What our Nonprofit State Policy Fellows Learn:

• An overview of the State Legislative Process

• State Budget as a Policy

• Creating Individual Calls to Action & Organization Sign on Letters

• Social Media Advocacy

• Communicating Effectively with Policymakers and Staff

• Administrative Advocacy: Working with State Agency Leaders

• Mental Health and the Criminal Justice System

• Addressing Racial Disparities through Policy

At the Conclusion of the 12 Month Program

At the end of the program Fellows will have developed an action plan presented to their peers and leadership. Fellows will continue to receive support through the group listserv.

Time Commitment

Participants are expected to attend 90 minute -long monthly meetings and spend roughly 1-2 hours outside of monthly meetings reviewing materials, engaging in the online community, and meeting with others they identify as important in their state/county, and developing their action plan.

Meet our 2023-2024 Nonprofit State Policy Fellows

ALABAMA

University of Alabama- Birmingham /Alabama Perinatal Quality Collaborative
March of Dimes, Alabama

Britta Cedergren, MPH, MPA, is the Program Director in the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health. Britta directs the Alabama Perinatal Quality Collaborative and The Alabama Maternal Health Innovation and Data Capacity Program. Both programs are dedicated to driving down the rates of maternal and infant mortality and morbidity in Alabama. Britta’s career is heavily focused on maternal mortality and morbidity reduction through policy and systems change, collaboration and quality improvement. Britta was the previous Director of Maternal Child Health and Government Affairs for March of Dimes in Alabama where she advocated for programs and policies to improve maternal and infant health. Britta received her undergraduate degree from Virginia Commonwealth University in Health, Physical Education, and Exercise Science; a Master of Public Health and certificate in Global Women’s Health from New York Medical College; and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Washington. Throughout, Britta worked on projects at both domestic and international projects. 

Honour McDaniel, MPH, is the Director of Maternal and Infant Health Initiatives for March of Dimes in Alabama. A native of Franklin, Tennessee, Honour received her undergraduate degree in public health at the University of Kentucky. After undergraduate studies, Honour served in the AmeriCorps setting up and providing free vision screenings in preschools around Alabama. Once she completed time in the AmeriCorps, Honour received her MPH from the University of Alabama Birmingham in Maternal and Child Health Policy and Leadership and received a certificate in social marketing. She has background in program evaluation, needs assessment, and publications on evaluating infant mortality and reproductive coercion. Honour has worked with state entities in Alabama, Tennessee and Wisconsin. Honour serves as the chair of the Maternal Child Health/Substance Use Subcommittee of the Alabama Opioid Overdose and Addiction Council.

INDIANA

Healthier Moms and Babies
Allen County Drug & Alcohol Consortium / Mission Motherhood 

Paige Wilkins MSOL, CFRM, is the Executive Director of Healthier Moms and Babies, the only maternal child health organization in NE, Indiana, whose mission is to prevent and improve birth and maternal outcomes for babies and mothers. Paige’s nonprofit career spans over 20 years. Starting her career as a home visitor for a child abuse prevention program, she grew passionate about working in the community to eliminate barriers preventing families from being the best version of themselves. She has developed, implemented, and managed mid and large-size programs in the nonprofit sector, including overseeing federal and state contracts. At Healthier Moms and Babies, she has grown the organization significantly through innovative programming serving vulnerable women and their families in our community. Paige participates in various community collaborations to prevent and improve birth and maternal outcomes mortality in our region. She serves on the Women’s Fund of Greater Fort Wayne Steering Committee and the local Moms Demand Action Chapter. 

Jackie Martinez is the Programs Director at Healthier Moms and Babies. Jackie has over 15 years of community service through case management services and community outreach. She has her Master’s Degree in Nonprofit Management and the following trainings/certifications; Postpartum Support International Perinatal Mood Disorders "Components of Care" training certificate, Certified Lactation Specialist, Centering® Pregnancy Facilitator, Certified Baby & Me-Tobacco Free Program Facilitator, Certified Medical Interpreter, Certificate-Young Leaders of Northeast Indiana Institute.

