Yvonka Marie Hall, MPA, RA, CTTS, GRMS

Executive Director

 

Yvonka M. Hall, MPA is the Executive Director of the nationally recognized Northeast Ohio Black Health Coalition. She received a Master of Public Administration from Texas Southern University and a Bachelor of Arts from Notre Dame College. She is a proud John Marshall High School graduate in Cleveland, Ohio, and a 2019 inductee into the Alumni Hall of Fame. The Cleveland Plain Dealer named her the HomeGrown Hero for her work addressing food insecurity during the pandemic. The significance of her life, leadership, and accomplishments were selected for The HistoryMakers archives for the Library of Congress, which recognizes notable African Americans.

 

The 1974 murder of her mother Yvonne Boston Hall dramatically changed her life; her childhood promise to use her life to help others has lead to the creation of cutting-edge programs and impacted thousands of people’s lives. She was named as 100 Women to Know in America. 

 

She is a mother, grandmother, and activist deeply impassioned and involved in social justice activities locally and nationally. Her work is designed to address equity issues in the community and highlight the need for policy in calls to declare racism a public health crisis. She was honored as a Black Green Woman in 2021. She was named to the National Environmental Protection Agency National Justice Advisory Committee, where she serves as the Farmworkers and Pesticides Workgroup chair. In 2023, WEWS News Channel 5, she was named one of fifty Everyday Heroes Making a Difference in Cuyahoga County.

 

She is a member of numerous local and national organizations. She is a nationally recognized Congressional award-winning health disparities expert. She was named a Health Innovator to Watch by the Boston Congress of Public Health in 2024. Crain’s Cleveland Business recently named her as a Notable Leader in Health Care. She speaks nationwide about effectively engaging the African American Community the Art of Community Engagement. 

 

She is an activist, leader, influencer, humanitarian, speaker, researcher and philanthropist. 

​

Lashale Pugh, PhD, MS, BA, BS

Research and Evaluation Director

​

Dr. Pugh was born in Youngstown, Ohio and grew up in Chicago, Illinois. She returned to Youngstown to attend Youngstown State University at age 35, majoring in Biology and Geography. Dr. Pugh was educated in Chicago Public schools for elementary and Elizabeth Seton High School in South Holland, Illinois. She received her Bachelors’ (‘00) in Biology and Geography and Masters (’02) in Biology from Youngstown State University and later attended the University of Maryland – College Park where she received her PhD in Geography (’09). Her interest in wildlife was influenced by Jack Hanna, Steve Irwin, and an interest in crows and led to her research of public health issues, by connecting an interest in wildlife to human health outcomes during the first outbreak of West Nile Virus. 

Presenting to audiences nationally, she highlights factors resulting in disparities in health outcomes, community-level health and disease patterns, and food justice issues. Pugh’s article, “Geographic Patterns of Years of Potential Life Lost (YPLL) for Mahoning County, Ohio Census Tracts 2010,” was published in Papers in Applied Geography in 2016. Her commitment to community service is demonstrated through her involvement with community organizations including the Youngstown Office on Minority Health, Hope Community Services, Goodness Grows (agricultural outreach), Mahoning Valley African American Male Wellness Walk Initiative, ACTION, the Healthy Food Partnership and The Northeast Ohio Black Health Coalition. 

​

Dr. Pugh’s awards include the Healthy Hero Award from The African American Male Wellness Walk committee in 2013, the David T. Stephens Alumni of the Year Award from Youngstown State University Geography Department in 2010, Early Career Faculty Workshop StipendCollege of William and Mary, 2010 and was listed in the 2001 edition of Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. During the summer of 2000, she was awarded a Fellowship by the Greater Akron Audubon Society ($1000), a Research Travel Grant from the American Association of University Women ($250) to present her research results at a conference in Newfoundlandand in 2002 she received a Doctoral fellowship to attend the University of Maryland at College Park.

​

Dr. Pugh is also an entrepreneur and began production of Dr. Shale’s Mango Salsa in 2017 to share her passion for food and creativity. In October, 2020 Dr. Pugh began teaching a virtual cooking class for the Seniors Offering Service program offered through ACTION, MYCAP and Christ Centered Church in Youngstown. The classes provide her the opportunity to share her own recipes while helping the participants stay connected and active during the pandemic. Her hobbies include reading, crafting, sewing, cooking and birdwatching. Dr. Pugh resides in Campbell, Ohio with her daughter, grandchildren, and Tank, the family dog. 

 

Zachary Williams, PhD.

Social Determinants of Health Director​

​

A native of Greenwood, South Carolina, Dr. Williams is the Social Determinants of Health Director for the Northeast Ohio Black Health Coalition. He was formerly the Associate Professor of History at The University of Akron. He is the Director of the Africana Cultures and Policy Studies Institute, a non-partisan scholar-activist public
policy think tank that uses African American History to understand and solve major public policy issues and social problems. He founded the Black Male Summit and received its highest honor in 2017 the Legacy Award.

As a scholar and public intellectual, he has published articles in The Journal of American Studies of Turkey, The Journal of Pan African Studies, and The Journal of African American Men. He is the author of In Search of the Talented Tenth: Howard University Intellectuals and the Dilemmas of Race in Academia, 1926-1979 (Columbia: University of Missouri, 2009) and editor of Africana Cultures and Policy Studies: Scholarship and the Transformation of Public Policy (New York:
Palgrave Macmillan, 2009).

As a philosophy of life, Zach lives by the wisdom of Howard Thurman who said, “There is something in every one of you that waits and listens for the sound of the genuine in yourself. It is the only true guide you will ever have. And if you cannot hear it, you will spend all of your life spend your days on the ends of strings that somebody else pulls.”

