Communities That Care Coalition
Promoting health, well-being, and equity among young people in Franklin County and the North Quabbin
Tsion Firew had just finished running a first aid training when she glanced down at her phone — and then looked up confused.
The message she saw was about a colleague Firew had worked with a few days earlier in the emergency department at King Faisal Hospital in Kigali, Rwanda. “She’s very young, full of energy, one of the smartest nurses I’ve ever worked with,” recalls Firew, who is chair of emergency medicine at Africa Health Sciences University in Rwanda.
Robert Pierce has been practicing urban agriculture in Wisconsin for nearly four decades. During that time, he began growing
and providing organic produce to local communities on Madison’s south side.
In the last few decades, Pierce founded the essential Half-the-Forty-Acres Farm, which he still directs and operates. He has
also continued to spread the benefits of his expertise as the market manager of South Madison Farmers in addition to his
position as executive director of Neighborhood Food Solutions. Pierce said his desire to grow and distribute organic produce
was cultivated by not only his personal health needs, but out of recognition that
certain communities often lack access to affordable, natural, high-quality food.
He touched upon that in the following interview with Safe Wisconsin Produce
(SWP):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kmele_Foster
Kmele Foster (born October 31, 1980) is an American telecommunications entrepreneur and political commentator.[1][2] He is co-founder and vice president of the telecommunications consultancy TelcoIQ[3] and is currently a co-host of the podcast The Fifth Column.[4]
Lubiana is a a female singer, songwriter, and musician. Originally from Belgian, Lubiana’s roots are in Cameroon, in Central Africa. She has become one of the few women playing a male traditional music instrument, Kora.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Reffkin
Robert L. Reffkin[1] is an American entrepreneur who co-founded the online real estate brokerage Compass, Inc. and serves as the company’s CEO.[2]
SHOPPE BLACK is a Philadelphia-based multimedia company committed to amplifying the voices of Black entrepreneurs and business leaders across the globe.
Founded in 2015 by husband-and-wife team Tony O. Lawson and Shantrelle P. Lewis, SHOPPE BLACK was created to connect Black-owned businesses with the customers, strategic partners, and resources they need to grow and thrive.
NBA forward Tobias Harris is making a different kind of impact in Detroit—this time, off the court.
The Tobias Harris Homeownership Initiative (THHI), powered by Homium, is growing fast. It recently secured a major investment from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA).
This new funding allows the program to offer up to 40% in down payment assistance to more Detroiters. The tool? An innovative shared appreciation mortgage.
Trina Bediako is the CEO of NHB Holdings LLC and its subsidiaries. Trina is the second-generation owner of the Company. Her father, Tim Brown, serves as the Chairman. The Brown family has owned the business for over 25 years and Trina is committed to its success and legacy. During her 19 years as an NHB employee, Trina has served in several corporate positions, including Director of Human Resources, Vice President of Sales, President, and now CEO. In her current position, she is the corporate leader responsible for managing full alignment with the Company’s primary customers’ Sales, Quality and Operations programs and initiatives. She has led the management team through record-breaking growth and earnings. Trina exemplifies strong leadership, decisive decision making, strategic thinking and successful achievement of cost savings, operational goals, and profitable growth.
https://www.npr.org/2019/09/25/763604571/ari-lennox-tiny-desk-concert
When Ari Lennox entered NPR Headquarters to perform at the Tiny Desk, we soon learned she was a little under the weather. Draped in a long, leopard-print coat, she greeted the band and approached the desk. I asked her if she was in any shape to sing, and she assured me she was. “Oh, I’m fine and I’m ready!” With that, she slipped off her coat, took her place behind the desk and began her warm up.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ari_Lennox
Courtney Shanade Salter (born March 26, 1991), known professionally as Ari Lennox, is an American R&B singer-songwriter from Washington, D.C. She signed with J. Cole‘s Dreamville Records, an imprint of Interscope Records as the former label’s first female artist in 2015. She started gaining recognition after the release of her second extended play (EP) and major label debut, Pho (2016). That same year, she made an uncredited guest appearance on Cole’s song “Change“. Her first full-length album, Shea Butter Baby (2019), was met with critical praise and commercial response.
Kyle P. Walker is a critically acclaimed pianist dedicated to using music as a catalyst for social change. His artistry bridges the traditions of Western classical repertoire with the voices of historically neglected composers from around the globe, creating performances that are both deeply expressive and socially resonant. Known for his commanding technique and compelling stage presence, Walker has appeared as a soloist at venues including Carnegie Hall, the Apollo Theater, Lincoln Center, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art. He has also performed as a featured soloist with orchestras across the United States. In 2023, he made history at the SXSW Music Festival in Austin, TX, becoming one of the first classical pianists ever presented on its stage. His international appearances include Switzerland’s Tibor Varga Festival and Australia’s Tantanoola Caves.