Advisory Council
The GRAAHI Advisory Council is made up of diverse professionals to help advance the mission of the organization, while providing valuable feedback and synergy. We are honored to have them help shape not only the long-term vision of the organization, but to make immediate impacts for the health of our community.
Ken James
Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce
James is the Director for Inclusion with the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce.
In addition to leading diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts including the Institute for Healing Racism, he is also Talent Development Program Manager for the Chamber.
With a career in the human resources and DEI fields, he previously worked with Spectrum Health and Grand Valley State University. He has a master’s in public administration from Grand Valley State University and a bachelor’s in public administration from Kentucky State University.
Leon Hendrix
Spectrum Health
Hendrix is the Communications Lead for healthcare organization Spectrum Health. He is also the co-chairperson of the GRAAHI Advisory Council.
Before joining Spectrum Health in October 2020, he spent more than 13 years with WOOD-TV8 as a weekend news anchor, managing editor, news reporter, assignment editor, and associate producer. The married father of two, he is a storyteller at heart. He has a “passion for being a positive presence and making a difference in our community.”
Robyn Afrik
Ottawa County Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Afrik is serving as the first Director for the Ottawa County Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, established in 2019
With more than a decade as a diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practitioner, thought leader, and consultant, she led the first diversity and inclusion efforts as Diversity & Inclusion Manager at Meijer from 2016 to 2019. She has a B.S. in management from Cornerstone University and M.S. in management, strategy and leadership from Michigan State University.
She co-founded Women of Color (WOC), a philanthropic collective; and designs partnerships and projects through her DEI firm Afrik Advantage, LLC.
Teresa Branson
Kent County Health Department
Branson is the Deputy Administrative Health Officer with the Kent County Health Department.
Her visionary leadership has helped lead to better understanding of health disparities and work to achieve social justice with the department and in Kent County. Her efforts include a range of initiatives tied to those matters, with more than 25 years with the department and 11 years in her current role.
She is recognized for her ability to create collaborations and partnerships with other organizations.
Dr. Peter Knoester
Anesthesia Practice Consultants
Dr. Knoester, M.D., is an anesthesiologist with Anesthesia Practice Consultants.
He formerly worked with Macatawa Anesthesia at Holland Hospital. A graduate of the University of Michigan Medical School and Calvin College, he served his medical internship at the University of Wisconsin. A Grand Rapids native, he and his wife, Sara, have three children, twin boys and a daughter.
He has a professed passion for “diversity, equality, and inclusion in all aspects of life, from education and sports, to food and beverage, and everything in between.”
Dr. Lisa Lowery
Spectrum Health and Michigan State University
Dr. Lowery, M.D., is Division Chief of Pediatric Specialties and Section Chief of Adolescent Medicine at Spectrum Health’s Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. She is also Assistant Dean for Diversity and Cultural Affairs for Michigan State University’s College of Human Medicine.
She has a medical degree from the University of Michigan, master’s in public health from Johns Hopkins University, and bachelor’s in microbiology from MSU.
She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Her passion is helping teenagers and young adults while making a difference in patients’ lives. She believes we must do better to encourage diversity and inclusion and we must find ways to end racism.
Tonja Moyer
Metro Health University of Michigan Health
Moyer is the Director of Performance Improvement at Metro Health University of Michigan Health Hospital.
A Grand Rapids native, she is a Six Sigma Master Black Belt and is CEO of Journey Shaping, LLC. She has a B.S. in industrial engineering from North Carolina A&T State University and an MBA in global leadership from Cornerstone University.
A published author of children’s books and the mother of three, she is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority for public service and Jack and Jill of America.
Christina Mwangi
Kent District Library
Mwangi is Kent District Library’s Director of Fund Development.
A change agent, she utilized her entrepreneurial background to establish Be A Rose, Inc., a charitable organization helping educate hundreds of marginalized women on critical health matters. A global citizen who has lived, worked, and been educated in Africa, Europe and North America, she has a bachelor’s degree from Towson University and master of pharmacy from the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom.
She uses her global lens to facilitate courageous conversations about race, privilege and culture. She also founded Grounded in Equity, LLC, and the Pulsing Black podcast.
Dr. Bernice Patterson
Infinity Consultation Group
Dr. Patterson is a psychologist, speaker, consultant, preacher, and author.
The founder and CEO of Infinity Consultation Group, she collaborates to deliver workshops and seminars on challenging topics, including issues of cultural diversity and inclusion, self-care and burnout prevention, and mental health and spirituality.
Her life’s work is to give voice to the mental and emotional struggles that people commonly face, and to guide them toward a place of healing and empowerment. She believes we are equipped to love people into change, as long as we are willing to show up and do the work.
