Whole Person Health Summit

Session: Breakout Strategy Session (A)

Carol Anthony, Director of Grants, Equity, Access and Research at the Minnesota Department of Human Services

Carol Anthony, she/her, is the Director of Grants, Equity, Access and Research (GEAR) Division in the Aging and Disability Services Administration at the Minnesota Department of Human Services. GEAR creates and implements large-scale funding and grant programs aimed at increasing access and reducing disparities in aging and disability services. Prior to starting the GEAR Division, Carol held several roles at DHS focused on project direction and strategic initiatives. She also played a critical role in the State of Minnesota’s emergency public health response to COVID-19. Before moving to Minnesota, Carol worked in the U.S. Senate and for the Brookings Institution in Washington DC. Carol holds a Master's in Public Policy and a Master's in Social Service Administration from the University of Chicago.

Session: Breakout Strategy Session (B)

Dr. Roberto Aspholm, Associate Professor, Morrison Family College of Health

Roberto (Rob) Aspholm is associate professor of social work in the Morrison Family College of Health at the University of St. Thomas. Rob spent more than a decade working in community practice and research capacities on issues affecting young people in dispossessed urban neighborhoods on the South Side of Chicago and in East St. Louis. He is the author of Views from the Streets: The Transformation of Gangs and Violence on Chicago's South Side (Columbia University Press, 2020), and his writing has appeared in scholarly and popular outlets including Critical Criminology, Social Service Review, Current Affairs, and Jacobin Magazine.

Session: Breakout Strategy Session (B)

Brooke Blakey

Brooke A. Blakey is the Director of the Office of Neighborhood Safety for the City of St. Paul. With over 20 years of experience in criminal justice, public safety, and community engagement. Brooke has spearheaded the implementation of Mayor Carter’s Community-First Public Safety (CFPS) Framework which incorporates balanced investments in policing and an array of strategies focused on addressing the root causes of crime in pursuit of the most comprehensive, coordinated, and data-driven approach to public safety Saint Paul has ever endeavored. Her leadership has significantly reduced gun-related violence in priority neighborhoods through innovative programs and community partnerships. Brooke is dedicated to utilizing community and data driven approaches to create safer communities and ensuring holistic support for victims and families affected by violence. Her extensive experience includes roles in the Metro Transit Police Department, Ramsey County Public Defender Office and the Minnesota State Fair Police Department, highlighting her commitment to public safety and community trust. Brooke has an Undergraduate degree in Child Psychology and Criminology from the University of Minnesota, a Post Bachelor's degree in Forensic Psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and a Master of Science in Forensic Science with an emphasis on Criminal Investigation from National University. She is also a graduate of the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command #484 and has advanced certifications from the FBI’s Law Enforcement Executive Development Association (FBI-LEEDA), and Minnesota’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (MN BCA). Brooke is a mother of 2 , Grandmother of 1 and a proud Rondo Descendant who in her free time she enjoys traveling and spending time with her family.

Session: Breakout Strategy Session (C)

Stacy Barnes, Co-Lead and Global Director of Innovation, Alight U.S.

Stacy Barnes is a creative problem-solver and leader focused on building strong, connected communities. As co-lead of Alight U.S., she develops innovative programs like Culture Crawls and strengthens existing initiatives using direct feedback from the people they serve. Her work connects newcomers and long-standing residents in meaningful ways, helping them build relationships that foster belonging, economic mobility, and social cohesion. A champion of human-centered design, Stacy collaborates across sectors to challenge outdated systems and scale solutions that make integration easier, more effective, and rooted in real community needs.

Session: Morning Panel

Ruth Buffalo

Ruth Buffalo, MPH, is originally from Mandaree, North Dakota. She is a citizen of the Mandan Hidatsa Arikara Nation and a descendant of the Chiricahua Apache. Ruth is a public health professional and community advocate. She has served on advisory councils focused on women's health, women's leadership development and local food systems

Session: Breakout Strategy Session (D)

Ankita Deka, University of St. Thomas

Dr. Ankita Deka, is an Associate Professor of Social Work, and MSW Program Director, at the University of St. Thomas. Dr. Deka was the former MSW Program Director at Augsburg University before moving to St. Thomas. Her primary research interests are in examining public health disparities, particularly among marginalized groups. Her teaching interests are in macro social work including policy, leadership and supervision courses. Dr. Deka is the Project Director of the Integrated Behavioral Healthcare (IBHC) federal grant. Additionally, she is also the coordinator for the MN state funded opioid response grant. Dr. Deka has experience in developing and administering MSW/LADC program.

