DOA of Action - Final Program

Sister to Sister International's Day of Recognition, Education & Action 2024 Highlighting STSI's 4 Pillars!

MORNING SESSION Asha Castleberry-Hernandez National Security Expert

AFTERNOON SESSION “Fire Side Chat” Dr. Uché Blackstock NY Times Best Seller

Saturday 4/20/24

10AM - 4PM Grinton I. Will Public Library 1500 Central Park Ave | Yonkers, NY 10710

SPONSORS:

www.s2si.org

MEDIA SPONSORS:

CHERYL BRANNAN

Sister to Sister International (STSI) Founder and CEO

Greetings and welcome to Sister to Sister International’s (STSI’S) Fourth Annual Day of Recognition, Education and Action.

This event is a testament to the power of unity and collective effort, offering updates on STSI’s four pillars and workgroups, and building upon the insights from our "Still I Rise: Status of Black Women and Girls in Westchester County" report.

It's an honor to have distinguished guest speakers like Asha Castleberry-Hernandez and Dr. Uche Blackstock, share their insights and expertise related to our areas of focus. This year we added recognition to our agenda and will applaud the invaluable contributions of community partners. We strongly believe that "It takes a village," as we celebrate our shared achievements and move full steam ahead toward making continued impactful change.

The generosity of sponsors plays a crucial role, enabling STSI to enhance community value, nurture future leaders and support events like this one today. With heartfelt gratitude, I extend a special thanks to Board Co-chairs Germaine Scott and Zelda Strong Diaz, our dedicated board of directors, and esteemed steering committee, workgroup leaders, members and consultants that are the driving force behind our success.

Their leadership makes a difference and team STSI is on the MOVE! United in purpose, STSI calls upon members and allies to be the change we wish to see, reinforcing the belief that together, we can undo systemic racism, promote equity and forge a brighter tomorrow. Let's continue to take ACTION and move forward, together!

Sisterly,

Cheryl

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DAY OF ACTION AGENDA Welcome, Agenda Review, Introduction of Guests, and Mistress of Ceremonies

Cheryl Brannan, MS, STSI Founder & Black Women Girl Child Convenor Donna Elise Bell, MBA CHES, Morning Mistress of Ceremonies STEM & STEAM Spotlight

10:30 AM

Jádésólá Colpa, BA, Cochair of STEAM Workgroup Lydia Smith, MBA, STEAM Program Consultant Introduction of Morning Keynote Speaker Asha Castleberry-Hernandez

By: Jordanne Lewis, MS, STSI STEAM Alumni STSI Pillars of Focus Overview

STSI Workgroup Co-Chairs

12:00 PM

Lunch & Break-Out Groups Reconvene in Auditorium

Welcome to Afternoon Session

Dr. Valerie Mason Cunningham, Afternoon Mistress of Ceremonies 1:15 PM

Community Partner Recognition

Cheryl Brannan, MS & Beryl Weaver, MA Break-out Groups Report

Presented by Workgroup Co-Chairs 2:00 PM

2:10 PM

3:40 PM

STSI ‘Health Disparities’ Overview Introduction of Special Guest Speaker A Fireside Chat Discussion with Dr. Uché Blackstock

By: Khadyja Ba, MS, Project Manager, Montefiore Health System & STSI STEAM Alumni Moderators: Stephanie Lovinsky-Desir, MD & Chiatogu Onyewu, MD, PhD Closing Remarks & Wrap-up

Germaine Scott & Zelda Strong-Diaz, MPA & STSI Board Co-Chairs Page 2

Asha Castleberry-Hernandez National Security Expert

Asha Castleberry-Hernandez is a distinguished national security and foreign affairs expert with over a decade of experience working as a Middle East Policy Expert in the public and private sectors.

For the Biden-Harris Administration, Asha served as a Senior Advisor (NC-Senior Executive Service) in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs in the U.S. State Department. From 2012 to 2015, Asha served in the U.S. Army in Kuwait, Iraq, and Jordan. She previously served as the Kuwait Desk Officer in the U.S. Army Central. She is now a Major in the U.S. Army Reserves. Before Asha deployed, she worked in the U.S. Mission to the United Nations.

