2016 Faithful Families Summit

Acacia Bamberg Salatti

Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships (The Partnership Center) at the Department of Health and Human Services

Keynote Speaker

Creating Healthier Communities and Congregations: How Faith and Community Groups Promote Health Equity

Acacia Bamberg Salatti was appointed by the White House to the Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships (The Partnership Center) at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in 2009.

She serves as Director and her portfolio includes engagement on minority health outreach and health disparities reduction strategies.

Salatti comes to this position from the office of Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn, where she was Lead Staffer for the House Democratic Faith Working Group (HDFWG). She also handled Congressman Clyburn’s education and agriculture portfolio. In addition, Salatti was also responsible for his agriculture, interior, and foreign operations appropriation bills.

Salatti holds a Masters in Divinity and a certificate in Black Church Studies from Candler School of Theology at Emory University. She is also a former Adjunct Professor of Religion at Columbia College, her alma mater.

Dr. Annie Hardison-Moody

Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Youth, Family, and Community Sciences at North Carolina State University and Director of Faithful Families

Opening Plenary Speaker

Dr. Annie Hardison-Moody is Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Youth, Family, and Community Sciences at North Carolina State University and Director of Faithful Families. Her background and passion is studying the intersections of religion and health, and she was the original lead writer for the Faithful Families curriculum and program. In addition to serving as the Faithful Families Director, she is co-Principal Investigator for Voices into Action: The Families, Food, and Health Project and works on several projects related to gender, food, religion, and health. Her work with Faithful Families garnered an invitation to the White House, through the Let's Move initiative. She lives in Raleigh with her husband, daughter Sophie, and their dog, Maryland.

Jamie Cousins, MPA

Program Manager for the Catalyst for Healthy Eating and Active Living

Opening Plenary Speaker

Jamie Cousins, MPA, is the Program Manager for the Catalyst for Healthy Eating and Active Living and is responsible for project planning, implementation and evaluation. She leads a team of Catalyst Coordinators in Beaufort, Burke, Cleveland, Edgecombe, Halifax, McDowell, Nash and Rockingham counties, who foster collaboration and strengthen community engagement to increase healthy eating and active living. Cousins collaborates with NC Division of Public Health staff and other partners to support efforts in the Catalyst counties. She joined NCDPH in 2008 and has coordinated efforts including NC’s Communities Putting Prevention to Work grant supporting community change in Appalachian District and Pitt County and the NC Childhood Obesity Prevention Demonstration Project. Cousins is currently a Fellow in the Jim Bernstein Community Health Leadership Program.

Cousins came to North Carolina from Atlanta where she completed the Presidential Management Fellowship at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and then stayed on to work in children’s health. Prior, she served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Russia where she taught English and secured community grants. Jamie received her Master of Public Administration degree from Syracuse University, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, and Bachelor of Arts degrees in English and Sociology. She lives in Raleigh with her family and enjoys running, kayaking, playing games, and time with family and friends.

Jeremy Moseley, MPH

Director for Community Engagement of Wake Forest Baptist Health’s FaithHealth Division

Jeremy Moseley, MPH, is the Director for Community Engagement of Wake Forest Baptist Health’s FaithHealth Division. He has a B.S. in Public Health Policy and Administration from UNC-Chapel Hill and a Master’s in Public Health Analysis and Management from East Carolina University. He has worked to improve community-based care transitions, increase community engagement and access to services, and link community resources to healthcare systems.

He has previous experience designing regional projects funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to address heart disease and stroke prevention and systems of care, projects funded by the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services to address care transitions and hospital readmissions, and health system supported programs to improve transitions of care and the health of individuals residing in socially complex communities. He staffed a state heart disease and stroke prevention legislative committee, and has served on workgroups for Stakeholder Health with other participating health systems to transform health through community partnership. He has worked in a variety of settings including an academic medical center, state health department, academic research center, community health center, and community hospital to implement various health care and public health activities to improve systems, health and well-being through state and local community partnerships.

L. Dennis Stamper, LCSW, CLP

Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Commissioned Lay Pastor in the PC-USA

L. Dennis Stamper, LCSW, CLP graduated from Winthrop University with a B.A. in Philosophy and Religion and holds a Master of Social Work degree from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. He attended St. Paul School of Theology and completed Clinical Pastoral Education at Trinity Lutheran Hospital in Kansas City, Mo. He is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Commissioned Lay Pastor in the PC-USA. Dennis has served as chaplain at Carolinas HealthCare System Blue Ridge for 14 years.

Joycelyn V. Johnson

Community Outreach Coordinator at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center

Joycelyn V. Johnson works as the Community Outreach Coordinator at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in the Office of Graduate Medical Education. She has been actively engaged throughout the Winston-Salem Community for many years serving on the Winston-Salem City Council from 1993-2009. In all matters, from housing to employment or economic development, her focus has included all members of the diverse population of this city with special emphasis on the needs of youth and seniors.