Session: Breakout Strategy Session (D)

Makran El-Amin

Imam Makram El-Amin is a steadfast pillar in the Minneapolis community, renowned for his commitment to service and civic leadership. Imam El-Amin is a student of the late leader Imam Warith Deen Mohammed. With over twenty-five years of experience as a religious leader, he champions the principle of inherent human dignity. As an esteemed teacher, Imam El-Amin fulfills his weekly duties and serves as the guiding force behind Al Maa'uun (Neighborly Needs) Community Outreach Services (almaauun.org). These vital community issues include food insecurity, affordable housing, career services, and mentoring. Imam El-Amin's thoughtful and moderate approach to Islam has granted him remarkable opportunities to share platforms with influential figures like Bishop Desmond Tutu and the Dalai Lama. He was selected as a delegate for an interfaith event in Rome alongside Pope John Paul II and participated in an interreligious clergy delegation to the Holy Land. In his advisory role to Keith Ellison, the first Muslim elected to Congress and now Minnesota Attorney General, Imam El-Amin has provided invaluable counsel on religious matters and accompanied him on trade trips. Recognized by The New York Times as the "congressman's imam he has emerged as an influential voice for religious tolerance and Muslim engagement in the public sphere. Imam El-Amin is a sought-after lecturer on Islam and has represented Muslim Americans in Europe and the Middle East. He actively contributes to multiple organizations, serving as a member of Minneapolis Downtown Clergy and on the advisory board of the Muslim-Christian Dialogue Center at the University of St. Thomas. When not leading his congregation, Imam El-Amin dedicates himself to the work of Al-Maa'uun (almaauun.org), supporting thousands of households through addressing food insecurity, affordable housing, employment, and mentoring. Furthermore, Imam El-Amin's impact extends beyond his religious and community engagements. He served as a chaplain with the Minneapolis Department from 2014 to 2020. As the board chair of the Urban League Twin and a board member of Metro Meals on Wheels, he actively contributes to the betterment of his community. Imam El-Amin is pursuing an MDiv in Islamic Chaplaincy at Bayan Islamic Graduate School at the Chicago Theological Seminary. He is happily married to his wife, Sharon, and together, they have three children and four beloved grandsons

Session: Breakout Strategy Session (D)

Roni Evans, University of Minnesota, Earl K. Bakken Center for Spirituality and Healing

Dr. Evans is a clinical research scientist with nearly 30 years of experience leading research teams. Her work has been largely in the area of comparative effectiveness research, investigating non-drug approaches for individuals struggling with pain. Her focus has included manual therapies, exercise, mindfulness, cognitive behavioral strategies, and other complementary and integrative approaches that support self-management. She served on the National Advisory Council for Complementary and Integrative Health and has been an investigator of several randomized clinical trials funded by the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration.

Session: Breakout Strategy Session (B)

Mackenzie Farrington, Minnesota Justice Research Center

Mackenzie (she/her) is a Project Manager at the Minnesota Justice Research Center. One project she’s leading is the evaluation of St. Paul’s gun violence intervention program, Project PEACE. Mackenzie is a licensed graduate social worker with master’s degrees in social work and public health. Her passions include working with families and communities impacted by the criminal legal system to promote safe and just alternatives to the harms of the current system. Prior to her work in community-based research, she worked in policymaking at the Minnesota Senate and in direct practice at a domestic violence shelter.

Session: Morning Panel

Reverend Alika Galloway, HomePlace Birth Justice Center

Reverend Alika Galloway, PhD, CEO. Liberty Northside Healing Space’s HomePlace work is grounded in healing racial trauma through an interdisciplinary lens. She holds a Master of Divinity Degree in Womanist Ethics and World Religions from the Interdenominational Theological Center, and Doctorate from Virginia Union University where her dissertation addressed the healing of African American females victimized by sexual violence. She is the founder of 21st Century Academy, an Out of School Time initiative assisting K – 12 grade children to dream a future of wholeness. She is a nationally known Womanist Scholar and expert on health disparities affecting Black females.

