Cheryl Teare is the current President of the Washington (DC) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated. She is a licensed attorney and serves as a mediator and/or arbitrator in cases involving labor and employment in the federal sector, public sector, healthcare, and all levels of education. She is a Senior Extension Associate with the Scheinman Institute, ILR, Cornell University. And Cheryl has spent 25 years as Director of the Union Leadership Institute with the American Federation of Teachers, working with unionized staff and leading the union’s training and leadership development efforts, and 10 years as a Field Representative and Negotiator with the National Treasury Employees Union, her perspective is broad and unique. Cheryl has also held leadership positions with the local Chapters of Jack and Jill, The Silhouettes, and the XI Oméga Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.

Daryl Love currently serves as Vice President of Community Engagement at Everent Health. Previously, he was Health Equity and Engagement Officer at Bluegrass Care Navigators, and prior he was Executive Director of the Ed Brown Society and Associate Vice President for Career Services and Professional Development at Kentucky State University (KSU). Before joining KSU, he spent 32 years at Ashland and Valvoline in IT, HR, Communications and Community Relations roles. Currently, Daryl sits on the CHI St. Joseph Hospital Advisory Committee and Bluegrass Community Foundation board and is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha and Sigma Pi Phi fraternities.

Deanna Darlington is the Founder of Links2Equity and is an Advocacy Relations Professional with over 30 years of experience in government and external affairs, patient advocacy, policy, reimbursement consulting, and other related fields. She specializes in engaging patient advocacy organizations on access and policy issues, which includes a focus on health disparities for vulnerable patient populations. Deanna works closely with advocates on key policy issues that support dialogue and engagement to patient access to quality care and value.

Dr. Bashir Easter, PhD, is the Founder and CEO of Melanin Minded LLC and the Melanin Minded Foundation, which provide culturally relevant resources to empower marginalized communities and promote equity and well-being. Dr. Easter has led the development of an innovative initiative in Milwaukee, Wisconsin—Dementia Villages—designed to build Dementia-Friendly Communities that specifically support the unique needs of individuals of color living with dementia and their caregivers. Through this work and his leadership at Melanin Minded, Dr. Easter champions systemic change and community empowerment, especially among youth caregivers.

Dr. Mayra Sainz, PhD, is a public health researcher with a focus on partnering with community, religious, and government leaders to improve the quality of life for families impacted by dementia. She recently graduated from Emory’s Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing and is an alumna of Emory’s Rollins School of Public Health, where she received her MPH from the Department of Behavioral, Social, and Health Education Sciences. Her interests are partnering with community organizations to conduct research that explores, addresses, and evaluates programs that reduce health disparities in historically underrepresented populations.

Dr. Michelle Jackson, PhD, is a nurse scientist, nurse practitioner, and Associate Professor at Point Loma Nazarene University, where she also serves as the Nurse Practitioner Program Director. She is dual-certified as an Adult Nurse Practitioner (ANP-BC) and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC), with over 15 years of clinical experience caring for older adults with complex physical, functional, and cognitive conditions. Dr. Jackson’s research focuses on health equity, mental health in minoritized groups, and Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD), with a particular emphasis on Black/African American women. As part of this work, Dr. Jackson serves as the Research and Community Engagement Coordinator for the Black Women Inflammation and Tau Study (BWITS) at UC San Diego.

Dr. Stephen B. Thomas, PhD, is a Professor of Health Policy and Management and Director of the Maryland Center for Health Equity at the University of Maryland School of Public Health. A nationally recognized leader in community-engaged research, he has served as Principal Investigator or Co-Investigator on numerous NIH-funded clinical trials addressing cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, asthma, and mental health. In collaboration with Dr. Charles Reynolds at the University of Pittsburgh, Dr. Thomas co-led one of the first randomized controlled trials showing that culturally acceptable, non-stigmatizing interventions could prevent major depression in older Black and white adults, with implications for delaying dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Thomas is also the founder of the Health Advocates In-Reach and Research (HAIR) program, a nationally recognized network of barbers and stylists trained as Certified Community Health Workers.

Gina Haynes-Sanders, is a community relations professional with over 25 years of experience in healthcare, marketing, patient advocacy, and program development. She also brings more than a decade of educational advocacy through her work as a high school college advisor, mentor, and resource provider. Gina previously served 13 years as a Senior Product Specialist and Special Account Representative for Burroughs Wellcome/GSK, the first company to develop an HIV treatment, and later worked on the Oncology team at Alza Pharmaceuticals, which merged with J&J Ortho Biotech. She has held leadership roles with medical nonprofits including the American Red Cross and Bluegrass Care Navigators (formerly Hospice of the Bluegrass), and served on the YMCA Board of Directors before becoming Director of Leadership and Volunteer Development. Gina remains deeply engaged in community service through AARP and The Links, Incorporated.

