Represent ATL is guided by a diverse Board of Community Advisors, serving Black and African American populations across Atlanta. Represent ATL researchers consult our Board on a regular basis to make study decisions, recruit participants, and adjust collectively to the evolving COVID-19 situation. Keep reading to meet our Community Advisory Board members!

     

Ayanna Card

Ayanna Card is a career apparel technical designer who has crafted the clothing fit for the likes of big brands Hollister Company, Carter’s, Inc. and Honest Baby, as well as small business brands like Vertical Activewear. She is owner and creative director of needthattee.com, an e-commerce apparel and accessories company dedicated to self-expression and individuality. As a 25-plus year member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, she helps to advance the community currently through the Stone Mountain-Lithonia Alumnae Chapter. She has served as the chapter’s Ritual and Ceremonies and Fundraising Chairperson as well as the Parliamentarian. She spearheaded “From the House to the Yard” a panel-based workshop for high school seniors headed to college and their parents to prep both for the lifestyle change they will experience after graduation. She serves on the Represent Atlanta board as the previous Grants Management Chairperson of the chapter.

 

Gary S. Richey, Sr.

Gary S. Richey, Sr. represents the Nu Mu Lambda Chapter (DeKalb Alphas) of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. The Fraternity was founded in 1906 at Cornell University and is the first Greek letter organization founded by African-Americans. Its primary aims are to develop community leaders, advocacy, scholastic excellence and brotherhood. Mr. Richey is a retired certified public accountant who has held leadership positions in public accounting firms, higher education, community development coordination, and behavioral health and developmental disabilities services. As a former public health administrator, he possesses a keen interest in the research being performed by Represent ATL.

 

Trenton Taylor

Trenton Taylor is a proud member of the Nu Mu Lambda chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated. He and his chapter aim to spreads the light of Alpha, by implementing their national programs, throughout DeKalb County and beyond. Known as the “DeKalb Alphas”, Trenton and his members work to serve the needs of the community, from providing youth mentorship to advocating for voter registration rights. 

 

Watema Emmanuel

Watema Emmanuel, is a public health student and volunteer at Georgia State University Clarkston Campus’ Community Engagement Center. Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, he came to the United States as a refugee seeking safety and a better life for himself. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, he and his organization distributed over 20,000 masks and bottles of sanitizer to the largely immigrant and refugee communities surrounding the campus. Watema continues his public health work by sitting on the Represent ATL Community Advisory Board and acting as a leader for his tribe. His goal is to educate his community on proper public health practices and support them as they make important healthcare decisions.

 

Khadijah Ameen

Khadijah Ameen is co-founder of BLKHLTH inc., a Black-owned and operated non-profit organization located in Atlanta, Georgia with a mission to critically engage and challenge racism and its impact on Black health through education and action. BLKHLTH has been involved in racial health equity efforts over the course of the past several years through community health education events, health promotion campaigns, organizational training and capacity building, and research support.

 

Matthew McCurdy

Matthew McCurdy (he/him) is the Director of Programs of Health DesignED: The Acute Care Design + Innovation Center in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Emory University and is the President and Co-founder at BLKHLTH Inc, a non-profit that engages the public and health professionals on the impact of racism on the health of all Black people—then equips them to do something about it. 

Matthew is passionate about employing social science theory, health equity frameworks, and design to develop creative solutions that improve health outcomes for marginalized communities. Prior to his current role, Matthew served as a Presidential Management Fellow at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services where he worked to support Federal teams develop strategic and management plans that strengthened health, public health, and human services. Matthew has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Georgia State University and a Master of Public Health from Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health. 

 

Lisa Diane White

Lisa Diane White, MPH, currently serves as the chair of the Represent ATL Community Advisory Board, Georgia State University. She is also the Deputy Director at SisterLove, Inc. a nonprofit community-based organization in Atlanta, Georgia, dedicated specifically to the education, prevention and support needs of women at risk for HIV/AIDS and other reproductive health issues. She has 31 years of experience in

Black Women’s Health issues and their inclusion in community-led participatory research. Lisa Diane has been an outspoken feminist, educator, activist and advocate for the advancement of women and girls’ health and status globally including access to clinical trials, and biomedical HIV prevention. Lisa Diane is an accomplished and recognized speaker, facilitator, trainer and consultant. She expertly intersects many social justice issues, including feminism; women’s and LGBTQIA+ health and justice; sexual and reproductive justice; lesbian intimate partner violence; gender based violence; spirituality, healing, substance abuse; HIV/AIDS; Sexual Transmitted Infections (STI’s) intergenerational relationships, aging and human rights.

 

Reverend Maressa Pendermon, JD, M DIV

Reverend Maressa Pendermon is an ordained reverend in the Unity Fellowship Church Movement (UFCM) currently serving as senior pastor of Unity Fellowship of Christ Church, Greater Atlanta. She also works as a hospice chaplain, providing spiritual care for individuals living with a terminal diagnosis and their families. In addition, Reverend Pendermon is a community strategist as well as trained facilitator. She is passionate about social justice issues and peace building. She does her work in community with traditionally marginalized and low wealth individuals and communities from a human rights perspective; and through a womanist theological lens. A native of Boston, Massachusetts where she was raised in public housing, Maressa has been involved in advocacy, organizing and coalition building since the early 80”s. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Albany State University; a Juris Doctor from the University of Florida, College of Law; and a Masters of Divinity from Candler School of Theology at Emory University. She also holds facilitation and organizational development certifications from the Interaction Institute for Social Change in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Under Reverend Pendermon’ leadership, UFC, Greater Atlanta is focused on “opening the doors of the church wide.” It is the church’s motto and its action plan! It indicates that All are welcome to come in and the spiritual community also regularly goes out into the community to serve the unhoused, hungry, seniors, LGBTQIA youth and young adults and differently abled individuals and families. In addition, the church provides grief support and partners with justice seeking organizations to advocate for justice across an intersection of issues.