UHP Staff
Our Staff
Our Board of Directors
Our Co-Founders
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Dr. Andrea Iglesias joined Urban Health Partnerships as the Interim Executive Director in 2016, became Executive Director in 2017 and has been serving as the CEO since January 2019. She holds a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology and brings experience as a clinician, outreach and community engagement director, administrator, consultant, and teacher. She has held leadership positions at universities, in state and national associations, and as the principal of a diversity and inclusion consulting firm. Additionally she is an adjunct professor at the University of Miami. Through her background in clinical psychology, Andrea has had the privilege of witnessing thousands of individuals’ stories. She has worked to translate the insight and voices from these lived experiences, along with research and best practices in clinical and community psychology, to co-design culturally informed practices, policies, and programs to foster healthier and more inclusive communities. Andrea has a special interest in increasing mental and emotional well-being, equity, and improving the quality of life of all communities.
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Deitra joined UHP in April of 2023 and brings a wealth of Finance and Operations experience to the role. She began her career as a therapist with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Clinical Counseling. Intrigued by the intersection of her faith, experiences growing up on the South Side of Chicago, and the long-term effects of trauma, violence, and poverty, she set to work on criminal justice reform, human trafficking initiatives, immigration resource access, and in the trenches with a host of overlooked populations.
Deitra has held fiscal & operations leadership roles with both for & nonprofit organizations such as NAMI, DuPage Health Coalition, and OPI. She was the Vice Chair of Health Equity for the Illinois Public Health Association, served as a “Leadership Illinois” Fellow working to advance the role of women in leadership, and continues to sit on several Boards dedicated to access, equity, and diversity. She most recently worked in Executive Leadership for Dedicated Senior Medical Centers providing quality healthcare for seniors, with a focus on the Social Determinants of Health and treating the whole person.
Deitra currently splits her time between the Midwest and Florida, enjoying family, ministry, and being a grandmother to a host of furry animal babies.
Jennifer Cheek, MUEP, LEED AP
Director of Healthy Streets & Public Spaces
jen@urbanhp.org
she/her/hers
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As of March 2021, Jen Cheek is the Director of Healthy Streets and Public Spaces. Jen joined Urban Health Partnerships as the Planning and Community Development Program Manager in March 2020. Prior to joining UHP, Jen served as Executive Director of the Farmers Market Coalition for seven years, working to measure, document and publicize the triumphs of farmers markets, while responding to the training, networking, and advocacy needs of the growing farmers market community. Before FMC, Jen worked at the design and urban planning firm AECOM, where she collaborated with numerous municipalities and government agencies to create civic meeting spaces, preserve natural areas, and design parks and gardens all over the U.S. She worked closely with community stakeholders to research and distill data, build consensus, create educational materials, and craft plans and policies. She holds a Master of Urban and Environmental Planning degree from the University of Virginia, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Michigan.
Arely B. Lozano Cantú, M.A
Director of Health Access and Livability
arely@urbanhp.org
she/her/they/them
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Arely B. Lozano Cantu is a Director of Health Access and Livability at UHP, previously having joined as Health and Community Development Program Manager in November of 2018. She possesses over 7 years of experience in community organizing, grass-roots approaches in education and research, management and development, community health, and in programming support and solutions. Having gained her skills through grass-roots organizing, youth and justice advocacy, and professional community and public health work, she holds a strong passion for amplifying resident voices and building, developing, and supporting strategic and impactful ideas, projects, programs, and initiatives aimed at improving health-empowerment and opportunities in underserved communities. Arely leads the Food For All Broward Initiative and oversees the Live Healthy Little Havana Initiative. Arely is fluently bilingual and holds a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Women and Gender Studies and a M.A. in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies with a focus on Food Justice and Health in communities of color.
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Sally Pope-Smyth is the Senior Manager for Organizational Impact. Sally has been working with UHP in a consultant role since 2013 and joined the team in 2019 as the Evaluation Coordinator. She holds a Masters of Public Health from New York University where she concentrated in International and Community Health. Sally has over 7 years of experience working in the field of public health on projects related to health equity in the built environment, women’s health literacy, and climate change. She brings her technical skills of monitoring and evaluation, project management, health impact assessment design and implementation to the UHP team. Sally is passionate about using monitoring and evaluation to tell the story about the impact of the built environment on the health and vitality of communities and to help stakeholders work smarter for maximum outputs. Sally leads the design and implementation of evaluations across a range of UHP projects, including Live Healthy Little Havana, Activate Overtown and Live Healthy Miami Gardens.
