2018 Speakers

Toni Smith

Dr. Toni Shorter Smith works to cultivate and preserve African American culture of the Near East Side of Columbus. From the Opera Columbus Outreach position where she shepherded commissioned black opera Vanqui to completion, to the King Arts Complex Development Director position where her grant awards included the largest ever for Summer Camp, Smith’s work often connects her to the grass roots of the community. A native of Columbus, Smith recalls the places and spaces that underpinned the thriving black community of her childhood that was economically viable and culturally remarkable. Yet many of the built structures that contributed to the safe, vibrant black community are being or have already been erased. An Adjunct Professor at Columbus State Community College, Smith chairs the James Preston Poindexter Foundation, a non-profit partnering with Ohio History Connection to develop two remaining historic Poindexter Village public housing buildings into a museum and cultural center. 

Shavonda Johnson

Shavonda Johnson is a Master’s level Licensed Social Worker within The Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections (DRC). As a social worker, she works in the mental health department. Shavonda is responsible for providing clinical treatment to incarcerated individuals with cognitive and mental disorders and those with co-occurring mental health disorders and substance addictions. 

Shavonda is a  two-time graduate of The Ohio State University. She earned a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Criminology and a Master’s of Social Work. As a student, she was involved in a mentoring program in a juvenile prison and this sparked a passion for serving in corrections. Through various internships and research opportunities, Shavonda became more interested in helping those with mental health disorders and substance addictions. 

Outside of work, Shavonda enjoys reading, working out, shopping, spending time with friends and family and participating in what she has affectionately named “the one woman car concert”. She also spends a significant amount of time volunteering in her community. Shavonda serves in the youth and women’s ministry at her church and she is a mentor with Franklin County Children’s Services. She is an active member in the Columbus Urban League Young Professionals-Civic Engagement committee as well. 

Chanté Meadows

Chante Meadows is the owner of a small private practice, Meadows Counseling Group. She is a Clinical Social Worker licensed by the State of Ohio.  She provides therapy to individuals and couples.   She is a trained Sex Therapist and in the process of completing EMDR Training. She provides therapy to people of diverse backgrounds with presenting issues such as relationship issues, family issues, social issues, women issues, anxiety, depression, self-esteem, confidence, and much more. Chante also has a heart and passion for marginalized groups and community work. 

Chante earned a Bachelor degree in Interpersonal Communication with a Minor in Spanish from University of Maryland College Park. She earned her Master’s in Social Work from The Ohio State University.  She trained and worked at OSU’s Counseling Center for over 5 years.  She also is currently a lecturer in the College of Social Work. She provides supervision, consultation, workshops, trainings, and presentations for various organizations.  

Carnell Willoughby

Carnell Bey Willoughby is a long time community artist. He is a founding member of one of Columbus' first Hip-Hop groups S.P.I.R.I.T. (Soldiers Poised Infinitely Reinforced in Truth). For over 20 years he has led community based writing workshops, hosted and performed at multiple events in the state from poetry nights to ComFest. Most recently Carnell is known as part owner of Willowbeez SoulVeg, a vegetarian, health conscious pop-up and caterer with a community based mission.

Carlotta Penn

Dr. Carlotta Penn is an educator and daydreamer from Columbus, Ohio committed to advancing social justice in the world, especially as it relates to educational access, experiences, and outcomes. Building with diverse communities across the globe in ways that promote human rights to freedom and peace is a fulfilling and important part of her work. Daydreamers Press, the public vehicle for her personal passions, is a multicultural education company focused in children’s book publishing and diversity programming. It is her contribution to a world where all people can see representative and inspiring reflections of themselves in books and communities. 

A Daydreamer is a creative thinker who believes it is important, possible, and fulfilling to work their dreams to life. To Press is to do with diligence, To share your voice. Daydreamers “Press” for a liberated world. She lives in the King Lincoln neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio with her husband, daughter Jember Dove, and son Zemen Phoenix.   

Dr. Deena Chislom

Deena J. Chisolm, PhD is an internationally recognized health services researcher studying health and healthcare outcomes for at-risk adolescents and families. She is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Public Health at The Ohio State University and Director of the Center for Population Health and Equity Research in The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Dr. Chisolm’s research creates evidence on how health systems can engage with communities to reduce health inequities experienced by minority and socioeconomically under-resourced populations. Her work has been funded by National Institutes on Minority Health and Health Disparities, National Institute on Child Health and Human Development, National Institute on Drug Abuse and several other state, national, and foundation sources. She translates her research into policy and practice through service as vice-chairman of the Ohio Commission on Minority Health and board member for the Health Policy Institute of Ohio. She earned her undergraduate degree in Biology Education from Miami University and her PhD in Public Health with a concentration in Health Services Management and Policy from The Ohio State University. 

Jessica Roach

Jessica Roach is the co-founder and C.E.O. of Restoring Our Own Through Transformation, (ROOTT) a Non-Profit, Black Women led Reproductive Justice Organization focused in Maternal Child Health and Birthing Justice Columbus, Ohio. Her work has spanned over 20 years in areas such as clinical nursing, public health advocacy and independent scholarship. Ms. Roach has a deeply experiential perspective in her research both personally and professionally, related to the effects of stress related to structural determinants, and the social determinants created as consequence of those structures, with focus on inter-generational and historical trauma as it relates to policy development. Ms. Roach currently serves as the co-lead of the care working group for the Black Mamas Matter Alliance and has been featured in Rewire, The Atlantic, Columbus Underground, and Columbus Alive.  She has served as a full spectrum doula, homebirth midwife and assistant, consultant to various organizations and is the mother of three young women, one of which was a pre-term infant.

Harrison Poku-Yeboah

Harrison Poku is an ambitious leader with an African and European background, which makes him very versatile in adapting to different functions and audiences. He has been active in the area of community service by teaching and empowering the youth. He earned his Bachelors of Science degree at Franklin University, making him the first in his family to earn such an achievement. Harrison is a charismatic speaker with a lively and energetic stage presence that keeps the audience attentive. He enjoys building a connection with his listeners and making himself available after presenting.  Harrison’s style of presenting is to make his main points more relatable through storytelling. He does this by using narratives and personal experiences to connect his points and to give the audience more insight on who he is and the basis for his platform. He enjoys traveling the nation; empowering people and organizations to reach their maximum potentials and to further educate the masses about excellence.