PROGRAM
Welcome & Prayer
Dr. Victor Davis - Pastor, Trinity Baptist Church, Lifeline of Ohio Advisory Council Member
Program Greetings
Demia Kandi, Executive DEI Consultant, Lifeline of Ohio
Andrew Mullins, CEO, Lifeline of Ohio
Lift Every Voice and Sing
National Pan-Hellenic Council of Columbus (NPHC) Choir and Audience
Video Presentation
Kenny Langhorne, Tissue Recipient
Community Partners Spotlight
Demia Kandi
PAST
Still, I Rise (Yolanda Adams)
Lorii A Wallace, Kennedy Kandi, Leah Blunt
Honoring the Legacy of Kathy Espy
Mount Carmel College of Nursing Video Homage
Tribute by Dr. Laura Espy-Bell, MD
PRESENT
Let the People Praise (William Johnson)
National Pan-Hellenic Council of Columbus Choir
Video Presentation
NPHC of Columbus
Rooted In Life
Video Presentation
Jermayne Harris, Heart Transplant Candidate FUTURE
Breaking Barriers
Kendall Bell, Made for Medicine Student
Call to Action
Closing
Dr. Victor Davis
GUEST PERFORMERS
The National Pan-Hellenic Council of Columbus Choir
The National Pan-Hellenic Council of Columbus Choir is comprised of members of local chapters of The National Pan-Hellenic Council, Incorporated (NPHC) of Columbus. Under the direction of Carol Ware, the choir was formed in 2023 to further expand the collaboration and unity of the Divine 9 throughout the community.
(Click here for full bio)
Lorii A. Wallace
Kennedy Kandi
Leah Blunt
Honoring the Legacy of Kathy Espy
Kathlynne “Kathy” Espy, a fierce community advocate, mentor and powerful leader, spent nearly 30 years of her professional life as a passionate champion for diversity, equity and inclusion and student success at the Mount Carmel College of Nursing (MCCN).
In addition to her success and contributions to MCCN, she served on several boards, including the YWCA, which created the Kathy Duffy Espy Leadership for Social Change program and wrote, “Kathy was integral to YWCA’s growth in Columbus through her volunteering, board leadership and advocacy.” She was also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated and the Columbus (OH) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated.
A devoted wife, mother, sister and friend, Kathy’s work to empower women in our community and lead change leaves a legacy that not only fills this room but our entire city. A Central Ohio icon whose legacy and impact remains, Kathy passed away on January 13, 2022.
Click here to view Kathy Espy’s full tribute video courtesy of Mount Carmel College of Nursing.
Rooted in Life
Black people are 3 times more likely to need a lifesaving transplant than any other ethnic group. To help reduce this disparity and save lives within the Black community, Lifeline of Ohio created "Rooted in Life, " an awareness campaign in partnership with the National Pan-Hellenic Council of Columbus (affectionately referred to as “The Divine 9”). The Divine 9 includes nine historically Black Greek letter organizations that promote unity, service and leadership to create positive change.
The Rooted in Life campaign connects with the heart of the Black community by focusing on the people and stories that matter most. Within the Divine 9, it celebrates their commitment to service and change. To the larger community, the campaign shares relatable stories from Black families about organ, eye and tissue donation including Donate Life Ambassadors Rhonda Major-Mack, Benita Smith, Marshall Cheatham and Kenneth Van Pelt.
Rooted in Life campaign materials such as billboards, videos, rack cards and banners are spread throughout Columbus to highlight relatable stories within the Black community and spark conversations about organ, eye and tissue donation. Since 2023, Rooted in Life has been shared with over 110,000 Central Ohioans to build trust, raise awareness and inspire action within the Black community.
Click here to view Rooted in Life stories.
Made for Medicine's mission is to increase the number of Black doctors, advance health equity and promote racial justice. It is an initiative to attract more Black talent to the medical profession.
Black Americans make up only 5.8% of the U.S. physician workforce; therefore, Made for Medicine serves as a programmatic solution to redress the historical exclusion and underrepresentation of Blacks in the medical field.
Made for Medicine is divided into 3 phases: Introduction to Medicine (Grades 67), Deeper Dive (Grades 8-9), and Commitment to Medicine (Grades 10-12). The aim of Made for Medicine is for participants to leave the program with solid preparation and commitment to pursuing a future career in medicine.
The vision at Made for Medicine is to create a future where the medical field reflects the diversity of our society, where health equity is realized and where every individual, regardless of their background, has equal access to quality healthcare. We aspire to empower the next generation of Black doctors who will enact positive change, dismantle systemic barriers and transform the landscape of healthcare for the betterment of all.
Click here to learn more about Made for Medicine.
PARTNER SPOTLIGHT