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Janiece Davis joined UHP as the Age-Friendly and Health Equity Program Manager in April of 2021. Janiece works to build private-public partnerships to better the lives of those who live, work and play in the community through policy, systems and environmental change. Her efforts within the community have resulted in many successes, including collaborating with the School District of Palm Beach County to remove school districts from preemption within the Florida Clean Indoor Air Act and implementing the first comprehensive tobacco-free school policy in Florida. Her work with mentoring youth resulted in HB 439 during the 2013 Florida Legislative Session and collaborated with neighboring South Florida counties to develop a local campaign called Not a Replacement, which was chosen by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids as their official national campaign for Kick Butts Day 2015. Janiece is experienced in grassroots organizing and youth advocacy and is passionate about engaging community members in the policy development process. She is the recipient of several awards and honors, serves on the board of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council, is a member of the Beta Upsilon Chapter of the Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health and Leadership Florida Connect Class IX. Ms. Davis received both her Master of Public Health and Bachelor of Science Degrees from the University of Florida.
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Alba Rubio is UHP’ Communications and Events Project Manager. Alba began her career at UHP in March of 2018 serving as the Secretary to the Board of Directors, Administrative and Communications Specialist and Communications and Events Strategist. Alba holds a Master of Science degree in Global Strategic Communications from Florida International University, and a Bachelor of Professional Studies in Music Business from Berklee College of Music. Rubio possesses over 10 years of experience in event planning, content creation, communications, website development, marketing, creative, and programming work. Alba maintains a strong passion for connecting her skills and collaborating with the UHP team to empower underserved communities in South Florida.
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Wren A. Ruiz joined UHP in 2021 as their Community Planning Program Manager. As both a landscape architect and planner, Wren brings expertise in design and planning and knowledge of urban and natural environments. Throughout their career, Wren has focused on prioritizing community-driven, sustainable solutions, and advocating for increased investment in marginalized communities. Prior to joining UHP, Wren served as a consultant project manager for over six years to the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and various local agencies within South Florida. Wren has successfully collaborated with communities on projects related to transportation corridors, biking and trail networks, citywide parks and recreation systems, and other public spaces. Wren also has experience utilizing a variety of methods to ensure a project’s planning process is inclusive and equitable such as using a combination of visual, audial, tactile, interactive, and collaborative activities at public workshops; using both digital and analog outreach tools; gathering community input both online and in-person; and facilitating centralized public meetings and focused community visits.
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Nattaliah Earle joined UHP as the Food Systems Program Manager in March 2022. Over the last six years, Nattaliah has been an instructor, noted speaker, advocate, and consultant for private businesses, governmental, and non-profit organizations, helping them navigate ways to improve the overall health, resilience, social equity, and wellness of their communities. She holds a Master’s Degree in Business from the University of Florida and a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality from Florida International University. Through her background in her own business and the corporate sector, she has a particular interest in building resilient communities through locally-led and food initiatives that serve everyone. Nattaliah is passionate about food access for all and recently worked with a city to administer their food access and equity grant from the USDA as part of the Farmer’s Market and Local Food Promotions initiative. Then in 2021, she collaborated with UHP to activate the alliances forged while working closely with food and health system partners and stakeholders to create the South Broward Community Health Hub.
Nattaliah manages projects to maintain and grow the Food Access, Security, and Justice (FASJ) Initiative with UHP throughout the South Florida tri-county area.
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Stacy Brown joined UHP as the Operations and Finance Coordinator in April 2021. Stacy is an ocean advocate, environmental educator and community connector with more than 15 years of non-profit management, finance and grant experience. She holds a BS degree in Marine Biology and is currently enrolled in a Master of Marine Science program at Nova Southeastern University. For the past five years, she has served as Operations and Development Director for Urban Farming Institute building more than 7 community or school based raised bed and hydroponic gardens, writing grants to increase the nonprofits reach and capacity and managing all day-to-day nonprofit operations. From 2019 – 2021, she served as CFO and Education Director for 1000 Mermaids Artificial Reef Project & co-founded and served as CFO and Education Director for Ocean Rescue Alliance from 2020-2021. She currently sits on boards for the Florida Food Policy Council, South Florida Association of Environmental Professionals, Dania Beach Marine Advisory Board, and Urban Farming Institute. Her current participation or management of local community projects ranges from community and school garden building to oyster and coral nursery efforts. Stacy enjoys serving our Florida communities to assist in decreasing food scarcity and empowering community members across Florida to grow their own food and to create a more resilient environment.
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Teara Jackson is UHP’ Community & Training Coordinator. Her first role at UHP begun as a Community Liaison in June of 2020 and as Community Outreach Assistant. Teara Letreace is a Black creative, native to Miami who approaches life and work with a passion for social justice, literature, and wellness. Growing up in North Miami and now residing in Miami Gardens, as a mother and advocate of a teen with Down Syndrome, she values the importance of ensuring underserved communities have access to inclusive wellness and educational programs and resources. Teara has over 10 years experience in event planning, community organizing and advocating, possessing an assertive hands-on work experience and social-minded communication style, along with a fun and focused work ethic. Currently pursuing certifications in Forrest and Restorative Yoga, her intention is to spark conversations about social justice, on and off the mat. Teara is dedicated to providing communities safe and healing spaces to grow in, while acquiring tools to empower individuals in their self-care practices.
