With decades of experience in nursing, research, and community engagement, she focuses on creating solutions that uplift voices, improve care, and promote overall well-being. My work centers compassion, equity, and empowering people to thrive.

I am a healthcare leader, action researcher, and community advocate with over 28 years of experience advancing equity in maternal and infant health. As the Founder and Executive Director of The Empowerment Foundation, I lead community-based research and initiatives that center the voices of Black women to drive systemic change through trauma-informed care, racial equity, and culturally grounded solutions.

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As Adjunct Faculty at the University of Cincinnati College of Nursing, I integrate my community-engaged research into education and mentor the next generation of nurses. I also serve as a mentor with the Black Nurses Network, supporting professional growth and leadership development among emerging Black nurses

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My signature initiative, Amplifying the Voices of Pregnant and Postpartum Women, has become the foundation for a collective body of work — including Listening to Doula Voices, the Trauma-Informed Care Training Series, and the EmpowerHealth Watch app — all grounded in the belief that community voice and community-driven research must lead to real-world action and systems change.

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I also serve on several community boards, including Black Women Cultivating Change, Queens Village, Blaq Birth Circle, and as Maternal Health Committee Chair for the Black Child Development Institute (BCDI) Ohio.

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My work transforms lived experience into evidence-based, community-led solutions that ensure Black birthing people are heard, respected, and supported across all stages of care.