A graduate of Atkins High School and Bennett College her membership and leadership involvement spans spiritual, political, social, business, historical and community organizations. Currently, she works with The New Winston Museum, Creative Corridors Coalition, Piedmont Together and Lutheran Services of the Carolinas and the N. C. Housing Foundation.

She is a member, church organist at Mars Hill Baptist Church and organizer of several community outreach activities. Her supportive family includes an adult son and daughter-in-law.

Tembila Covington

Urban Agriculture Program Manager at NC Cooperative Extension Forsyth County Center for the Urban Farm School

Tembila Covington is employed as the Urban Agriculture Program Manager at NC Cooperative Extension Forsyth County Center for the Urban Farm School. The Urban Farm School's mission is to teach interested individuals both agricultural and entrepreneurial skills that allow them to grow and sell their own produce, thus becoming self-sustainable. Currently also serving as Secretary of the Ministers Conference of Winston Salem and Vicinity (MCWSV) she has been a key participant and instrumental in restorative justice through this organization. Elder Tembila continues to organize community at the grassroots level, both with the MCWSV, and as a Forsyth Connector with Wake Forest Baptist Health Center.

Tembila Covington’s educational background is in business administration; she is currently matriculating at Shaw University. Elder Covington has attended both Apex School of Theology and Ezekiel Bible College, both in Raleigh, NC completing courses in religious studies. She is the founder of Crossing Red Sea Ministries in Rockingham, NC since 2009. She is also a certified Christian Life Coach and Pastoral Care counselor. Prior to that Tembila participated in several volunteer organizations, and acquired 20 years as a supervisor and manager for Wal-Mart.

Melissa Smith

Geriatric Psychiatry Program Development/Management at Wake Forest Baptist Health

Melissa Smith is a Salem College graduate with a degree in Applied Sociology. Her experience includes a 10-year career in Market Research which prepared her for a career in Geriatric Clinical Research then Geriatric Psychiatry Program Development/Management at Wake Forest Baptist Health. From July 2011-July 2015, she served as a Transition Specialist at Senior Services Inc., providing a variety of assistance to those being discharged from the hospital. During this time, she witnessed food insecurity as a growing issue among homebound elders. Currently, she is the Coordinator of the Aging with Purpose initiative at Senior Services and is very passionate about combating ageism. She is a certified community garden mentor in Forsyth County and organized the building of Senior Services’ first community garden, benefitting food insecure seniors and providing opportunities for other seniors to give back to their community.

Rev. Dianne Horton

Manager for Chaplaincy and Clinical Ministries at Wake Forest Baptist Health - Lexington Medical Center

Rev. Dianne Horton serves as Manager for Chaplaincy and Clinical Ministries at Wake Forest Baptist Health - Lexington Medical Center. She is a Board Certified Chaplain recognized by the Association of Professional Chaplains. Rev. Horton is an ordained and endorsed minister affiliated with the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. She is a graduate of Salem College (B.A.) and Wake Forest University School of Divinity (M.Div.). In addition to her chaplaincy work, Rev. Horton also works closely with FaithHealth in Forsyth and Davidson County.

Graylin S. Carlton, Sr

Faith Health and Staff Chaplain of Transitional Care at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center

Graylin S. Carlton, Sr is a graduate of Foothills Christian College where he received his Bachelor of Christian Ministry Degree, and Piedmont International University where he also earned a Master of Ministry Degree. Graylin is an ordained Baptist Minister that pastored a Baptist Church in Yadkin County for more than eight years, and was also the Missionary for 17 fellow churches.

For several years Graylin served as the Evening Chaplain Supervisor at the Winston-Salem Rescue Mission in Winston-Salem. Most recently, he completed one unit of Level I - Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE), and a two-year residency in Clinical Pastoral Education at the Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. Graylin is passionate about the work that he does in the community as a representative of Faith Health and Staff Chaplain of Transitional Care, at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.

Helen Milleson, BA

FaithHealth Navigator for Randolph Hospital

Helen Milleson, BA, is the new FaithHealth Navigator for Randolph Hospital. She has 24 years of experience working with the Community Alternative Program (CAP) at Randolph Hospital and worked with Chaplain Barry Morris to bring the FaithHealth NC program to the hospital. Mrs. Milleson is married to Rev. Dr. Bart Milleson, a United Methodist Minister in the Western North Carolina Conference (WNCC). They have been in the ministry for about 34 years. Helen Milleson has been a part of 14 different churches. In her work as a FaithHealth Navigator, Helen has been able to bring together her personal interests as a minister’s wife and professional interests as a case manager. She works closely with the faith community and faith-based safety net nonprofits to leverage faith-based community assets that address both the social and practical needs of patients. In this role, she has direct impact on very complex patient situations and assists patients by directing them to the right service provider, which reduces unnecessary expenses and hospital visits. In April, she completed an eighteen-month fellow training program through Wake Forest Baptist Health, where she acquired the skills to develop and implement a successful FaithHealth NC program in Randolph County.