Jennifer Norris-Hale, PMH-C, Is the founder of Mission: Motherhood and Training Coordinator for the Allen County Drug and Alcohol Consortium. She graduated from Indiana University-Bloomington with a degree in Apparel Merchandising and was in the apparel industry for over 10 years, spending most of that time building a career in Manhattan. Though her career took her to countries all over the world, it was in 2015 that she decided to make her way home and raise her children surrounded by family and friends. Since returning to Fort Wayne, she has continued developing her true passion in nonprofit work. She is an advocate for maternal mental health and was chosen as a TEDx Fort Wayne presenter in 2019 to speak on her experience with postpartum depression/anxiety. In 2020, she received her certification in Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders through Postpartum Support International. It is her mission to implement community-based programming for mothers, so they are seen, heard, and understood.

Tanya McKinney, MOL, is the Director of Operations for the Allen County Drug and Alcohol Consortium where she has worked since 2018. She is an experienced leadership professional with a demonstrated history of working in the Nonprofit Organization Management industry, and is skilled in Organizational Leadership, Substance Use Prevention, Motivational Interviewing, and Operational Efficiency. Tanya has years of experience in the prevention of child abuse and neglect. She is dedicated to addressing health disparities in marginalized communities with a focus on equitable health opportunities for all. Tanya graduated from Purdue Fort Wayne with a Bachelor of Science in Human Services and then with a Master of Organizational Leadership from the University of Saint Francis. At her core, she values being a Mother and working to address the inequalities in systems that will shape the future of her daughters and generations to come.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

New Futures

Michele Merritt, MPA, JD, has overall leadership and management responsibility for New Futures. With the Board of Directors, she establishes the strategic priorities for the organization. She leads the organization in advancing its mission by creating new possibilities for project initiatives and grants, fostering innovation, leveraging resources, establishing partnerships, and coordinating staff activities. In addition, she seeks to identify opportunities for collaboration between and among New Futures and public and nonprofit entities on policy and legislative issues of mutual concern such as public funding for treatment services and improving access to community-based supports for New Hampshire’s children and families.

Prior to assuming the role of President and CEO, Michele served as New Futures Senior Vice President and led the organization’s expansion into the areas of health and early childhood policy. In addition to overseeing and managing numerous grant initiatives related to New Futures’ mission and goals, Michele provided leadership, direction and expertise on access to treatment policy priorities. Michele comes to New Futures after serving as a hearing officer at the NH Department of Labor. 

Michele received her Bachelor of Arts and Masters in Public Administration from Clark University and her Juris Doctor from Penn State’s Dickinson School of Law. Michele was the 2013 recipient of Penn State Law’s Miller Public Interest Advocate and the Miller Pro Bono Advocate Awards and received a Public Service Graduate Fellowship, which supported her post-graduate work at the Disabilities Rights Center in Concord. 

Rebecca Woitkowski, JD, serves as the Kids Count Policy Director for New Futures. She works to coordinate and lead early childhood policy and advocacy efforts in New Hampshire. Prior to entering into this role, Rebecca worked in private practice focusing on civil litigation and family law. Her experience working directly with clients led her to seek out policy work to help improve the lives of New Hampshire families on a greater scale. Rebecca received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Southern New Hampshire University in 2008 and her Juris Doctor from the University of New Hampshire School of Law in 2011. As a life-long resident, Rebecca has a deep love for New Hampshire and is eager for the opportunity to use her legal skills to help advance policies that will positively impact her home state. 

NEW MEXICO

Postpartum Support International - New Mexico

Amanda Armenta, MBA, serves on the Family Friendly NM Business Leadership Council and the Postpartum Support International – New Mexico Board. Inspired by her lived experience as a two-time PMADs survivor, she is the founding Climb Leader for the annual Climb Out of the Darkness event in Albuquerque. Since 2016, she has raised awareness and funds in support of maternal mental health. She has been recognized as one of New Mexico’s 40 Under 40 and Women of Influence by Albuquerque Business First and as a Young Alumni Honoree from the Anderson School Hall of Fame.

