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Dr. Michelle Benoit-Wilson, OB/GYN
Health Equity Strategist
Founder of HerHealthMD, PLLC

Tina Braimah, MSN, CNM, CPM
Founder and Executive Director
Aya Birth & Community Wellness

Senator Natalie Murdock
D-N.C., 20th District

Ste’Keira Shepperson
Doula, Childbirth Educator, Owner,
Triangle Doulas of Color

Emunah Evans
Community Advocacy Director/Founder
Benevolence Farm/Bonding Families
emunah@benevolencefarm.org

Shewit Jaynes, PhD, MSPH, RN
Postdoctoral Fellow
Durham VA & Duke University School of Nursing
shewit.weldense@duke.edu

Ana Lepe Vick
Founder and Director of Communications
PUSH for Empowered Pregnancy
ana@pushpregnancy.org

Tomeka James Isaac
Executive Director
Jace’s Journey
tomekajamesisaac@gmail.com

Tiara Morris
Lead Researcher/Community Doula
By Mother-Action4Equity
tiara@action4equityws.org

Sharlee Hainesworth
Director of Community-Based Research
Action4Equity
sharlee@action4equityws.org

Lorraine Wilson Batts
RN Nurse Educator
Lorraine Nurse Consulting
lorraine@lorrainenurseconsulting.com

Brandon Diggs Williams Sr.
Therapist – LCSW 
The Center of Transformation, PLLC
thecenteroftransformationpllc@gmail.com

Deena Hayes-Greene
Black Pearls Society
Racial Equity Institute

Monica Walker
Black Pearls Society
Racial Equity Institute

Bree Newsome Bass is an award-wining filmmaker, musician, writer, activist and public speaker. She is most widely recognized for her actions in 2015 when she scaled a flagpole at South Carolina’s capitol building to remove the Confederate battle flag in protest of systemic racism following the racially-motivated murders at Emanuel AME, an historically Black church in Charleston. South Carolina first raised its confederate flag in the 1960s as a statement of opposition to the Civil Rights Movement and refused to lower it, even after the assassination of South Carolina state senator Clementa Pinckney and 8 others by a white supremacist during a prayer meeting at their church. Bree’s daring act of protest increased public pressure on the state legislature and they removed the flag permanently a few days later. Her protest also inspired the removal of numerous other confederate flags and monuments nationwide and helped spark a reckoning with the legacy of slavery and racism in the United States. As part of her continued advocacy, Bree has helped develop several non-profit and grassroots organizations while constantly speaking out and campaigning in support of human rights, democracy and economic justice. Bree is the recipient of an NAACP Image Award and an honorary doctorate from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary among other accolades. Bree currently resides in Raleigh, NC with her husband Marcus Bass and her son Marcus Bass, Jr. (4) where she continues both her creative work and public advocacy.

Dr. Michele Benoit-Wilson is a board-certified OB/GYN, health equity strategist, and founder of HerHealthMD, PLLC, a health education company focused on dismantling medical misinformation and strengthening advocacy for girls, women, and families. A proud graduate of Brown University, where she earned both her undergraduate and medical degrees, she completed her OB/GYN residency at Pennsylvania Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania Health System. 

With over 25 years of clinical experience, Dr. Benoit-Wilson brings a lifelong commitment to empowering communities through culturally rooted care and systemic reform. As Medical Director for Women’s Health and Utilization Review at a NC Medicaid plan, she has led benefit enhancements—including expanding doula access for high-risk populations—and collaborated on evidence-based strategies that improve maternal outcomes. She bridges clinical, corporate, and legislative platforms to center communication and dignity in maternal health, serving on the Board of Directors for Family Connects International and contributing to the Acure4Moms Study, a five-year clinical trial addressing racial disparities in maternal outcomes. 

HerHealthMD amplifies inclusive messaging via social media and public writing, connecting trusted medical insight with public discourse. As a seasoned speaker trained in evidence-based communication, Dr. Benoit-Wilson partners with policymakers, including Senator Natalie Murdock, in a bipartisan approach to advance reproductive justice and health equity—bringing a compassionate and courageous voice to today’s maternal health landscape.