Lori Carter

Co-Director of the Congregational Nurse and Health Ministry Program at The Shepherd’s Center of Greater Winston Salem

Lori Carter is Co-Director of the Congregational Nurse and Health Ministry Program at The Shepherd’s Center of Greater Winston Salem. She has an extensive career in helping people live healthier, more productive lives through the professional disciplines of nursing, management and congregational ministry. By focusing on the holistic integration of body, mind and spirit, Lori enjoys empowering people in finding practical and tangible ways to live as healthy as possible.

Dara Bloom, PhD

Assistant Professor and Local Foods Extension Specialist at NC State University

Dara Bloom, PhD, is an Assistant Professor and Local Foods Extension Specialist at NC State University. Dara was inspired by her time doing community gardening on the US/Mexican border to learn about the structure and policies of the larger agri-food system, as well as how community-based projects can enhance local food security. Her current work includes providing training to Cooperative Extension agents about developing community-based local food projects that integrate low-resource consumers. She is also involved with several research projects that explore how to strengthen immigrant/refugee communities’ capacity to participate in local food production and preparation; how to connect food pantries with local food sources; how to build relationships between local farmers and childcare centers; and how to understand farmer motivations for selling to low-resource consumers.

Joanna Lelekacs, MLA

Program Manager for Cooperative Extension's Local Foods Flagship Program

Joanna Lelekacs, MLA, is the Program Manager for Cooperative Extension's Local Foods Flagship Program. Her experience includes coordinating educational activities and resource development on local food systems, project planning assistance for communities developing incubator farms supporting beginning farmers in NC (http://www.ncnewfarmers.org), as well as providing technical assistance for implementation of food production gardens in early childcare settings (http://naturalearning.org/preventing-obesity-design-wake-county-pod-wake). Joanna serves as a co-chair of Extension's Local Foods Program Team.

Jason Bocarro, PhD

Associate Professor and Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Professor in the Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism Management at NC State University

Jason Bocarro, PhD, is an Associate Professor and Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Professor in the Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism Management at NC State University. He has spent the last 10 years examining how the built and natural environment can address childhood and adolescent health and inactivity issues both in the US, UK and South Africa. His research has been funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), the Centers for Disease Control, National Park Service, European Union (EU), National Recreation and Park Association, and other sport governing bodies.

Lori Rhew, MA, PAPHS

Special Projects Coordinator for the Community and Clinical Connections for Prevention and Health Branch in the NC Division of Public Health

Lori Rhew, MA, PAPHS, is the Special Projects Coordinator for the Community and Clinical Connections for Prevention and Health Branch in the NC Division of Public Health. In this role, Lori provides project management and oversight to various healthy eating and active living strategies, with a focus on physical activity and the built environment. She serves as the Project Manager for Active Routes to School, a project designed to increase the number of elementary and middle school students that safely walk and bike to school. She also serves as the Coordinator for Eat Smart, Move More NC a statewide movement that promotes increased opportunities for healthy eating and physical activity. Lori has been on the development team for numerous resources to support healthy eating and physical activity. She has over fifteen years of public health experience working at both local and state health departments.

Leah Mayo Acheson, MPH

Active Routes to School Coordinator for Region 9

Leah Mayo Acheson, MPH is an Active Routes to School Coordinator for Region 9, serving the 15 northeast counties of Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Edgecombe, Gates, Hertford, Hyde, Martin, Northampton, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tyrrell, and Washington. In this role, Leah works with elementary and middle school aged youth to increase physical activity through walking and biking to and/or at school. She also works with schools, community agencies, and faith-based communities to increase awareness and education on bicycle and pedestrian safety and infrastructure. She previously served as the Active Living Coordinator for the Region 9 Community Transformation Grant Project in which she worked with organizations to increase access to physical activity opportunities and to incorporate health considerations into land use plans.

Leah’s research has ranged from changing eating habits to decrease the reoccurrence of calcium oxalate kidney stones through diet, in addition to assessing county and municipality zoning and the subsequent benefits or obstacles associated with the development of farmers’ markets and roadside stands in rural North Carolina. Since starting her career in public health Leah has developed a passion to better understand how the built environment impacts health, and how we can make changes to our environment to help improve the health of our community. Leah serves as the Membership and Outreach Committee Chair and Public Health Young Professionals Committee Lead for the North Carolina Public Health Association, and she is a League of American Bicyclists Certified Instructor (LCI #4857).

Zandra Alford, MPH

Foods and Nutrition Extension Associate at the Department of Agriculture and Human Sciences at North Carolina State University

Zandra Alford, MPH, is the Foods and Nutrition Extension Associate at the Department of Agriculture and Human Sciences at North Carolina State University. In this role, she provides programmatic expertise for the intersection of food, nutrition, and health, with an emphasis on consumer food preparation. Her work involves providing program support and relevant training for North Carolina Cooperative Extension staff and partners.

Until May 2016, Zandra served as the Harnett and Lee Outreach Coordinator for Voices into Action: The Families, Food, and Health Project. Through her work with Voices into Action, Zandra collaborated with community partners including cooperative extension, local health departments, schools, and food pantries on projects focused on increasing access to healthy and affordable foods and physical activity in Harnett and Lee counties.