Amanda is a Principal Human Resources Business Partner for Sandia National Laboratories. With 20+ years’ experience, Amanda has worked in the technology and construction fields in the private sector as well as national government and higher education. She is accomplished in development of people strategy and culture, communications, training/facilitation, and DEI. Amanda possesses an MBA from The University of New Mexico and has earned multiple HR, leadership, and diversity certifications. She has taught HR, Organizational Behavior, and Diversity courses at UNM and is a graduate of Leadership Albuquerque.

Sharon Ruyak, PhD, CNM, RN, is a certified nurse-midwife and faculty at the University of New Mexico, College of Nursing. She is currently a board member and secretary of the New Mexico Chapter of Postpartum Support International. Sharon has worked in service of maternal-child health for the past 36 years as a labor and delivery nurse, a certified nurse-midwife, and a nurse researcher. Her current focus is on how chronic stress affects the health and well being of birthing people and the implementation of community-based services to mitigate these effects. 

NEW YORK

Health Leads

Maris Gelman, MPH, is a Program Manager at Health Leads and a co-lead of the New York Coalition for Doula Access (NYCDA). She is a New York City based Public Health professional focused on maternal and reproductive health and program management. In her current role, Maris works on a variety of programs to ensure that birthing people have the resources and information they need to thrive. As a leader of NYCDA, Maris helps to run a statewide coalition of doulas and supportive allies that advocates for a living wage for doula services through Medicaid reimbursement and a doula friendly hospital designation. Maris spearheads the coalition’s advocacy strategy to achieve statewide goals through legislation.

Maris started her public health career as a Community Health Organizer and Sex Educator in Montefiore’s school-based health program in the Bronx and served as the Director of Constituent Services and Community and Women’s Health Director in the New York State Senate. Maris earned a Bachelors of Liberal Arts from Hampshire College and a Masters of Public Health with a focus on Maternal, Reproductive, Sexual and Child Health, from the CUNY School of Public Health and Health Policy.

Jennifer Gonzalez is a Program Associate at Health Leads and a co-lead of the New York Coalition for Doula Access (NYCDA). She is a New York City based community doula and breastfeeding consultant focused on Maternal Health, Reproductive Health, and an Advocate for Community Based Doulas. In her current role, Jennifer works in various projects to ensure that maternal health clients are receiving the care and respect they deserve, and most importantly always advocating for their voices to be brought to the table when designing programs that involve them. Jennifer understands that when birthing people are equipped with the knowledge and information they need, they can make informed decisions that can be lifesaving, especially for people of color. She helps run a statewide coalition for doulas to ensure that they receive an equitable reimbursement rate through Medicaid and a doula friendliness hospital designation. Jennifer focuses on the membership engagement and communications in the coalition.

Jennifer began her career in public health as a Community Health Worker for maternal health clients in 2019. She provided support and resources to families in the Boston Public School System during the Covid-19 pandemic and worked closely with the Spanish speaking immigrant population. In 2021, she completed her doula training and became a full spectrum doula and breastfeeding consultant. 

NORTH DAKOTA

Foundation for a Healthy North Dakota

Shelly Davis, MPA, MPH, is a Coalition Health Director for the Foundation for a Healthy North Dakota and an Indigenous Populations Research Coordinator for the National Resource Center on Native American Aging. Shelly also serves as the Indigenous Public Health Section chair and the Policy and Advocacy Committee co-chair for the North Dakota Public Health Association. She currently serves as a facilitator for a state-wide workgroup exploring critical questions of medical assistance coverage for perinatal health services in North Dakota, including doula care and behavioral health supports for pregnant and postpartum individuals. Shelly has over 10 years of experience in public health and health administrative work. She holds a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of North Dakota and a Master of Public Health degree from the North Dakota State University, with a specialization in American Indian Public Health. 

Elizabeth Pihlaja, MPH, is the Associate Executive Director of the Foundation for a Healthy North Dakota, where she can merge her love of coaching, strategic planning, community outreach, and education. She received both her B.S. in Child Psychology and Master of Public Health degree in Maternal and Child Health from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities.

