Executive Team

With 10 years of professional experience in public health, Aumani Harris, MPH, has worked to address tobacco use, substance abuse prevention, and opioid misuse in Western Mass. She serves as a college professor at Holyoke Community College, teaching students fundamental skills and practical analysis to become certified community health workers. Aumani is the founder of the Women In Need of Empowerment (WINE) Conversation Series social events for women. WINE Conversation brings women together to have authentic discussions about systemic and patriarchal barriers that deter women's advancement. As a co-founder of Queens Narrative, she works with partners to facilitate community programming, initiatives, and events to support the empowerment and upliftment of women and girls. 

Samantha Hamilton has over 23 years of experience leading initiatives in Springfield, MA, focused on gang violence, substance abuse prevention, climate change, food access, age-friendly communities, teen dating violence, and health equity. As Director of Coalition Building and Community Engagement at the Public Health Institute of Western Mass, she partners with organizations, city officials, and regional leaders to address racial and health disparities in communities affected by climate change, food deserts, and disinvestment. A bestselling author, Samantha is a 2021 BusinessWest 40 Under 40, 2021 Springfield Kwanzaa Community Impact, and 2024 100 Women of Color honoree, and a 2023–2024 Marquis Who’s Who inductee.

Candice Renee Person, MScEd | MFA, is a curriculum developer, educator, and consultant with over 20 years of experience in urban public schools. She has led initiatives to boost family engagement, foster school-community partnerships, and improve student outcomes. As a professional development leader, she has trained educators on equity, inclusivity, and organizational growth. Through her company, Chelonia Change Collective, Candice empowers youth-serving organizations with leadership, content development, and training expertise. Passionate about impactful learning and advocacy, she is committed to supporting underserved communities and driving meaningful change.

Nzima Hutchings, Enfield Poet Laureate, is a master teaching artist and founder of Hartford’s Literary Integrated Trailblazers, the Hartford Book Festival, and Every Kinda Lady LLC. She has 17 years of experience as a Master Teaching Artist & Advocate. An Amherst Writers and Artists (AWA) affiliate and member of the National Association for Poetry Therapy, Nzima bridges creativity and healing through transformative workshops. Her work empowers individuals to share their stories, build resilience, and celebrate the written word. Partnering with schools, clinics, and organizations, she fosters local and global connections. Whether hosting her poetry television show or leading retreats, Nzima inspires and uplifts.

Lanea Collins is a multidisciplinary artist, poet, teaching artist, and creative facilitator whose work centers art as a pathway to healing, connection, and transformation. She is the Founder and Creative Director of Creative Healing Solutions, a creative arts organization offering trauma-informed, expressive arts experiences for individuals and communities. Lanea also serves as

Creative Director of the Teaching Artist Hub, supporting artists and educators through professional development and collaboration. Her leadership extends to advocacy as a board member of the Middletown Racial Justice Coalition, where she contributes to community-centered equity initiatives. Drawing from lived experience and professional practice, Lanea designs workshops, performances, and programs that uplift under-voiced stories through poetry, theater, movement, and visual storytelling. Her work prioritizes women, youth, and collective healing, honoring creativity as both medicine and movement.

 Gricelides Saex has over 20 years of experience in the Human Services field, bridging communities with health and social service systems. She has served Springfield, Holyoke, Chicopee, and nearby areas as an Outreach Worker, Program Coordinator, Case Manager, Counselor, and Certified Healthcare and Legal Interpreter. Recently, she worked as a Community Health Worker (CHW) and Recovery Coach. Currently, Gri is a CHW/Transportation Specialist at Baystate Health and volunteers as a Resident Advisor for Live Well Springfield and the Healthy Air Network. She is a member of MACHW/NACHW and the Pioneer Valley Asthma Coalition, advocating for equity and health.

A 31-year-old Afro-Latina (Puerto Rican) native to Springfield, MA. Attended courses in Business Administration at Springfield Technical Community College & graduated in Health Science from Roger L. Putnam Vocational High School. Was a resident to Baltimore, MD from 2012-2018. A Certified Cardiac Monitor Technician that worked at Baystate Health until 2021. Currently has certifications and creditionals with the following organizations: Massachusetts Affordable Housing Alliance, Project Management Institute, Understanding AG, & Google. Became a scholarship recipient with ROVI Homes to attend Freedom Trail Realty School, Inc. In the process of obtaining the Massachusetts Real Estate Agent License. Has a career in the Banking/Financial industry & a Notary Public. Likes to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity & an Advcoate for Divine Drops, a Non-Profit Organization for sustainable period soultions. 

Priscilla Rucks-Smith is a mission-driven professional deeply committed to empowering women and young girls through mentorship, advocacy, and community-centered leadership. Guided by her lived experience, she believes in the transformative power of representation, support, and access in helping women and girls recognize and step into their full potential.

Throughout her professional and personal journey, Priscilla has been an advocate for inclusive spaces that uplift voices often left unheard and has actively supported mentorship efforts that foster confidence, growth, and leadership development. She brings a thoughtful, empathetic approach to collaboration, grounded in listening, accountability, and relationship-building.

As a new board member, Priscilla is excited to contribute her perspective while continuing to learn and grow in her role. She values integrity, shared leadership, and mission alignment, and looks forward to supporting programs and policies that invest in the success, well-being, and leadership of the next generation of women and girls.

Victoria Hill, MPH (she/her) has 10 years of experience in public health, working with communities to promote health equity, provide health education, and make data accessible and actionable. Her career began as a community health worker with a focus on asthma and falls prevention. She then went on to work with the Public Health Institute of Western MA where she became the Manager of Data and Equity. Currently, Victoria is the Healthy Homes Asthma Program Coordinator at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health where she is working to implement a comprehensive asthma home visiting program to serve people with asthma in Springfield, Holyoke, and Chicopee.

Brenda Hill is a poet from Springfield, MA. She is the founder of I’m So Fly Productions. Her poetry has appeared in Nautilus II, 30 Poems in November, and the Bard Microcollege Zine. She serves as a Writing Consultant/Teachers Assistant at Bard Microcollege in 

Holyoke, MA, where she graduated in 2019. 

Dr. MiChelle Toni McComb

Toni relocated to Springfield MA from Hartford CT in June of 2006. She became a volunteer mentor for the Hampden County Sheriff's Department through the All-Inclusive Support Services program and has been serving individuals returning to the community for over 16 years. Toni is a graduate of the Clemente Course in the Humanities class of 2017 and currently holds a B.S. in Human services through Springfield College, a Masters Degree in Biblical Studies and Doctorate in Divinity through the New York Christian Bible College.

Through the Clemente Course in Humanities, Toni connected with Mass Humanities where she currently sits on the board of directors and annually hosts Reading Frederick Douglass Together

Springfield.