Thank you
Please join us for the networking session, click here!
Ms. Dondo is a survivor of childhood sexual abuse and
domestic violence. Born and raised in Zimbabwe and now residing in Minnesota,
her struggle with domestic violence was compounded by the inability of women’s
shelters in America to provide the language, cultural and societal resources
she and her children needed to feel safe and supported. Often, she found
herself back in her abuser’s home with no alternative. Now free from the
dangerous situation, Ms. Dondo wants to make sure women and children of African
descent have the cultural resources they need to feel comfortable in sharing
their stories and recovering from their experiences. She understands firsthand
that individuals who’ve fled African countries to save their lives often have
lasting trauma that needs to be acknowledged and treated holistically to ensure
long-term progress. Ms. Dondo created Phumulani, named for a Zulu word meaning
“lover of peace,” as a way of helping African immigrants and refugees in
Minnesota. It is truly a place where survivors of gender-based abuse and
violence can find peace and recovery.
Meishka L. Mitchell, AICP, PP, is President & CEO of
Emerald Cities Collaborative, a national nonprofit organization working to
advance a sustainable environment while creating sustainable, just and
inclusive economies with opportunities for all. Meishka has over 18 years
of visionary leadership experience in climate justice and equitable and
inclusive neighborhood development. In her hometown of Camden, New
Jersey, Meishka cultivated a resident-driven approach to neighborhood planning
and development of parks and open spaces, historic preservation, and
placemaking. Meishka has established several national award-winning
sustainability collaborations that have become replicable models for collective
impact in underserved communities. She is also a known advocate and sought out
speaker for climate justice. Meishka has a Master of City Planning from the
University of Pennsylvania, is certified by the American Institute of Certified
Planners, and maintains a Professional Planners license with the State of New
Jersey, where she lives with her family.
Mighty Fine, a Social Epidemiologist by
training, is currently the Director of the Center for Public Health
Practice and Professional Development at the American Public Health
Association. In that role, Mr. Fine designs, develops, and evaluates public
health programs; and provides technical assistance and consultation to key
stakeholders on an array of public health issues. Although his work stems
across various aspects of public health, he employs a special focus on injury
and violence prevention, maternal and family health and chronic disease
prevention. Overall, within his duties he incorporates epidemiological concepts
to frame APHA’s public health practice initiatives and works to ensure
synergies exist between public health practice and policy.
Dr. Marleen Wong is clinical professor, emerita at USC
and the CEO of the Center for Safe and Resilient Schools and Workplaces.
website: https://safeandresilient.org/ Formerly the Senior Vice Dean and
Stein/Goldberg Sachs Endowed Professor of Mental Health, she also served as
Director of Field Education; Executive Director, Telehealth Clinic; and
Clinical Advisor to the Family Nurse Practitioner Program and the Cohen
Military Clinic. Prior to her tenure at USC, she was the director of mental
health services, crisis intervention and suicide prevention at the Los Angeles
Unified School District (LAUSD). She is identified by the White House under
three administrations as one of the “pre-eminent experts in school crisis and
recovery” and an “architect of school safety programs” by the Wall Street
Journal. A consultant to the US Department of Education (REMS) and the
Department of Defense (Educational Directorate/Pentagon and DoDEA/Department of
Defense Dependent Schools), she has helped develop recovery programs for
schools and train educators impacted by violence, school shootings, terrorism,
and natural disasters in the United States, Canada, Israel, Kobe, Japan, China
and the Philippines. Dr. Wong served on the Institute of Medicine (IOM) Board
on Neuroscience and Behavioral Health, which was charged with assessing
national priorities and approaches to public health and medical practice,
public policy, research, education, and training. She also worked on the IOM
Committee which produced the publication: “Preparing for the Psychological
Consequences of Terrorism” and is one of the original developers of the
Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS) and
Psychological First Aid: Listen, Protect Connect, Model and Teach. She was an
invited speaker and panelist at several White House Summits on School Safety
and most recently at the the White House Summit on Rethinking Discipline and
Trauma Informed Approaches in Schools. In 2018, she received the Lifetime
Achievement Award from the California Chapter of NASW and in 2019, she was
inducted as a Fellow into the American Academy of Social Work and Social
Welfare.