Jacquelyn Lee is the Immediate Past President of the Frankfort/Lexington (KY) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated. Recently retired from the Kentucky State Government as an Informatics Project Manager, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Business & Management. For over 20 years, Jacquelyn has been an active servant leader in the Frankfort and Lexington communities, volunteering with organizations such as God’s Pantry, the Salvation Army, and Benchmark Children’s Services. She is also a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.

Janay “J Smiles” Smith’s life shifted dramatically when her father passed away suddenly and her mother was diagnosed with dementia soon after. Trained as an engineer, product designer, and lawyer, she became a full-time caregiver. She sought refuge in comedy—discovering both healing and a new calling. As “J Smiles,” she has since performed nationwide and abroad, sharing stages with comedy greats while weaving her caregiving journey into her art. In 2020, she launched the Parenting UP! podcast to create a space for caregivers to “lead with levity because humor heals.” The show has been recognized by NPR, FOX, CBS, and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Janay is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and serves on Hilarity for Charity’s Care Advisory Board.

Jeanette Contreras is the founding Executive Director of the Organization for Latino Health Advocacy (OLHA), a national nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring Latinos and other medically underserved populations have equitable access to the resources, knowledge, and support needed for healthy, fulfilling lives. Prior to launching OLHA, she founded Latina Health Collab, a boutique consulting firm focused on helping clients to engage diverse stakeholders in public policy advocacy. Jeanette has held leadership roles in prominent national non-profits, including the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, UnidosUS (formerly the National Council of La Raza), National Consumers League, and American Academy of Family Physicians. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Hispanic Society for Rare Diseases and HealthyWomen.

Kathryn Boxill is a dynamic healthcare professional passionate about leveraging her skills to support patient-centric strategies, diversity in clinical trials, and equitable access to care, especially in the areas of brain health and Alzheimer’s. As the Director, Strategic Operations at Links2Equity, Kathryn's intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, and adaptability fuel her commitment to driving meaningful change and advancing health equity, access to care/treatment, and value through patient advocacy and policy initiatives. Kathryn “bleeds blue” as a proud alum of Howard University.

Oya Gilbert is the Founder and CEO of the Health, Hope & Hip-Hop Foundation (HH&HH), a nonprofit dedicated to teaching health literacy and addressing healthcare disparities in communities of color. Diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2017 after years of misdiagnoses, Oya transformed his journey into a movement for change. He continues treatment while using his story to inspire advocacy, education, and empowerment. Through HH&HH, he leverages the cultural influence of hip-hop to break down barriers, promote early diagnosis, and encourage equitable healthcare access. Oya is also the creator and host of the Hip. Hope. Hooray! Men Talkin' Health podcast, a platform that amplifies Black and Brown men’s health journeys, increases literacy, and inspires better outcomes through open, honest dialogue.

Pastor Joseph Owens has served faithfully in ministry for decades, including seven years at Second Baptist Church in Vincennes, Indiana, eleven years at Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church in Midway, Kentucky, and twenty-five years at Shiloh Baptist Church in Lexington, where he now holds the title of Pastor Emeritus. Beyond the pulpit, Pastor Owens has provided leadership as Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Campbellsville University, Moderator of the Consolidated District Baptist Association, National Board Chair of DART, and as co-founder of BUILD in Lexington. In 2000, Pastor Owens earned his Doctor of Ministry in Social Crisis Ministry from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. He is recognized for his lifelong dedication to ministry, education, and community service.

Rev. Dr. Jim Thurman,  proudly represents a family legacy of military service. Drafted during the Vietnam era, he served two years active duty, followed by reserve service, graduating at the top of his class at Ft. Belvoir Engineer School as an electrical engineer. In recognition of his contributions, he was named Kentucky’s first statewide “Male Veteran of the Year” in 2014, honored in the U.S. Congressional Record, and inducted into the Kentucky Veterans Hall of Fame in 2016, where he now serves on the Board. He is also State Commander of NABVETS, Co-Chair of the Veterans Day Parade and “Week of Valor,” and serves on multiple veteran-focused boards and coalitions. Dr. Thurman is currently the pastor of Zion Baptist Church in Paris, Kentucky. He has dedicated his life to service—whether through his country, his church, or his tireless advocacy for veterans across Kentucky and beyond.

Robert Reid currently serves as a Deacon at Restoration Christian Fellowship Church, in College Park, Georgia. Having retired from a nearly 40-year career in transportation, Robert now cares for his wife Kimberly full-time. Kimberly was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s in 2017 at just 50 years old. Upon Kim’s diagnosis, the family made it a personal mission to advocate for Persons Living Fully with Dementia and for Caregivers/Care Partners. Robert is a Support Group Facilitator for Black Dementia Minds, a culturally grounded, faith-based group under the National Council of Dementia Minds. Robert has faithfully captained a Walk To End Alzheimer’s Team since 2017, earning recognition as a Top 5 fundraiser for the past five years. Most recently, Robert and Kimberly took part in a PBS Documentary entitled Dementia and Living Well as one of the featured families.