Aspen Global Innovators Group

The Aspen Global Innovators Group is proud to announce the new class of the Healthy Communities Fellowship. In its seventh year, the fellowship is dedicated to investing in community-based leaders driving solutions for healthy, thriving communities across the U.S. Please join us in welcoming them! The 2025 Healthy Communities Fellows are based in North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Texas. SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS FELLOWS Brandi Coleman | Founder & CEO, The Lemonade Circle Brittany B. | Founder & Director of Social Media, Urban Run Club SATX RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS FELLOWS Jorge Rodriguez, LMSW | Director, Buckner Family Hope Center at Pe?itas and Donna Monica Hernandez Sanchez | CEO, Behavioral Health Solutions of South Texas TULSA, OKLAHOMA FELLOWS Joi-Michelle Rhodes | Adult Outpatient Therapist, Counseling & Recovery Services of Oklahoma Jameelah Stuckey, M.B.A. | Senior Manager, TNTP & Director of Program Management, African American Leadership Academy of Tulsa DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA FELLOWS William J. | Founder, Village of Wisdom Quinny Sanchez Lopez | Co-Founder, Somos Durham Learn more about these incredible leaders and the fellowship at https://lnkd.in/gyinXFqF #HealthyCommunities #innovators

#fellowspotlight? Congratulations to our 2022 Healthy Communities Fellow, Dr. Jabraan S Pasha, MD, FACP, on his well-deserved new role with the City of Tulsa! Starting today, Jabraan will serve as a Senior Advisor of Community Health?in the Mayor’s Office, where Jabraan will focus on fostering cross-sector relations with community health partners and ensuring long-term success of City strategies and focuses on health equity. We are excited to see the impact he’ll make and look forward to celebrating Tulsa’s achievements with him. Read the release here: https://lnkd.in/gM_zqgFr #globalinnovators?

#ProjectSpotlight: North Carolina The Mayor’s Health & Wellness Initiative in Henderson, NC launched a Rural Community Resilience Center (RCRC) with their key partner North Carolina Central University to tackle health inequities and boost access to care and essential services for rural communities. This center serves as a hub for health education, workforce investment, and civic engagement—empowering local residents to lead healthier lives and strengthen community resilience. As the first program where local government is directly involved in community health services, the RCRC will provide education, essential health services, workforce investment, and promote civic engagement. This center serves as a catalyst for positive change, focusing on improving social determinants of health and fostering long-term community resilience. Meet the Leaders: Melissa Elliott – Community Health Worker, Mayor of Henderson & Executive Director of Gang Free Inc.: A criminal justice and community engagement expert with years of experience in raising awareness about gang culture and promoting safety in rural communities Meki Shewangizaw, MPH – Community Engagement Senior Project Manager, Partners In Health-US: A community health and advocacy expert focused on local health initiatives Together, Melissa and Meki are driving the RCRC’s mission to provide equitable healthcare access and empower residents to thrive. Partners In Health, RWJF, University of Global Health Equity

#ProjectSpotlight: Minneapolis ? Today we spotlight our Global Collaborative fellow, Damon Chaplin, and his transformative efforts in Minneapolis. Challenge: Minneapolis Native and African American communities face significant health inequities, particularly in communities affected by systemic issues such as substance misuse, chronic poverty, and historical health disparities. Many community members, especially in impacted areas, have a distrust of municipal government and law enforcement, making it difficult to effectively implement public health interventions and provide access to care. Minneapolis Health Department Commissioner Damōn Chaplin recognized the challenges and is committed to rebuilding trust and building healthier communities.?? ? Solution: Under Commissioner Chaplin’s leadership, the Minneapolis Health Department is working to restore community trust through a coordinated, multi-agency approach. The department prioritizes peace, prosperity, self-governance, and neighborhood stability for everyone who lives, works, and visits the city. ? With the Minneapolis Health Department spearheading the project, the focus is on aligning public health services, improving access to treatment, and fostering collaboration among stakeholders to create lasting change. ? #CommunityLeadership #GlobalCollaborative ?Partners In Health, RWJF, University of Global Health Equity

?? Mark your calendars! Launching Next Generation Africa: Voices of the Aspen Institute Community, an inspiring event celebrating Africa’s changemakers who are shaping the future of their communities and beyond. This event will bring together diverse stakeholders from the public and private sectors and feature our Impact West Africa Fellows. ? Stay tuned for more details!? #NextGenAfrica2025 #globalinnovators #AspenInstitute #SocialImpact ANDE West Africa, The Aspen Institute

