Zeinab Jama earned her Bachelor of Science in Nutrition from the University of Minnesota in 2014 and completed her Master of Science in Nutrition in 2021. She is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Care dedicated to serving individuals living with diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and obesity. Her professional approach emphasizes culturally responsive nutrition care, honoring traditional foods while guiding clients toward sustainable, evidence-based lifestyle changes that support the prevention and management of chronic disease. 

Healing Begins on Your Plate is a community-based initiative committed to improving access to culturally familiar, nutritious meals and nutrition education within the East African community. The project supports elderly individuals who live alone or attend adult day care centers, as well as children enrolled in childcare programs. 

In addition to providing education for families, the initiative collaborates with center owners and food vendors to enhance meal quality and ensure offerings are both nourishing and culturally appropriate. Our mission is to make healthy eating practical, accessible, and deeply rooted in the traditional foods and cultural values of the East African community.

Davonce Ambers is the founder of Universoul Barbers and Haircuts for a Cause, a community-centered initiative that uses barbering as a pathway to connection, mentorship, confidence, and opportunity. With experience building relationships across communities, Davonce focuses on creating spaces where grooming, personal growth, and support come together. His work is rooted in service, leadership, and the belief that barbers can play a powerful role in uplifting individuals and families beyond the chair. 

Universoul Barbers is a growing community-based barber initiative focused on connecting skilled barbers with individuals, families, youth, and organizations through accessible grooming services, mentorship, and supportive programming. The project is designed to go beyond haircuts by creating trusted spaces where people feel seen, supported, and encouraged. Through community events, wellness-centered engagement, and barber-led outreach, the project helps strengthen confidence, connection, and opportunity while also creating meaningful pathways for aspiring and professional barbers to grow and serve.

As Executive Director of Mesabi Fit, Christy leads a nonprofit community fitness center dedicated to improving access to health and wellness opportunities in rural northern Minnesota. Her role focuses on developing programs and partnerships that make it easier for people in our community to engage in healthy, active lifestyles.  

The HERO Program is a group-based wellness and resilience initiative designed for veterans, first responders, EMS and public servants. It combines physical training with guided peer connection in a non-clinical setting to help participants manage stress and reconnect with others who understand the weight of answering the call to serve. The goal is to create a sustainable, prevention-focused model that supports those who are used to showing up for others, not themselves, and who face limited resources in rural communities.

Seretha Lee is a community advocate, a housing commissioner, a public health fellow dedicated to advancing health equity through housing stability and systems change. Her work focuses on amplifying community voices, strengthening tenant protections, and bridging the gap between residents and decision-makers. She is passionate about creating spaces where lived experience drives policy, engagement, and sustainable community solutions. 

Seretha's community engagement project centers on educating tenants about their rights while connecting housing stability to public health and wellness. Through outreach events, conversations, and culturally responsive education, she works to empower residents with knowledge, resources, and a stronger voice within housing systems. The goal is to build informed, resilient communities where residents feel supported, protected, and equipped to advocate for themselves.

Roots of Wellness at 3 Branch Farm is a culturally grounded “farm-to-health” program connecting Hmong youth in rural Minnesota to hands-on farming and nutrition education. In partnership with North Branch Public Schools, students will plant, harvest, and prepare fresh produce while learning how healthy eating supports physical and mental well-being, integrating Hmong traditions and storytelling.

Derek Nicholas is a proud member of the Red Cliff Band of Ojibwe and has been a Minneapolis resident since 2021. Furthermore, he is founder of Wiisinig LLC, an organization that focuses on revitalizing indigenous food systems amongst tribal communities. Through his leadership, Derek brings integrity, cultural values, and a forward-thinking approach to the initiatives he undertakes.  

Advancing Health Through Indigenous Food and Knowledge Systems centers on revitalizing and practicing Indigenous foodways and knowledge systems as a pathway to improved health, wellbeing, and community prosperity. Through a series of facilitated events, workshops, and gatherings, the initiative will create spaces where communities can come together to share traditional practices, stories, and teachings connected to food, land, and identity.

Jay Pee, BSW, LADC, LSW, CPRS is the founder and executive director of the Minnesota Hope Dealerz Organization, where he combines professional training and lived experience to support individuals and families impacted by addiction, homelessness, and trauma. A person in long-term recovery, Jay Pee holds a Bachelor of Social Work and is a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor, Licensed Social Worker, and Certified Peer Recovery Specialist. Through Minnesota Hope Dealerz, he leads community-driven, peer-centered initiatives rooted in authenticity, dignity, and hope. Guided by the belief that connection and consistency fuel transformation, Jay Pee meets people where they are and helps them believe in what’s possible. 

The Minnesota Hope Dealerz Organization (MHD) Transitional Housing Program provides immediate housing stabilization for individuals experiencing housing instability and substance use recovery needs in St. Paul, Minnesota. The program offers five transitional housing rooms within a shared residence where utilities are included. Participants receive housing navigation support, connections to recovery services, employment assistance, and individualized stabilization planning. Housing serves as the foundation for long-term recovery and economic stability.

Princess Titus is an educator, community leader, and healer with over three decades of service in the Twin Cities. Her educational path includes a BA in Early Childhood Education from Metropolitan State University, multiple professional certifications in career development, fundraising, public health, and sound healing, and extensive training in community organizing. Her leadership has been recognized through honors such as National Philanthropy Day (2022), Black Legacy Leadership, and selection as an IDEA Fellow, and she is currently part of the M Health Fairview Accelerator Fellowship. She is a co-founder and Senior Engagement Officer at Appetite For Change, serves on the Steering Committee for Fostering African Americans in Total Health, and facilitates a Grief Circle for Parents of Murdered Children in the Twin Cities.

The Grief and Trauma Doula Training is a structured, community-based program that equips participants with practical tools to navigate grief and trauma and support others’ healing. Building on a successful pilot, the next phase seeks to finalize and expand the curriculum to include brain, child, and emotional development across the lifespan, with attention to how grief and trauma impact individuals from preconception through adulthood. The project aims to produce a finalized curriculum, professionally edited materials, recorded training modules, participant workbooks and facilitation guides, and to implement a fully supported pilot cohort of 20 participants, including a closing healing retreat. By the end of the project period, the training is intended to be fully developed, tested, and positioned for replicable use in community settings.