Tina Braimah, MSN, CNM, CPM, is a midwife, herbalist, and unapologetic advocate for BIPOC birthing people. She is the founder and Executive Director of Aya Birth & Community Wellness, the state’s only Black-owned, midwife-led birth center. With over 25 years in women’s health and a legacy of “firsts” behind her—North Carolina’s first Black Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) attending home births and first Black Certified Professional Midwife (CPM)— Tina is a leading voice for reproductive justice and birth equity.

She also founded Legacy Birth Academy, a workforce development program which seeks to decrease maternal health disparities by increasing diversity among out-of-hospital birth workers. Her herbal product line, Gracie Deola’s Natural Wellness Remedies, is yet another way that she is reclaiming wellness and autonomy for the community.

Tina’s work blends clinical expertise, ancestral traditions and community wisdom, to reimagine change systems that shape Black maternal and infant health in North Carolina and beyond.

Mona Evans is a mother of three, community advocate, and founder of Bonding Families, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting family reunification and healing for justice-impacted families. After serving a 4½-year prison sentence, Mona transformed her lived experience into a mission to dismantle the barriers Black mothers face during and after incarceration. Now the Community Advocacy Director at Benevolence Farm in North Carolina, she leads reentry programs that center holistic care, family connection, and economic empowerment. Through her work, Mona amplifies the voices of formerly incarcerated Black women and advocates for maternal and infant health equity, housing justice, and second chances.

Deena Hayes-Greene's life’s work is inspired by profound gratitude for the courage and wisdom of those who paved the way for more equitable and connected communities. Through her leadership of the Racial Equity Institute and the Groundwater Institute, she fosters a vision of inclusion and justice.  In Guilford County, her dedicated leadership as School Board Chair and Chair of the International Civil Rights Center and Museum showcases her deep commitment to ensuring that every individual has the opportunity to thrive. Guided by the legacy of civil rights pioneers and community elders, Deena clarifies our shared humanity, addresses systemic barriers, and drives transformative change in institutions and communities nationwide.     

Sharlee Hainesworth is the Director of Community-Based Research and Family Engagement at Action4Equity and the Program Manager of By Mothers, a transformative initiative that engaged nearly 250 Black mothers to center trust, lived experience, and community-driven solutions in maternal health. A devoted mother, researcher, and advocate, Sharlee works to ensure that Black women’s voices shape the policies and practices that affect their lives. She is now focused on advancing the By Mothers research recommendations across the Piedmont Triad region and statewide—building power through collective advocacy and systems change. Her work bridges research and action, moving beyond documentation to mobilize communities and institutions toward equity and liberation.

Tomeka Isaac, MBA, MHRM, CAMS, PMH-C, is a maternal health advocate, educator, and grief support coach dedicated to transforming the systems that failed her. After the heartbreaking loss of her son Jace Alexander and a near-death experience due to H.E.L.L.P Syndrome in 2018, Tomeka co-founded Jace’s Journey with her husband to raise awareness of maternal and fetal health disparities, particularly in Black communities.

She is a recognized leader in reproductive empowerment and health equity, awarded the 2022 YWCA Central Carolinas Woman of Achievement ‘Community Champion’ award. Tomeka collaborates with national and local organizations such as March of Dimes, MomCongress, and Healthy Birth Day, Inc, to advocate for better outcomes for families impacted by pregnancy and infant loss.

As a certified perinatal mental health professional (PMH-C), Tomeka brings specialized knowledge to supporting individuals and families navigating grief, trauma, and postpartum mental health challenges. Her work spans education, storytelling, community engagement, and digital advocacy.
Through her upcoming memoir Jace’s Journey: Grief, Survival, and the Fight for Us and her podcast Unspoken: Breaking the Silence of Pregnancy Loss, Tomeka continues to be a powerful voice for change—ensuring no parent walks this path alone.

