend Jason Kidd and works very close with Stanford and UC Berkeley faculty to help young people achieve a college education and survive the dangers of the streets.
Cynthia Joseph, Board Member
Cynthia Joseph J.D., is the Vice President and chief Administrative Officer for Whittier College. She has successfully developed and implemented new programs, policies, and procedures that have increased employee morale and decreased enterprise risk, company liability, and legal exposure. She oversees the Human Resources, Campus Security, Facilities, auxiliary contracts, legal matters, and risk management for the College. She is responsible for implementing new strategic programs that support the College’s mission and vision including expanding employee development and training, succession planning, and programs that support diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Cynthia has a longstanding career in higher education and vocational academic program development and management, as well as in Human Resources management.
Cynthia is also an accomplished Grammy nominated Jazz vocalist with several jazz albums and compilations. She has sung studio and background vocals for various artists including Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Tramaine Hawkins, and Andraé Crouch. She also contributed lyrics for the movie soundtrack for Down In The Delta.
Cynthia has been an artist manager and concert promoter, managing various artists, and negotiating talent for the San Jose Blues Festival, the Monterey Jazz, and the Monterey Blues Festival.
Ms. Joseph is also an author and screenwriter, who has written and co-produced a soon-to-be-released Feature Film, entitled “Caught Between”.
Healthy Black Families’ History
“Data coming out of the City of Berkeley’s 1999 Health Status Report found that Berkeley had the worst Black-White low birth weight disparity of any city of comparable size in the nation.”
“The doors to the Black Infant Health (BIH) program opened in 2001 with funding from the State of California.”
“In 2002, the Berkeley Health Division established a Community Advisory Board (CAB) for BIH to provide community-led direction, evaluation, advocacy and on-going support.”
“That same year, the Sisters Together Empowering Peers (STEP) program was inaugurated as part of BIH.”
“Less than ten years later, the Mayor of Berkeley issued a proclamation commending BIH for its work in lowering the Black-White low birth rate ratio from 4:1 to 2:1.
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“When the CAB was disbanded in 2013, its members founded Healthy Black Families, Inc. (HBF) as a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization independent of the Berkeley Health Division.”
“In 2013, the STEP program officially made its permanent home with Healthy Black Families, Inc.
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