Session: Morning Keynote, Moderator

MayKao Y. Hang, Founding Dean, Morrison Family College of Health

Dr. MayKao Y. Hang was appointed vice president and founding dean of the Morrison Family College of Health in the fall of 2019. Hang is a proven, values-based leader who is passionate about the well-being of underserved communities and a champion of addressing disparities, and her background makes her an exciting fit to lead the new college. In her previous role as president and CEO of the Wilder Foundation, she designed programs and initiatives to address complex community issues and worked to integrate behavioral health services. That integrative approach is exactly how our new College of Health seeks to differentiate itself.

Dr. Hang earned her BA in psychology from Brown University, her MA in public affairs from the University of Minnesota, and a doctorate in public administration from Hamline University.

Session: Breakout Strategy Session (B)

Rachel Holzemer

Rachel Holzemer, Deputy Director of Strategy and Operations of the Office of Neighborhood Safety, started working at the City of Saint Paul in 2019 as an Innovation Consultant in the Mayor’s Office. In this role, she served the city enterprise to develop new programs, facilitate strategic planning, and lead innovation and continuous improvement projects. As a member of the team to implement the Office of Neighborhood Safety, Rachel continues lending her expertise by leading the office's strategy, implementation of the data framework, managing major projects and the department budget.

Session: Afternoon Keynote

Bukata Hayes, Vice President & Chief Community Health Officer, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota

As Vice President & Chief Community Health Officer, Bukata Hayes is responsible for the Blue Cross MN – for Communities, this includes working to integrating all diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) efforts across the entire company to fully embrace the values and practices of being an antiracist organization. Through this lens he serves as an advisor and strategic leader across the organization to identify and implement initiatives that bring about greater inclusiveness, representation, and lasting change. Hayes’ work places an emphasis on enhancing policies and programs that can more effectively address the specific needs of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) members and communities.

Hayes reports directly to the CEO and serves as a member of the Blue Cross senior leadership team. Hayes also works with the CEO to co-lead an internal cross-functional advisory group called the Racial Equity Action Committee for Health (REACH), which gives BIPOC employees an active voice in how Blue Cross can best address racial and health inequities in communities throughout Minnesota.

Hayes also serves as chair of the board of directors for the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation. He first joined the board in 2015 and was named chair in 2021.

Hayes has more than 20 years of experience organizing and facilitating systemic change within large and small systems such as non-profit, K-12, higher education and rural communities. Prior to joining Blue Cross, Hayes spent 15 years as the executive director of the Greater Mankato Diversity Council. Before that, he served as the coordinator of the Multi Ethnic Center at Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, the first-ever position of its kind at the college.

Hayes received his bachelor’s degree in exercise physiology from the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minnesota. Additionally, he is actively involved in numerous community-based organizations, including the MEDA Board of Directors, American Cancer Society (ACS), Minnesota Region Board of Directors, Minnesota Business Coalition for Racial Equity (MBCRE) Advisory Committee, Minnesota Council of Health Plans, Health Equity Committee and the Blandin Foundation Board of Trustees.

Session: Breakout Strategy Session (B)

Lynnaia Jacobsen- Neighborhood Safety Community Council Manager

Lynnaia Jacobsen is a native of St. Paul Minnesota where she grew up in the Frogtown-Midway neighborhood. She attended St. Paul Central Senior High School. After attending College of Visual Arts as a design major, Jacobsen changed course in her career path and started focusing on her interest in public safety. She became a 911 Emergency Dispatcher working for both Washington and Dakota Counties. After starting a family, in 2009 Lynnaia joined Metro Transit Police Department. During her career at Metro Transit Jacobsen worked as a Principal Administrative Specialist working in Records, Property and Evidence, and as a Transcriptionist for Investigations. In 2013 she was promoted to Chief’s Executive Assistant where Jacobsen worked with Law Enforcement leadership participating in strategic planning, organizational alignment, learning policy, budget, team building and overseeing community engagement. During her full-time employment she served on the Union Gospel Mission Board of Directors where she assisted as the keeper of board minutes. Even though Lynnaia was not a Board member, here she learned extensively about Board operations, none profits; strengthening her knowledge in budget/funding, philanthropy, the unsheltered epidemic and what it means to be a humanitarian. In 2019 Lynnaia went to work for the Department of Public Safety as the Executive Aide to Commissioner John Harrington under the Walz administration. In her position Lynnaia engaged in Leadership meetings on how our policies directly affect the people and what are the best practices Government can implement. In her position she participated in community conversations, department strategic planning and forming the mission and vision of DPS. Today Jacobsen is a Metropolitan State Alumni with an Independent Studies degree in Ethics and Equal Opportunity in Politics and Criminal Justice. Her passion remains in public safety as she serves the city of St. Paul with the Office of Neighborhood Safety. In her position she strategically pursues opportunities that will allow her to create healthy and safe spaces. This includes enforcing ethics within communities, our State Government and Law Enforcement, influencing their practices, policies and personnel orders. She inspires to make sure community are not just people we serve, but they are part of our governmental structure serving as actual participants and awarded equal opportunities in the positions they hold.