Shewit Jaynes, PhD, MSPH, RN is a nurse scientist in the National Clinician Scholars Program (NCSP) with a clinical background in medical-surgical and postpartum nursing. She earned her Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH) in Health Policy and Management from the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health and completed her PhD at Duke University School of Nursing. Her dissertation research, supported by an F31 predoctoral fellowship from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), investigated the relationships between gendered racism, resilience, and high-risk pregnancy among Black women, using national longitudinal data. Dr. Jaynes leverages her lived experience as a Black woman, mother, clinical experience caring for postpartum individuals, and interdisciplinary training in nursing, public health, and policy to inform her passion and unique perspective on addressing maternal health inequities. Dr. Jaynes is dedicated to (1) critically examining social determinants of health and structural inequality and (2) leveraging a community-engaged approach to design interventions and inform policy solutions to address racialized maternal health inequities.

As a native North Carolinian, UNC alum, and local elected official, Natalie has spent a lifetime learning about the strengths and challenges of North Carolina. She has committed her life to public service. She is the NC State Senator for District 20, which encompasses Durham and Chatham Counties. 

She was the first woman of color under 40 to be elected to the NCGA and was elected in 2020 earning over 100 thousand votes. She is dedicated to pursuing a progressive agenda that will transform the lives of hardworking North Carolinians—serving over three terms - filing 100s of  bills that range from supporting black maternal health, economic development, and expanding healthcare access for ALL to providing greater access to the ballot.

Senator Murdock serves as the South Region Coordinator for NOBEL Women, on the Executive Board for the North Carolina Legislative Black Caucus, and various boards at UNC Chapel Hill. She was awarded the environmental activism award by the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators, a March of Dimes award, the Susan B Anthony Award from the NC Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) Alliance, and was featured in Essence Magazine for her work with black maternal health.

Tiara Morris is a dedicated advocate and the lead researcher for the By Mothers Maternal Health Project with an extensive background that includes being a two-time published trained researcher. As a proud Black mother of three born and raised in the Triad, Tiara combines personal experience with professional passion to empower and support women in her community. She is a full sprectrum community-based doula serving the Triad and the owner of Total Maternal Support. Through her work, Tiara partners with various local organizations to address and bridge the gaps in support for expecting and postpartum BIPOC. Her vision is to improve infant and maternal health outcomes while bringing awareness to reproductive justice combating the disparities that contribute to higher mortality rates in marginalized communities. Tiara is committed to fostering a more equitable health environment for mothers and their families.Through her tireless efforts, Tiara is not just a caregiver; she is a catalyst for change, dedicated to uplifting and centering the voices of women and children in the quest for equitable healthcare.

Ste’Keira Shepperson is the owner and founder of Triangle Doulas of Color, LLC, a birth and postpartum doula agency serving the Raleigh-Durham area of North Carolina.  She guides the vision of her company from her training and experience as a  Certified Birth Doula,  Postpartum Doula, Childbirth Educator, doula mentor, community-builder, and mother.  She is committed to supporting women and families through the journey of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum to help them have the healthiest and most satisfying experience possible.

At ten-years-old, Ste’Keira witnessed birth for the first time, when her niece was born.  She was fascinated with pregnancy and awe-struck by the birthing process. Over the years, she found herself attending the births of many family members and friends, before finding her way into doula work. In the Spring of 2011, she earned her Bachelor's degree in Health Education/Health Promotion (Public Health) and Spanish from Radford University. She concentrated her studies on maternal and infant health and health disparities in the African American community. After college, she worked as an Administrative Assistant, later, Practice Manager of a midwifery practice for nearly five years. There, she discovered her passion for helping families navigate the healthcare system during their journey into parenthood. In 2015 she began  volunteering as a birth assistant, then she went on to be trained as a birth doula by DONA International in 2017.

She has worked in UNC’s Birth Partners volunteer doula program as well as С��Ѽ��ƵMed’s doula partnership. After learning about the shocking statistics surrounding the Black maternal health crisis, Ste’Keira embarked on her journey of launching Triangle Doulas of Color, LLC  in an effort to help improve health outcomes through education, advocacy, support, and community-building.  As a new mother herself, she also started hosting a monthly mom’s group, Triangle Mamas of Color,  to help foster community amongst local mothers of color. She has also served the public by providing text support via the CovidMoms Helpline to answer questions about Covid-19, connect families to resources, and give information about prenatal care and birth.  She served as a co-chair on the North Carolina Institute of Medicine’s Maternal Health Task Force (2020-2021) and has participated in the Perinatal Health Equity Taskforce over the years.  Ste’Keira uses her platform to speak publicly about maternal health, doula support, and topics related to motherhood and entrepreneurship.