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Avani Vijayalakshmi-Ramanathan joined the Urban Health Partnerships team in January 2023 as the Training and Outreach Coordinator. Avani has vast experience in public health, community organizing and advocacy, as well as working in government and nonprofits. Avani received her Master of Public Health (MPH) degree at Florida International University and her Bachelor’s in Political Science at Florida State University.
Working with various employee committees and human resources, Avani is a board member of the AHF Flux Board and has served on several county advisory boards. Through her role at UHP Avani will work with the Director of Healthy Streets and Public Spaces and Community Liaisons to increase access to public spaces, transportation, recreation and exercise, as well as access to healthy nutrition.
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Ariel‘s community service endeavors include serving as a Project Manager for the Florida Housing Assistance Fund and serving as an AmeriCorps VISTA for the Summer Jobs Connect program. He was born and raised in the Little Havana neighborhood of Miami. Ariel is a proud graduate of Miami Senior High School and is currently pursuing his Bachelor of Science in Political Science and Business Management from Florida State University.
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Raquel Hanshaw joined UHP as a Community Liaison in June of 2021. Raquel Hanshaw is a woman of integrity and ambition. She has worked as a union delegate for 1199 SEIU at the University of Miami Hospital. As a Community Liaison, Raquel aims to stay dedicated to informing people about the changes within the Overtown community and opportunities for co-designing positive change.
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Keith Ivory began his grassroots community organizing career in 1999 while serving as PTA President at Phyllis Wheatley Elementary, his son’s school in Overtown Miami, FL. During that tenure it was noticed by parents and staff that the rising amount of absenteeism among students, teachers and staff was due to contaminated air condition systems in the school and the need for mold remediation and asbestos removal. During that time Mr. Ivory was hired as a full-time organizer @ Power U. Center for Social Change to advocate for the Miami Dade School Board to remediate the entire air quality systems thru mold removal asbestos extraction at all 3 Overtown schools. He also was a part of the 2005 ANTI GENTRIFICATION campaign to save Town Park residents and their property which helped remodel resident’s rental units. Ivory has also worked with organizations in Miami Dade County including the Human Services Coalition, known today as Catalyst Miami under the leadership of Danielle Levine Cava, presently Mayor Danielle Levine Cava. Ivory loves history and has served as a Tour Guide Historian Lecturer/ Urban Storyteller throughout Overtown, Little Havana, Little Haiti, Liberty City, Coconut Grove, Wynwood Art, South Beach for the past 35 years. Telling the stories of South Florida with its history of political, social, economic, cultural events including famous people in South Florida. His large passion for reading includes books such as The Golden Bough, Post-Traumatic Slave Syndrome and many more.
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Tamu Quinton joined UHP as a Community Liaison in May of 2021. Tamu is a native of New York City, but currently resides as a resident and community member of Overtown in Miami, FL. One of Tamu’s goals is to work with communities in every developmental stage, assist in making positive change directly to families and neighborhoods while improving mobility and way of life. Tamu earned her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology with a minor in Psychology from Florida International University.
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Rosalind Ikem joined UHP in March of 2022. During the pandemic, she was fortunate enough to assist young adults and youth who needed assistance through fundraising and resources available within various communities. Her main goal is to continue helping people get assistance through resources available within the community and through social media. She is currently attending Miami Dade Medical College with the hope of becoming a lab science tech.
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Tara N. Kitt joined UHP as a Community Liaison in September 2021. Tara Kitt retired from MDCR/PTSB as a Pretrial Service Officer II in July 2020. Tara earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Florida Memorial College in 1984. She is an active member of Eta Phi Beta Sorority. She has resided in the Miami Gardens area since 1980. Tara is concerned about the wellbeing of the Senior citizens in her community, advocating for safer environments to live and work in.
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Louis joined UHP as a Community Liaison in July of 2021. Louis firmly believes in serving the community in which you live in is a duty to yourself and others. Currently, he is pursuing a second Master in Business Administration in Finance at Barry University. Louis earned a Bachelor’s in Information Technology in August 2018 and a Master’s in Public Administration from Barry University in May 2020. Louis enjoys volunteering as a team lead with the Haitian-American Reemployment Assistance (HACRA), a civic engagement program. HACRA is helping the Haitian community with limited access to technology to file for their unemployment benefits online. Those who have a language barrier will find assistance in Creole, their national language. He is also an active member of the Pirate Sportif Club, this club founded in 1953. His favorite hobbies include playing soccer and dancing. A Haitian native of the beautiful city, Pétion-Ville, Louis has lived in Davie, Florida with his family since 2012.