Every brushstroke, every color, every detail tells a story. This International Women’s Day, we are celebrating the journeys of women leaders in the AGI network through?art—a reflection of their experiences, resilience, and vision. From moments of challenge to triumph, these artworks capture the depth of their journeys in ways words cannot.?Join us as we honor their stories—told not just through voices, but through the language of art. This campaign is a celebration of every woman in the AGI network—visionaries, changemakers, and leaders—who continue to inspire and uplift. ? We invite you to explore this stunning collection on our site and celebrate the impact of women leading change across the globe. ? Visit to see the full gallery:?https://lnkd.in/eRWGeNqY ? Also, share your piece of art by reposting or commenting below??? #globalinnovators The Aspen Institute

#fellowspotlight Our Impact West Africa fellow,?Kaata Minah She/her, has written a powerful op-ed on the urgent need to end?female genital mutilation (FGM)—a practice that has affected over?200 million women and girls worldwide?(according to UNFPA)and remains deeply entrenched in cultural traditions. In?Sierra Leone,?83% of women?aged 15–49 have undergone FGM, often as part of cultural traditions tied to the Bondo Society—a space of sisterhood and solidarity. Her piece reflects on the?lasting impact of FGM on health, education, and autonomy, while considering the deep cultural significance it holds for many communities. Read her first op-ed here: https://lnkd.in/epDTTCtz #firstoped #globalinnovators #impactwestafrica

#ProjectSpotlight: Rwanda Our Global Collaborative fellows are implementing a transformative youth-led mental health program in rural Rwandan schools, targeting the alarming prevalence of mental health issues among adolescents—nearly 20%. The Challenge: Limited awareness and lack of accessible, youth-friendly mental health services contribute to rising cases of depression (10%) and anxiety (9%) among Rwandan youth. The Solution: This innovative program focuses on: - Youth-Led Initiatives: Empowering young people to lead mental health awareness campaigns. - Peer Support Systems: Establishing a network of trained peers to offer support and guidance. - Technology-Enabled Screening: Utilizing tech tools to facilitate mental health screenings and connections to care. All activities are conducted within the school environment, with youth taking the lead and local health facilities ensuring access to necessary resources. Meet the Leaders: Vincent K. Cubaka – Head of Knowledge & Social Medicine Division, Partners In Health-Rwanda: a medical doctor, health systems researcher, and educator with a wealth of experience in various healthcare capacities Musafiri Jean Baptiste – Executive Director, Integrated Health Organization (IHO) Rwanda: a medical doctor and clinical psychologist with an extensive 23-year background in public health.? @Niyigena Pierre Celestin – Community Health Based and Education Program Director, Partners In Health-Rwanda: A public health expert with 15 years of experience in program implementation, clinical training, research, and quality improvement These visionary leaders are dedicated to nurturing resilience among Rwandan youth and unlocking their potential for a brighter future. Make sure to sign up for our newsletter and visit our website to learn more about their work. #GlobalCollaborative #MentalHealthAwareness #YouthLeadership #Rwanda

Applications close on February 28! Aspen Global Innovators Group has partnered with?Merck?and MSD to launch a new round of requests for proposals (RFPs) for their Solutions for Healthy Communities (SHC) grant program, which aims to improve access to healthcare for underserved communities through innovative, community-led solutions around the globe. Visit Merck.com/SHC for grant guidelines and additional information.? Apply TODAY!! #globalinnovators

Meet Advanced Advocacy Program Fellow: ?Huguette Diakabana Huguette is an experienced system-level change agent and as the Founder of The Luminous Agency, she hosts initiatives focused on empowering transformation through technologies in collaboration with UN bodies, private sectors, CSOs, local communities, and governments. Her groundbreaking impact: - She led digital programs and training initiatives in Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Asia, empowering local teams to identify, adopt, and manage sustainable technologies for improved health outcomes. - She spearheaded the End of Polio task force to expand community-based disease surveillance through digital tools in the Lake Chad region. - She directly led the training of over 2,000 surveillance officers across four countries. The effort continues to expand. Huguette continues to lecture on digital transformation in global health at the Harvard Medical School's Division of Corporate Learning, equipping professionals with the strategies and tools to drive sustainable, data-driven change in their regions. Now joining our Advanced Advocacy Program, Huguette will gain additional tools and training to expand her impact in the digital health space. Read the full announcement here: https://lnkd.in/eAuDSaKr #globalinnovators #advancedadvocacyprogram #AdvancedAdvocacy, #AAPfellow