As she works with new families, education, support, and community remain at the forefront of the mission. Providing space for exploration of options and creating a network of support for navigating the challenges and triumphs of parenthood are essential priorities in the work she does. As an agency owner and doula mentor, she also works to improve sustainability and support for her fellow birthworkers. She plans to continue this work in an effort to make a positive impact in the lives of mothers, families, and future generations.

Ana Lepe Vick is a bilingual Latina maternal health advocate who transformed personal tragedy into purpose after the stillbirth of her son, Owen, in 2015. She is a founding member and Director of Communications for PUSH for Empowered Pregnancy and serves as the Latinx Influencer Advisor for Count the Kicks. Committed to equity in prenatal care, Ana works to ensure all families—especially those from marginalized communities—have access to life-saving, evidence-based education.

As a certified MoMMA’s Voices Patient Family Partner, Ana regularly educates healthcare providers about stillbirth prevention, postpartum mental health, and trauma-informed care. Her lived experience—including Owen’s crash C-section and death, two miscarriages, and a high-risk pregnancy after loss—drives her ongoing commitment to systemic change.

Through PUSH’s collective efforts, Ana helps lead national campaigns such as the PUSHshort film and PSA, the Big PUSH March in D.C., and legislative advocacy. PUSH also contributed to the expansion of specialized care models by funding and helping train providers at the first U.S. Rainbow Clinic at Mount Sinai to improve outcomes for families pregnant after loss.

Ana's advocacy has been featured in numerous news segments and publications including What to Expect, The Fuller Project, CBS News, �ʰ��DZʳܲ���������’s Before a Breath film, and the Birth Trauma Mama Podcast. Ana believes improving care and outcomes is possible—when we push together. #unitedwePUSH

Brandon Diggs Williams, Sr. is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a therapist for the Department of Veterans Affairs. He provides therapy and didactic training through his private practice, The Center of Transformation, PLLC. Mr. Williams is federally certified in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression and is the creator of “The Diggs Method.” He created a community-based initiative promoting the holistic development of Black men called “Lion Tamers.” Mr. Williams is a board member with the American Group Psychotherapy Association. He is also the head of the men’s ministry with The Well Church in Greensboro, NC.

Dr. Lorraine Wilson Batts, DNP, RN, CNML, NPD-BC is a passionate leader in maternal and child health, combining over 18 years of nursing experience with a deep commitment to advancing health equity. As the leader of Lorraine Nurse Consulting and Devoted Family Education, she leads innovative education and training programs to improve care across the lifespan especially for birthing people and infants.

Lorraine is using her experience as a maternal health nurse and a maternal patient to reshape the maternal experience for patients to truly embody compassion patient centered-care. Outside the hospital, Lorraine supports families through childbirth education, doula care, and car seat safety for underserved communities.

Monica F. Walker is a veteran organizer, artist, trainer, speaker and social activist who has spent most of her career addressing race, equity, and inclusion issues while organizing for social justice on every front. She resides in Greensboro, North Carolina, where she recently retired as Executive Director of the Office for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion for Guilford County Schools. She led the district’s efforts to eliminate racially disparate outcomes and all other forms of bias and discrimination for Guilford County Schools, the third largest school district in North Carolina and serves approximately 72,000 students and families. In this capacity, she led a small staff of equity directors, specialists and coaches who provided professional development and equity coaching to the district's 11,000 employees. Monica is a highly regarded trainer who leads and facilitates Racial Equity and Undoing Racism trainings across the United States. Retirement now allows Monica to invest in the work of racial justice fully. She is particularly interested in helping to support systems and institutions to interrogate the root causes of racial inequity and seek effective means for addressing and eliminating systemic and institutionalized racism. She is actively involved as an organizer in her community and serves on several boards, advisories and organizational committees.