She previously taught at Fordham University, George Washington University, and Baruch College. She is also the founder of the Diversity in National Security Network, and has been named on Boston’s Color Magazine’s 40 under 40 Color Power list and 40 under 40 Middle East Policy Council.

BREAKOUT ROOM ASSIGNMENTS: Black Maternal Health & Health Lifestyle Workgroup Flynn Room - Lower Lobby (same floor as the auditorium) Entrepreneurship, Pay Equity & Economic Prosperity Conference Room - Mezzanine Level Social & Juvenile Justice Workgroup Board Room - Mezzanine Level STEM, STEAM, & Health Careers Workgroup Team Room - Main Floor

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Dr. Uché Blackstock

Physician and Healthcare Consultant As children in the 1980s, Uché Blackstock and her twin sister Oni watched their mother lead an organization of Black women physicians: fiercely intelligent women in white coats who cured ills and saved lives. Destined to follow in her footsteps, Uché and her sister went on to become the first Black mother-daughter legacies from Harvard Medical School. But as her career continued as an ER physician and a professor in academic medicine, Dr. Uché Blackstock became profoundly aware of what she hadn’t seen as a child: the dangerous systemic barriers that Black patients and physicians face.

IN LEGACY:

A Black Physician Reckons with Racism in Medicine (Viking, January 23, 2024), Dr. Blackstock tells the incredible story of her career and reveals the deep inequities that still exist in American healthcare.

In a medical system where only 2% of physicians are Black women, Black Americans have far worse health outcomes than any other group in the country. LEGACY is a journey through the critical intersection of racism and healthcare, exposing a flawed system of practices and policies that jeopardize the well-being of entire communities. Following Dr. Blackstock’s odyssey from child to medical student to practicing physician, this captivating memoir not only explores the legacy of her mother and other pioneering Black physicians but also the long shadow of inequality in the United States healthcare system. With striking wisdom and inspiring leadership, LEGACY ultimately shows Dr. Blackstock’s path to realizing her own power as a health equity advocate against the backdrop of the pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement. In 2019, Dr. Blackstock founded Advancing Health Equity, an organization that aims to dismantle racism in healthcare and close the gap in racial health equities. She has been recognized by Forbes Magazine, Essence Magazine, the Black Voices for Black Justice Fund, the American Medical Student Association, and numerous other institutions for her work as a thought leader and advocate on bias and racism in medicine. A medical contributor to MSNBC and NBC News, Dr. Blackstock’s commentary on the latest news in healthcare has been featured widely.

LEGACY is at once a searing indictment of our healthcare system, a generational family memoir, and a powerful call to action.

STSI Fireside Chat Moderators

Stephanie Lovinsky-Desir, MD

Chiatogu Onyewu, MD, PhD

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STSI BOARD OF DIRECTORS Cheryl Brannan, MS

Founder & CEO

Germaine Scott Zelda Strong-Diaz, MPA

Co-Chairs

Kassandra M. Woody

Secretary

Georgia Reid Douglas, MS

Treasurer

Alyssa Gillespie, Esq.

Deana Nelson, CMP Millissa Bess, BSN RN OCN Brenda Bracey Dr. Angela Campbell Vera Cheek Tinuke Colpa, MS, SBL, SDA Charmaine Golding, MS Zenobia Kelly, RN Subomi Macaulay Athena Dent-Alleyne, CHC

Gwen Parris, Esq. Dr. Darlene Russell Rev. Marcia White-Smith, MS, MDiv. Athena Dent-Alleyne, CHC Ghiliane Clark Chiatogu Onyewu, MD, PhD Donna Elise Bell, MBA CHES Jordanne-Ashley Lewis, MS Pamela Verette