Elisa Pérez-Arrellano
Inclusive Empowerment Services
Pérez-Arellano is the owner, CEO, and psychotherapist of Inclusive Empowerment Services, which provides psychotherapy, consulting, and presentations on mental health and emotional intelligence for business and organizations.
With a bachelor’s degree and master’s in social work from Grand Valley State University, she has over a decade’s experience in community advocacy and outreach, case management, program development, medical social work, and mental/behavioral health. Bilingual (Spanish and English) and multicultural, she is open and affirming of the LGBTQ+ community.
A Mexico native, she immigrated to the U.S. when she was 16 years old. Perseverance, resilience, and determination helped overcome obstacles she faced.
Ashley René Lee
Grand Rapids Community Foundation
Lee is the Vice President for Strategic Communications at the Grand Rapids Community Foundation.
She formerly led communications efforts at Michigan State University in East Lansing and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, a public service organization, in Washington, D.C. With a bachelor’s degree from Grand Valley State University and a master’s from Georgetown University, she serves on boards for the West Michigan Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America and Solutions to End Exploitation.
Active with Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, she mentors students and young professionals in communications, marketing, and philanthropic leadership.
Kareem Scales
Greater Grand Rapids NAACP
Scales is the Manager of Innovation & Technology with the Greater Grand Rapids Chapter of the NAACP, where he also serves as a youth advisor.
A Davenport University graduate with a bachelor of business administration, he is also an independent agent for Noble Street Wealth Management, LLC. He has a certificate in entrepreneurship from Grand Rapids Community College.
A father, community activist and self-professed multi-faceted entrepreneur, he says he is “dedicated to creating transformational change in our communities.”
Vernella Shackleford
State of Michigan (Retired)
Shackleford is a Muskegon resident who is retired after 30 years with the State of Michigan in public safety and corrections.
A graduate of Baker College and Grand Rapids Community College, Shackleford was a Sergeant with the Michigan Department of Correction in Muskegon, she was also a prison counselor, corrections officer and advocate.. Previously, she served as a public safety officer with Grand Rapids Public Schools. She and her husband, Artis, have three adult children and three grandchildren.
Active in community and prisoner reentry programs, her genuine concerns coupled with ethics and leadership skills fuel her work with diverse groups.
Misti Stanton
Mercantile Bank
Stanton is Assistant Vice President and Diversity & Inclusion Officer at Mercantile Bank.
She was previously program manager with Heart of West Michigan United Way’s Schools of Hope and has worked with programs serving Grand Rapids Public Schools and the community.
She says it’s important to her to be empowering and encouraging to others, particularly the younger generation, youth, and students of color.
Beca Velazquez-Publes
Urban Core Collective
Velazquez-Publes is the Executive Director of the Urban Core Collective, which strives to empower people and neighborhoods in overcoming system racism’s effects.
She works as a community builder, thought partner, and social justice and racial equity leader. With a master’s degree in public administration non-profit leadership from Grand Valley State University and a bachelor’s from Central Michigan University, she previously worked with Health Net of West Michigan and First Steps Kent.
Defining herself as a change agent in the lives of children, family and communities, she strives to collaboratively address barriers to health, wealth, and education in our community.
Cassonya Carter MEd, BA
Grand Valley State University
Carter is a Senior Academic Advisor for the Office of Student Services Kirkhof College of Nursing at Grand Valley State University. She received her Associate of Arts Degree from Grand Rapids Community College, her Bachelor of Science in Public Relations and Master of Education from Grand Valley State University. Currently, she is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Positive Black Women, member of Lighthouse Full life Center Church and is also involved on various committees.
A 30 plus year enthusiastic, creative, and passionate educator, mentor and advisor who believes that students of all ages, economic, social and ethnic backgrounds can learn and thrive in a learning environment that is stimulating, comforting and appropriate to their unique talents and abilities.
Kenyatta Hill
Grand Rapids Public Schools
Hill-Hall is a transformational and educational leader that is empowered with a strong desire to maximize her impact on students and the community. Mrs. Hall, a Grand Rapids native and proud graduate of Grand Rapids Public Schools (GRPS), has over thirteen years of experience in education.
Inspired by her father, Abraham Hill, a retired GRPS educator who dedicated 34 years to impacting students and families, she began her journey as an educator at Martin Luther King Jr. Academy and Stocking Elementary before joining Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy (GRUPA), GRPS’s first public-private partnership and center of innovation program, in 2010. She became the Assistant Principal in 2013, and for the past four years, she has been supporting GRUPA students, families, and educational professionals as the Principal.