 After over a decade in public health, and having held a wide variety of jobs, from teaching preschool to administering multi-million-dollar grant programs, Elizabeth considers herself a jack-of-all-trades. Elizabeth previously worked as a Senior Dissemination Specialist within the national nonprofit ZERO TO THREE. She was also the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program Administrator for the state of North Dakota for nearly five years.

Elizabeth lives in small-town Minnesota with her husband, two children, and pets. A first-generation descendant of the White Earth Nation, she loves beading and learning traditional practices and crafts in her free time. Elizabeth is also a birth doula and is passionate about expanding access to full-spectrum doula care, especially in rural areas.

PENNSYLVANIA

March of Dimes

Melissa Patti, MSW, is the Director of Maternal and Infant Health Initiatives at the Greater Philadelphia and South Jersey March of Dimes where she focuses on supporting families through advocacy, programs, and community engagement. She comes to March of Dimes from Maternity Care Coalition where she most recently led strategic partnership and infrastructure development efforts. Melissa is passionate about health equity and improving care access for all moms, pregnant people, and babies. She proudly serves on workgroups such as the Pennsylvania Doula Commission Advisory Board, PA Perinatal Quality Collaborative Advisory Group, The OVA (Organizing Voices for Action), and the PA Health Equity Action Team. She earned degrees from Temple University and the University of Pittsburgh and has been supporting Pennsylvania families for over 15 years as a Clinical Social Worker, trained Birth Doula, and Childbirth Educator.

Bryanna McDaniel, MPH, is the Director of Maternal and Infant Health Initiatives, Western PA, for the March of Dimes. Born in Texas, she has made Pittsburgh her home for the last few years. Her professional experiences revolve heavily around the non-profit and governmental sectors. She has gained experience in various fields, including but not limited to those related to sexual violence and intimate partner violence, transportation equity, LGBTQ+ issues, birth equity, and food access. Her goal is to make communities safe and healthy for all, regardless of income, race, sexuality, or status. Bryanna earned her Masters of Public Health from the University of Southern California. 

VIRGINIA

Birth In Color RVA 

Kenda Sutton-EL, BHSc, is the Founding Executive Director of Birth In Color. Birth In Color is the leading organization that focuses on care of people of color and implementation of doulas into the workforce. She is the Activist that started raising awareness and creating initiatives for Black Maternal Health In Virginia. Kenda holds a Bachelor’s in Health Science and is also a Doula Trainer, Diversity Equity Inclusion Consultant, and Policy Analyst, amongst other things.

Kenda had the pleasure of sitting on Vice President Kamala Harris roundtable discussion on Reproductive Health and currently serves as the Virginia Doula Taskforce Chair, Chair of the Greater Richmond Regional Maternal Child Health Taskforce, and serves on the Virginia Maternal and Data outcomes Taskforce and the Pregnancy Services for Incarceration Workgroup. In 2019, Kenda helped establish “Black Maternal Health Week” and also led the campaign for Doula Medicaid Reimbursement for the state of Virginia. Her passion for reproductive justice has led her to relentlessly pursue methods of improving maternal health for women of color. She firmly believes that until every woman is safe before, during, and after childbirth, we have not done our job as a society. In 2021, Kenda was the recipient of the “women of the year’ ACHI Magazine Award and Urban One Hometown Hero Award. 

Sequoi Phipps-Hawkins is a Community-Based Doula in Richmond and Birth in Color RVA Director of Communications and Marketing. Sequoi is passionate about maternal health and reproductive justice. With 7+ years working in the nonprofit sector in the US and partnering with organizations around the world, Sequoi strongly believes that the work we do to invest in communities at all levels is some of the most valuable work being done today. From her studies in Human Geography and Urban Development at the University of Mary Washington, Sequoi says "It became quickly evident to me that investment in women is the avenue to invest in and support families. The data shows that when women and birthing people are taken care of, the entire familial unit thrives."

Past Participants

2020-2021 Nonprofit State Policy Fellows
2021-2022 Nonprofit State Policy Fellows
2022-2023 Nonprofit State Policy Fellows