Parlemantarian

STSI WORKGROUPS & TEAM SOCIAL & JUVENILE JUSTICE WORKGROUP

ENTREPRENEURSHIP, PAY EQUITY, & ECONOMIC PROSPERITY WORKGROUP

BLACK MATERNAL HEALTH & HEALTHY LIFESTYLES WORKGROUP

CONSULTANTS

Chair: Pat White, MA Co-Chairs: Dr. Darlene Russell & Dr. Alexandria Connally

Chair: Charmaine Golding, MS Co-Chairs: Georgia Reid-Douglas, MA & Beryl Weaver, MA

Dr. Valerie Mason Cunningham, Strategic Planning Beryl Weaver, MA, Community Partner Liaison Tsahai Amazan, Development & Administration Gloria Cunningham, Marketing & Communication Eden Gilliam, Social Media

Chair: Millissa Bess, BSN RN OCN Preeclampsia Chair: Nubia Martin, MS SBTO Co-Chair: Khalia Jones, CPA & Erica Williams-Woodley, RN MSN NP Communications: Jennifer Jones & Gloria Cunningham

STSI STEERING COMMITTEE Dr. Marcia V. Keizs, Allison Lake, MBA, Dr. La Ruth Gray, E. Adell Dowdy, MA, Hon. Janet Malone, Jamie Hubert, MBA, Lauren Williams, Patricia White, MA, Rashida Thigpen, Esq., *Roslyn Abrams, Kecia Palmer-Cousins, Hon. Shawyn Patterson-Howard, MA, Suzanne Greenidge-Hewitt, MD, Hon. Terry Clements, Yedidah Yehudah, MA RD, Paige Long Sharps, MD, Cammie Jones, MA, April Bourne, Bianca Gambrah, MHC-LLP, CLC, OWDS, Stephanie Lovinsky-Desir, MD, Hon. Gina Jackson, Sade E. Amazan, MBA

*Honorary Steering Committee Member Page 5

The Gala

Save the Date

Sister to Sister International Hosts:

Thursday, September 26, 2024 Glen Island Harbour Club New Rochelle | NY

An Evening Benefiting black & Brown women and girls initiatives Sponsorship, Advertisement and ticket sales are now available

Serving the Community Since 1994

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COLLECTIVE IMPACT PARTNERS AND STAKEHOLDERS Department of Health Office for Women Women’s Advisory Board

WE ARE GRATEFUL TO ALL OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF SISTER TO SISTER INTERNATIONAL AND OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS: NYS Senate & Assembly Delegation Westchester County Executive Government Westchester County Board of Legislators US Congressional Delegation Westchester County Local Municipalities

Sister to Sister International, Inc. P.O. Box 351 Yonkers, NY 10703 Email: info@s2si.org Phone: 914 207 0368 Fax: 914 207 0369

Serving the Community Since 1994

UPCOMING EVENTS Wed, Apr 24 | Zoom Anti-Racism for BIPOC Allies Learning to be anti-racist is a journey that requires accepting potential discomfort and learning to authentically navigate difference. This webinar aims to inspire deeper personal and programmatic anti-racist practices through strategic storytelling and reflection questions.

Wed, May 01 | Webinar Building Courage Through Connection - A Mental Health Webinar Are you looking for ways to boost your resilience and lower your anxiety? Do you want to learn activities that bring you joy while making you healthy? Join Sister to Sister International, Community Partners, Juvenile Justice and Health & Wellness Workgroup for a Mental Health Webinar!

Sun, May 05 | Zoom 2024 Pre-Mother's Day Virtual Jazz Brunch & Hat Parade STSI Invites you to our Annual Pre-Mother's Day Jazz Brunch & Hat Parade! This year's event will be held via ZOOM. Sat, Jul 13 | Sprain Ridge Park | Yonkers, NY STSI Family & Friends Picnic Please join the STSI Family for our annual Family & Friends Day. Sprain Ridge Park

STSI MEMBERSHIP Members are the life force of Sister to Sister International, Inc. and as such are relied upon to make the organization successful in attaining its mission and strategic objectives. We invite new members to join us and “Catch the Spirit!”

STSI implements its mission-driven programs and signature activities through volunteer committee members. Our programs and activities are produced throughout the year, along with quarterly “themed” membership meetings.

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