Session: Breakout Strategy Session (D)

Catherine Justice, Program Manager for Integrative Medicine, Hennepin Healthcare Systems

Catherine Justice is an Integrative Physical Therapist, a Certified Yoga Therapist, and Program Manager for Integrative Medicine at Hennepin Healthcare Systems. Catherine received her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from the University of Minnesota and is a graduate of the Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine’s two-year Fellowship program. She serves as the Associate Editor for the International Journal of Yoga Therapy and is the founder of The Art of Wellness (www.artofwellness.yoga). She is a freelance writer and frequent speaker for podcasts, workshops, and conferences. Catherine is passionate about increasing access to integrative medicine for everyone in need.

Session: Morning Panel

Suzanne Koepplinger, Backbone Team for Birth Justice Collaborative

Suzanne Koepplinger is the founder of Catalyst North Consulting: fostering healing centered organizational cultures and leaders. Previously she served 8 years as founding director for the Catalyst Initiative at the George Family Foundation and later at the Minneapolis Foundation. Suzanne was the executive director of the Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center from 2003 - 2014, leading the first research and community response in the country to address sex trafficking of American Indian women and girls. She holds a M.A. in the Art of Leadership from Augsburg University and has extensive international experience as a trainer and public speaker.

Session: Breakout Strategy Session (D)

Colleen Kraft DNP, MA, RN, NBC-HWC, Minneapolis VA Healthcare System

Colleen serves in a dual role as Whole Health Clinical Director and Employee Whole Health Coordinator at the Minneapolis VA. Her 30-year nursing career includes work in complementary & integrative health program development, oncology, rural health, informatics, patient engagement, and culture transformation. She has her MA in Holistic Health Studies and DNP in Health Innovation, and Leadership and Healthcare Design. She is a national board-certified health and wellness coach, yoga instructor and reiki practitioner. She is interested in improving the integration of all medicine systems in a way that allows people to incorporate the healing that works best for them.

Session: Breakout Strategy Session (B)

Faith Lofton, Program Manager, ONS

Faith Lofton is a Saint Paul, Minnesota native, born and raised in the historic Rondo Neighborhood. She is a proud alumna of Saint Paul Central High School and Saint Paul College and attended Metropolitan State University. Passionate about community impact, her dedication has led her to her current role with the City of Saint Paul. Since 2009, Lofton has held various leadership roles in community service. Before joining the City of Saint Paul, she served as Program Director and Interim CEO at Ujamaa Place, where she oversaw daily operations, improved efficiency, and coordinated culturally specific programs aimed at closing the social welfare gap for formerly incarcerated African American men in Minnesota. She was also a key contributor in launching the Returning Home Saint Paul (RHSP) pilot program in collaboration with the city. The first decade of her career was spent at People Incorporated Mental Health Services, where she provided leadership and supervision in the Homeless Services and Customized Living divisions. Lofton continues to use her expertise to develop and expand programs that promote equity and better serve the community.

Session: Breakout Strategy Session (C)