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Rasheeda Williams joined UHP as a Community Liaison in April 2021. She has over 18 years of experience in the food industry as a Chef. Rasheeda was born in Hollywood FL, and is deeply rooted in Hallandale, FL. Mrs. Williams has had the privilege to advocate for the community by being a union representative as well. Rasheeda‘s mission is to ensure that the community is aware, and their voices are heard.
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Myla Chapman joined UHP August 2022. She has over six years of social service experience, specifically with housing advocacy and homelessness. Born and raised in Detroit, MI, she now resides in Hollywood and is looking forward to continuing to adapt to the South Broward community while advocating for supportive services.
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Britney is known as one who makes Tiny but Mighty Transformations within their community. Britney has a passion for event coordinating, wellness and advocating for those in need of social and environmental change. While pursuing their Bachelors at Barry University for Criminology, she was invloved with various organizations passionate around leadership, domestic violence prevention and education around sexual orientation. Britney later joined a federal agency working as an Emergency Manager supporting survivors, faith-based and community based organizations in Disaster Relief. During the pandemic in 2020, Britney participated in a Co-op program ran by Catalyst Miami with intentions on learning about cooperatives and co-designing a community led hub focusing around improving overall wellness with their 10 years experience in physical fitness and future pursuit of their Masters’ in Counseling, specializing in Mental Health. As a South Broward native for the past 23 years in Pembroke Pines and Miramar, now in Davie/ Hollywood for the last four years, Britney is excited to join as a Community Liaison and bring her multifaceted assets to the UHP Team.
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Shelly Memnon is a dedicated and passionate Community Liaison at Urban Health Partnerships, where she works tirelessly to improve the lives of those around her. She proudly identifies as a single mother of two incredible boys and goes by the pronouns she/her/hers.
Shelly has been providing assistance and resources to her community for years and is excited to work alongside her coworkers and staff at Urban Health Partnerships to continue making a positive impact. With 10 years of experience as a preschool teacher, 2 years of study in medical billing and coding, Shelly is a reliable and hardworking individual with a strong passion for helping others.
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Melanie Rogers joined UHP in March 2022. She has over 15 years of experience in medical and community outreach. Born and raised in Miami, Melanie now resides in Homestead and is passionate about helping her community by advocating for health, wellness, and food security.
Wendy Quintero
Hialeah Community Liaison
she/her/hers
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Wendy Quintero joined UHP as a Community Liaison in October 2021. Wendy is a single mother of one child and has been working as a Medical Assistant in Hialeah since April 2021. She is a Venezuelan Doctor with a postgraduate degree in Public Health. Wendy has more than 20 Years of experience working to promote health and improve lifestyles in her community and wants to integrate olders adults into healthy lifestyles as well.
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Carmen Benitez joined UHP as a Community Liaison in October 2021. She has over 20 years in customer service, sales, and marketing. Carmen was born in Barranquilla, Colombia. She moved to the United States in her high school years. She has lived in Miami for over 35 years. She currently resides in Miami and enjoys spending time with her family especially her only daughter and her two grandsons.
Nathalie Buffaloe
Practicum Intern
she/her/hers
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Nathalie is a Practicum Intern Student at UHP. As a resident who toggled between Virginia and North Carolina, she made her way down to tropical Miami to earn her Master’s degree in Public Health at the University of Miami. With a BA in Psychology from St. John’s University Queens, New York, her goal as a CAPSTONE participant for UHP is to gather all that she’s learned and apply it to understanding food availability for the most vulnerable of the Miami-Dade population. Nathalie aims to better understand food policies and how to garner them to help communities obtain better food accessibility.
Savannah Gray
Practicum Intern
she/her/hers
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Savannah joined UHP this fall as a graduate Practicum Intern Student working with the Community-Driven Leadership Initiative. She has a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing from Emory University and is soon to complete her Master’s in Public Health from George Washington University. She has previous experience as a labor and delivery nurse, with a strong passion for educating families through childbirth and empowering women and communities to be informed decision makers in their reproductive health. She is interested in pursuing a career in community-driven program development and reproductive health education.
Nawaf Alhazmi
Practicum Intern
he/him/his
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Nawaf Alhazmi joined UHP as an intern at the Go For Health Growth Miami Garden
Project in September 2022. He is currently pursuing a Master’s in Public Health in Epidemiology at the University of Miami. Along with his interest in Internal Medicine and Medical Research, Alhazmi coordinated numerous health awareness campaigns to advocate for health promotion and disease prevention. He believes the evidence-based guidelines for eating a healthy diet are effective in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. Alhazmi is interested in developing healthy food policies to make nutritious food accessible and available to the community. In addition, he enjoys volunteering at the Sant La Center as a team member to support the Haitian community of South Florida to access healthy food.