​​

Zina Hempstead

Finance and Grants Director

​

Samario Ford

Community Engagement Director

Samario Ford serves as the Community Engagement Director at the Northeast Ohio Black Health Coalition (NEOBHC), where he focuses on strengthening community connections and advancing health equity. His work centers on designing programs that empower, educate, and uplift underserved populations across Northeast Ohio.

​

Samario has successfully led a variety of community-based initiatives, including Aches, Pains, and Automobiles, a wellness and car care event; A Talk with My Brother, a space for open dialogue among Black men; and Penny Wise, a financial literacy class targeting predatory lending. These programs reflect his dedication to responsive outreach and holistic support.

​

With a background in technical industries and grassroots advocacy, Samario brings a unique blend of practical skills and community insight. He is passionate about creating safe, inclusive environments that promote long-term wellness and opportunity for all.

​

Kayla M. Boston

Administrative Coordinator

​

Kayla M. Boston is currently the Administrative Coordinator for the Northeast Ohio Black Health Coalition. She is currently a student at Cuyahoga Community College, working on her degree in Health Information Management. She is the proud mother of three. 

​

Karrington Jones

Communication and Events Contractor

​

Karrington Jones serves as the Programs Director at the Northeast Ohio Black Health Coalition (NEOBHC), where she helps bridge the gap between ideas and flourishing outcomes. With over seven years of experience in project coordination, executive support, and health equity, she brings operational excellence and a deep commitment to advancing community well-being.

​

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Administration from Loyola University Chicago and will be pursuing her Master of Science in Nursing in the next year to further her impact at the intersection of healthcare and advocacy. Karrington has supported and led global conferences, including her work with the Alzheimer’s Association, where she managed international convenings and provided comprehensive executive support.

​

A proud and active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Karrington has held leadership roles within the organization and remains dedicated to service, sisterhood, and social action. She is passionate about building systems that empower Black communities and create sustainable, community-driven change across Northeast Ohio and beyond.

​

Honey Bell Bey

Development and Annual Giving Director

​

​

Betty Haliburton

Promotional and Communication Contractor

Born and raised in Elyria, Ohio, Betty J. Halliburton is an Emmy award-winning journalist, independent film producer, and multimedia architect with a professional career spanning more than 38 years. She is currently a contributing producer for Ideastream Public Media, Northeast Ohio’s regional PBS outlet. According to Ideastream’s Chief Content Officer Mark Rosenberger, Halliburton’s journalism features diverse human experiences and demonstrates qualities such as substance, curiosity, credibility, and accuracy.

In 2023, Halliburton’s docuseries, Black Women: Our Hope, Health, and Healing
received the Audience Choice Award (Shorts) at the Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival (GCUFF) and was broadcast on WVIZ TV 25 (PBS). The subsequent series installment, Women of Hope, premiered at GCUFF in September 2024.

Halliburton holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Broadcast Journalism from Ohio
University. Her broadcasting career includes more than ten years at various radio stations such as WJTB 1040 AM, WZAK 93 FM, WJMO 1040 AM, and WCPN 90.3 FM, where she worked as a producer, radio personality, reporter, and talk show host. She also spent a decade at WUAB TV 43 and its sister station WOIO CBS 19, serving as a news reporter, anchor, and co-host/producer of the public affairs program 43 Focus. Halliburton earned an Emmy for her television series, Silence the Violence.

 

Additionally, she received recognition for PHTV’s Emmy award-winning series Wisdom from Within and the documentary A Family’s Story, which examined cancer in the Black community.

Halliburton has served as CEO Communications Director for the MetroHealth System, as communications director for two school districts, and developed communication strategies for five Urban League CEOs.

Established in 2020, Halliburton is the CEO of Intentional Content, Inc. (IC), a multimedia firm, offering a comprehensive range of services that specialize in communication management, and the creation of content purposefully designed for and about people of color. She served as the producer of the Northeast Ohio Black Health Coalition’s documentary The Rona, that focused on the effects of COVID in the Black community. In addition, she served as a content creator of several NEOBHC Public Service Announcements (PSAs).

​

Kenneth Otoo

Owner of Niijhay Photography

​
Kenneth Otoo is a Ghanaian-born creative visionary, founder, and CEO of Niijhay Photography a brand rooted in authenticity, culture, and artistic excellence. Raised in Accra, Ghana, Kenneth grew up surrounded by vibrant color, storytelling tradition, and the natural beauty of West Africa. These early influences continue to shape his work across photography, design, and digital media.

Through Niijhay Photography, Kenneth delivers powerful portrait sessions, event photography, and visual content for personal brands and businesses alike. His ability to blend technical skill with cultural influence allows him to produce visuals that feel both professional and deeply personal.

In addition to photography, Kenneth is also a passionate t-shirt designer, graphic designer, and web designer. His eye for composition and color translates effortlessly into stylish streetwear, engaging digital interfaces, and bold visual branding. Whether he's working on a fashion design for his apparel line or building a website for a local business, Kenneth brings the same creative energy and dedication to detail across all mediums.

Outside of his creative work, Kenneth finds joy and inspiration in the kitchen—cooking is one of his favorite hobbies and a meaningful way he stays connected to his culture. The process of creating something from scratch, whether it’s a new dish or a new design, is what drives him daily.

Very soon, the mother company that will unify all of Kenneth’s businesses and creative ventures will come to life a bold step toward building a powerful brand ecosystem that reflects his vision, values, and roots.
 

Through Niijhay Photography and his expanding creative platforms, Kenneth’s mission is to bridge cultures, inspire creativity, and celebrate identity. His work reflects where he’s from, where he’s going, and the passion he brings to every project along the way.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

​

​