Jovita Morales, Founder and CEO, Minnesota Immigrant Movement

My name is Jovita Morales. I am an Indigenous immigrant from Mexico and a proud mother of two wonderful young adults. I was raised by my native Mazahua grandmother and great-grandmother, moving back and forth between them and my parents. I grew up in a community that practiced curanderismo, where natural herbs were our primary medicine. My passions include painting, farming, soccer, and boxing. I have been involved in activism since 2000. As an organizer, I co-founded the Minnesota Immigrant Movement, a grassroots organization dedicated to fighting for immigrant rights. Since 2008, I have been at the forefront of the campaign for driver’s licenses for all, working tirelessly to ensure access for undocumented community members. I have also provided training on the driver’s manual to help individuals navigate the licensing process and pass the exam. Additionally, I played a key role in passing the municipal ID in Minneapolis and supporting its implementation in Northfield. I have been actively involved in voter engagement, redistricting efforts to ensure fair representation, and advocacy around issues such as the benefits cliff, the passage of the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA), and the approval of a food vendor permit in Minneapolis. I also support Alebrijes Minnesota, a grassroots group that promotes arts as a way to preserve culture and facilitate healing from trauma and stress experienced by many families. Beyond these efforts, I have worked on various issues impacting low-income families. Currently, I serve as a Policy and Advocacy Community Organizer at Pillsbury United Communities and as the CEO of the Minnesota Immigrant Movement

Session: Breakout Strategy Session (C)

Alicia Nguyen Powers, MSW, LICSW, Clinical Professor, Morrison Family College of Health

Heñ navoc (“Hello” in O'odham)! I am a member of the Tohono O'odham nation. I obtained my MSW from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (homelands of the Dakota people) and my Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of California-San Diego (homelands of the Kumeyaay Nation). I spent five years as a student affairs professional at UC San Diego prior to 2017, when I began providing psychotherapy in integrated community health settings across the Twin Cities.

I have specialized training in mind body medicine, In Touch Again multi-sensory play therapy, narrative exposure therapy, trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, and crisis intervention. I am an awardee of the Minnesota Department of Health's Mental Health Cultural Community Continuing Education Grant program to advance mental health practice within the BIPOC community through supervisory practice. My professional interests include somatic therapy, relational-cultural therapy, resiliency in Native American and Queer communities, and spirituality as a protective factor. Sape (“Thanks” in O'odham)!

Session: Breakout Strategy Session (C)

Sara Nelson, MSW, LICSW

Sara Nelson, MSW, LICSW Center for Victims of Torture Sara is the Program Manager for the Center for Victims of Torture – St. Paul Healing Center. She joined CVT in 2022. Sara provides clinical direction, support, and programmatic leadership to a multidisciplinary team providing psychotherapy and social services to adults seeking asylum in the United States. Sara has worked in many fields of social work, including outpatient therapy, crisis response, and medical social work. She has a special interest in trauma-informed assessment, suicide prevention, culturally curious care, and anti-racist / anti oppressive practices. Sara has a Bachelor’s degree in Child Psychology from the University of Minnesota 2004), a Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work from St. Catherine’s University (2010), and a post-graduate certificate in Human Services Leadership from the University of Minnesota (2021).

Session: Breakout Strategy Session (A)

Manka Nkimbeng

Dr. Manka Nkimbeng is a nurse scientist and assistant professor at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health and an Affiliate assistant professor at the University of Minnesota School of Nursing. Before that, she was a Robert L. Kane Postdoctoral Fellow in the Division of Health Policy and Management at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. She received her Ph.D. in nursing from the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, her MPH from the Boston University School of Public Health, and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She works with communities to develop and test culturally appropriate interventions that can be translated into health policies and clinical practice to improve health and eliminate health inequities for older adults.

Session: Breakout Strategy Session (D)

Robert Cole Pueringer, Medical Toxicologist and Addiction Medicine Specialist, Essentia Health

Dr. Robert “Cole” Pueringer is a Medical Toxicologist, Addiction Medicine Specialist, and Hospitalist. He joined Essentia Health in September of 2022 after completing his medical training in the Twin Cities, including Medical School at the University of Minnesota, an Internal Medicine Residency, and a Chief Resident year at Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC). He received his CTropMed certification for Tropical Medicine/Travelers’ Health at the University of Minnesota. He then completed his fellowship training in Medical Toxicology at the Health Partners Institute/HCMC and Addiction Medicine at the University of Minnesota. He is particularly passionate about substance use disorder - a disease that has affected many aspects of his own life.

