About Us
Our Mission to address the social, structural, behavioral and environmental determinants of health in communities of concern by working to educate, advocate for and empower.
History
The Northeast Ohio Black Health Coalition (NEOBHC) was established in 2011 and is a non-profit 501(c) (3).
The NEOBHC is the first organization in the State of Ohio dedicated to addressing disparities in the black community.
Our vision is to achieve parity in the African American community.
National Award Winning Engagement
The Northeast Ohio Black Health Coalition
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2016 African American Male Wellness Walk, Committee Member
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2016 Nia Award “Purpose”, Ashbury Senior Computer Community Center
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2018 Making A Difference Award from Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Lambda Phi Omega Chapter
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2019 Voices of Health Champion, Aetna
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2019 National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. National Distinguished Health Leadership Advocate Award
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2023 League of Women Voters of Ohio’s Hallie Quinn Brown Empowerment Trailblazer Award
Our Strength
NEOBHC’s strength is in its ability to work across multiple sectors using unified approaches regarding education, advocacy and empowerment utilizing partnerships to specifically meet the unique needs of African Americans in Northeast Ohio. NEOBHC holds the following guiding principles for:
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Health Equity and Health Care Disparities Elimination
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Capacity Building
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Community Empowerment
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Social Justice
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Environmental Resilience
Our Team
Yvonka M. Hall, MPA, is a nationally recognized, award-winning health disparities expert, social
justice advocate, and the unstoppable force behind the Northeast Ohio Black Health Coalition
(NEOBHC). As the Executive Director and founder of NEOBHC—the first organization in Ohio
dedicated to addressing health disparities in the Black community—Yvonka has turned deep
personal tragedy into lifelong purpose.
Her fight for health equity is not just professional; it’s personal. In 1974, Yvonka’s mother,
Yvonne Boston Hall, was murdered—a devastating loss that reshaped her childhood. From that
moment, Yvonka made a solemn promise to dedicate her life to helping others. That promise
has fueled a career rooted in justice, resilience, and healing. Her life’s work is a living tribute to
her mother and a declaration that health, dignity, and justice are rights—not privileges.
Yvonka’s passion has led to the creation of transformative, community-based programs that
address the root causes of health inequities, serving thousands throughout Northeast Ohio and
beyond. Under her leadership, NEOBHC has emerged as a powerful coalition grounded in
education, advocacy, and empowerment.
Yvonka holds a Master of Public Administration from Texas Southern University and a Bachelor
of Arts from Notre Dame College. A proud graduate of Cleveland’s John Marshall High School,
she was inducted into its Alumni Hall of Fame in 2019.
A sought-after national speaker and respected thought leader, Yvonka has been recognized with
numerous prestigious honors. Her accolades include the 2024 Health Innovator to Watch by
the Boston Congress of Public Health, 2024 Crain’s Cleveland Notable Leader in Health
Care, and "Everyday Hero" by WEWS News 5 ABC Cleveland. She was also named a 2022
100 Women to KNOW Across America Honoree, 2021 Black Woman Green Future
Honoree, 2021 100 Women to KNOW in America, and received the 2021 Award of
Recognition from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
In addition to being a congressional award-winning public health expert, Yvonka is a
mother, grandmother, researcher, speaker, humanitarian, and philanthropist. She has
been a driving voice behind declaring racism a public health crisis and has led groundbreaking
efforts in environmental justice and food security. Her story has been preserved in The
HistoryMakers archive at the Library of Congress for future generations to know her impact.
Yvonka’s service includes national and regional leadership roles:
• Chair, Cleveland Lead Advocates for Safe Housing (CLASH)
• Co-Founder, Cleveland Lead Safe Network
• Chair, EPA National Justice Advisory Committee Farmworkers & Pesticides Workgroup
• Advisory Member, HHS Regional Health Equity Committee, Region V
• Member, National Library of Medicine Outreach and Advisory Groups
• Member, Air Quality Coalition
• Board Member, African American African Diaspora Community of Practice
• National Network for Justice
Her work has been featured in major publications such as The Washington Post and recognized
for its depth, credibility, and urgency. As a soldier for justice, Yvonka’s voice is consistent, clear,
and uncompromising: everyone deserves to live a healthy life—regardless of their race or
zip code.
Lashale Pugh, BS, BA, MS, PhD
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. Influenced by Jack Hanna, Steve Irwin, and an interest in crows, 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. Dr. Pugh is the Research and Evaluation Director for the Northeast Ohio Black Health Coalition. She enjoys presenting to audiences nationally she brings awareness to factors resulting in disparities in health outcomes, community-level health and disease patterns, and food justice issues. Commitment to community service is demonstrated through her involvement with several community organizations including the Youngstown Office on Minority Health, Hope Community Services, Goodness Grows (agricultural outreach), Mahoning Valley African American Male Wellness Walk Initiative.
She is also an entrepreneur and began production of Dr. Shale’s Mango Salsa in 2017 to share her passion for food and creativity. New products are being developed in order to expand the business. Her hobbies include reading, crafting, cooking and birdwatching. Dr. Pugh resides in Campbell, Ohio with her daughter, grandchildren, and Lula, the family dog.
Dr. Zachery Williams
is the Social Determinants of Health Director for the Northeast Ohio Resilience Centre. In addition to being a College
and University Professor, Dr. Williams is an ordained minister. Born in Greenwood, SC.
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.
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.
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).
Zina Hempstead
Finance and Grants Director
Zina Hempstead serves as the Finance and Grants Director for the Northeast Ohio Black Health Coalition. With over 20 years of experience driving financial success and resource development for non-profit organizations. Expertise includes working with organizations to develop sound financial planning and managing financial budgets to ensure organizational stability and growth. Passionate about supporting initiatives that improve community well-being and is committed to leveraging financial insight to make a positive impact. In her spare time, Zina enjoys spending time with her grandkids and traveling.
Erika Jarvis
Community Resilience Strategy Director
Erika Denise Jarvis is a passionate community engagement professional committed to equitable development and resident-led change. Most recently, she spent three years working for the nonprofit housing developer, The Community Builders (TCB), where she served in key roles including Community Engagement Manager and Manager of Resident Engagement and Neighborhood Partnerships on the Choice Neighborhood Implementation Project—a federally funded initiative administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). In this capacity, Erika led inclusive engagement strategies and cross-sector collaboration with partners such as the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority and the City of Cleveland, ensuring resident voices were central to neighborhood transformation efforts. Erika’s advocacy extends beyond her professional work through active volunteerism focused on housing and environmental justice, particularly in the area of preventing childhood lead poisoning in Cleveland, OH. She has served on nonprofit boards and contributed to community-driven policy efforts that promote healthy and thriving neighborhoods. She holds a Bachelors in Political Science and a Masters degree in Public Affairs, bringing a strong academic foundation to her work in advancing social impact and community resilience.
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.