Session: Breakout Strategy Session (A)

Tanya Rand, University of St. Thomas

Tanya Rand is a faculty member and the Coordinator for the Area of Emphasis in Aging (AEA) Program at the University of St. Thomas in their Morrison Family College of Health- School of Social Work. At St. Thomas, Tanya teaches graduate level social work courses and provides mentoring to students who want to work across interdisciplinary micro, mezzo, and macro practice settings with older adults and their families. At St. Thomas Tanya helps lead their growing campus wide Age-Friendly University initiatives. She is a board member with the Selim Center for Lifelong Learning and the Minnesota Gerontological Society. Tanya is also a member of the Gerontological Society of America. Prior to coming to academia, she worked as a clinical social worker primarily in health care settings that serve older adults and their families. Tanya holds an undergraduate and graduate degree in Social Work and a doctorate degree in Leadership. Her practice and research interests include social work education, grief and loss, multigenerational family living, caregiving, interprofessional health and behavioral healthcare, whole person health in older adults, and intergenerational relationships.

Session: Welcome Address

Francisco Segovia, Executive Director of COPAL

Francisco Segovia is the founder of COPAL, a Latino membership organization, where he currently leads the strategic vision. Under his leadership, COPAL has become an influential force dedicated to improving the quality of life for thousands of Latinos in Minnesota. The organization has played a crucial role in promoting state laws and has been key in mobilizing the Latino vote at the state level, establishing itself as a civic leader both in Minnesota and across the United States. In addition to his role at COPAL, Francisco currently serves on the board of TakeAction Minnesota, contributing his insights and expertise to further the organization’s mission. He actively engages in The Minnesota Civic Studies Initiative, a project by the College of Education & Human Development at the University of Minnesota, facilitating dialogues among leaders representing diverse political viewpoints.

Session: Morning Panel

Akhmiri Sekhr-Ra

Akhmiri Sekhr-Ra has been a Childbirth Attendant for over thirty years and is the Chief Family Development Officer/Health Systems Navigator with the Cultural Wellness Center where she supports individuals within the health care system. She has been a Perinatal Education trainer for Commonsense Childbirth Institute since 2013. She facilitates training for individuals across the country to be doulas, childbirth educators, and lactation educators. Akhmiri is a board member for "Everyday Miracles," a doula service in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis/St. Paul. and is currently a co-chair for Healthy Black Pregnancies-(ICHRP). She is a past board member for the Minnesota Breastfeeding Coalition.

Session: Breakout Strategy Session (A)

Dawn Simonson

Dawn Simonson has more than 20 years of experience in the fields of aging, healthcare and advocacy. Dawn is recognized for her leadership as an innovator and collaborator. She chairs the Minnesota Leadership Council on Aging’s Age-Friendly Communities Committee and is past president of the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging, currently serving on their Mission Forward Committee. Dawn has a Master of Public Affairs degree from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota. She was named one of the 100 most influential healthcare leaders in 2020 by Minnesota Physician magazine.

Session: Morning Panel

Deanna Standing Cloud, American Indian Birth Center

Deanna Standing Cloud is a citizen of the Red Lake Nation of Anishinaabe. She collaborates with fellow Native comedians, including Trish Cook's all-female group, ACE BAE Comedy and recently launched her own radio show, "Medicine Bundle" on KFAI inviting guests to talk about the many facets of healing. She is also learning about traditional healing modalities for her new business, Ziigwan Indigenous Wellness with certifications in Reiki and a part of the Trauma of Money's Cohort 12. Deanna is currently the American Indian Birth Center Team Coordinator with the Birth Justice Collaborative. Deanna is a playwright, artist, and powwow emcee who enjoys spending time with her children, her dog Benny, cooking, taking nature walks, and creative activities.

Session: Breakout Strategy Session (A)

Jason Swanson

Jason W. Swanson, HSE, Executive Director

Jason W. Swanson became the executive director of the Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging in 2019. Swanson previously worked in the long-term care profession in an administrative role in assisted living, independent living, memory care, and skilled nursing facilities. He formerly served on the Walnut Grove Area Foundation Board, Tracy Lions, and has been an AHCA/NCAL Senior Examiner. Swanson serves on the USAging Board of Directors, the Minnesota Association of Area Agencies on Aging (m4a) and the Chesley Center on Aging Board of Directors. In his free time, he enjoys genealogy, reading, golfing, music, and watching the Chicago Cubs.

Session: Breakout Strategy Session (A)

Karin Trail-Johnson, University of St. Thomas

Karin Trail-Johnson is Director of New Pathways and Vocation at the University of St. Thomas. Karin’s career in nonprofit and higher education administration spans over 30 years where she has provided local and national leadership in community engagement, vocational discernment and reflective practice. She is passionate about fostering reciprocal relationships across generations which support lifelong contributions and meaningful, thriving lives and communities.

Session: Morning Keynote

Prathibha Varkey, President, Mayo Clinic Health Systems

Prathibha Varkey, MBBS, MPH, MHPE, MBA, MA (privatum), is president of Mayo Clinic Health System (MCHS). As president, Dr. Varkey leads 15,000 employees serving 16 community hospitals and 53 multispecialty clinics across 44 communities in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa. Dr. Varkey is also a Professor of Medicine and Preventive Medicine at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science. Prior to her current role, Dr. Varkey served as the Chief Executive Officer and President of the Yale New Haven Health Northeast Medical Group, and as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Seton Clinical Enterprise.

From 2001 to 2013, Dr. Varkey held leadership positions at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, including Associate Chair of the Department of Medicine; medical director of Ask Mayo Clinic; program director of the Preventive Medicine Fellowship, and Director of the Quality Improvement Curriculum.

A nationally recognized expert in Quality Improvement, Dr. Varkey is a past president of the American College of Medical Quality, has authored over 80 publications and is the editor of two books: Medical Quality Management and Mayo Clinic Board Review on Preventive Medicine and Public Health. Dr. Varkey earned her MBBS from the Christian Medical College in Vellore, India; a Master of Public Health from the Harvard School of Public Health; a Master of Health Professions Education from the University of Illinois, Chicago; and a Master of Business Administration from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota. She completed her internal medicine residency at the Yale New Haven Health Hospital of Saint Raphael and a preventive medicine fellowship at Mayo Clinic in Rochester. She has an honorary Master of Arts degree from Yale University.

Dr. Varkey and her husband, Pravin, have a young daughter and live in Rochester, Minnesota.

Session: Breakout Strategy Session (C)

Dr. Talee Vang, Vice President of Health Equity Hennepin Healthcare

Dr. Talee Vang is an award-winning psychologist and national leader in health equity and organizational transformation. As VP of Health Equity at a level-1 trauma center, she leads strategies that improve care, address systemic disparities, and support over 7,000 staff and one million patients annually. A Southeast Asian Hmong refugee, she earned her doctorate in psychology and has received national honors for her innovation and impact. Dr. Vang integrates psychological science to advance equity, workforce well-being, and patient outcomes, and she consults globally across healthcare, academia, and industry to drive lasting, inclusive change.

Session: Breakout Strategy Session (A)

Xavier Vazquez, Executive Director Centro Tyrone Guzman

Xavier Vázquez is a visionary nonprofit leader dedicated to equity, inclusion, and community empowerment. As Executive Director of Centro Tyrone Guzman, Minnesota’s oldest Latine-serving nonprofit, he leads with purpose—bridging gaps in education and health while honoring cultural roots. A proud bilingual member of the Latine and LGBTQ+ communities, Xavier brings authenticity, empathy, and a trauma-informed, culturally responsive lens to his work. His leadership centers on collaboration, innovation, and amplifying marginalized voices to create lasting change.

Session: Breakout Strategy Session (D)

Andrew Williams, Hazelden Betty Ford

Andrew Williams is the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation's first Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). Williams hails most recently from the University of Minnesota Rochester, where he served as assistant vice chancellor for student success, engagement, and equity. In this role, Williams will drive cultural and behavior change across the organization to increase diversity, advance equity and foster inclusion. Serving as a strategic partner with others throughout Hazelden Betty Ford, he will champion DEI awareness, understanding, allyship and advocacy as well as the advancement of underrepresented groups. He aims to inspire others through example, challenge colleagues to live up to institutional values and legal obligations, and engage in creative and meaningful intercultural experiences. Williams' experience includes more than 20 years in higher education diversity and multicultural leadership, including posts at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities; the Higher Education Consortium for Urban Affairs in Minneapolis; and Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota. He also is an educator and fundraiser, and is active in his local community.

Session: Morning Panel

Makeda Zulu

Makeda Zulu is a connector and strategic partner working to address complex issues while transforming the way communities within and outside the University work together. She has contributed to the handbook Preparing to Engage in Equitable Community Partnerships, and has been able to illuminate the work of UROC, its partners and leaders who each center community to guide their work. She lives her vision that self-determination linked with unified collective work and responsibility makes sustainable change. She is a graduate of both Grambling State University and the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs.