ACE Your Health: Heart and Soul Forum
RSVP TodayThe health of our communities is in our hands. While Cleveland is a city of heart and resilience, we cannot ignore the stark reality that heart and cardiovascular diseases remain the leading national causes of death, disproportionately affecting communities of color. This is not just a medical issue; it is a matter of civil rights and social justice.
Join the NAACP Center for Health Equity and the Greater Cleveland NAACP Branch to move beyond statistics to explore the deep-seated issues that create health disparities, and more importantly, to forge a path toward a healthier, more equitable future for all.
Doors will open at 5 pm for food, fellowship, and health screenings.
Advancing Heart Health
The ACE Your Health: Heart & Soul Forum is a powerful opportunity to unite, learn, and act. More than just an event, it's a call to action. Your voice and presence are vital as we work together to build a Cleveland - and a nation - where everyone has the opportunity to achieve optimal heart health.
Meet Our Speakers
Marlene Harris-Taylor (Moderator)
Director, Community Engagement, American Press Institute, and Veteran Journalist and Podcast Host
Marlene Harris-Taylor is the Director of Community Engagement at the American Press Institute, where she leads efforts to foster organizational and cultural transformation while helping newsrooms build deeper, more meaningful relationships with the communities they serve.
Danielle Sydnor
Past President, Greater Cleveland NAACP, and President, The Presidents' Council
Danielle Sydnor is a respected leader and advocate in Ohio, known for her tireless work in social justice and economic empowerment. With a background in finance, she has held key roles at esteemed institutions like PNC Investments and Merrill Lynch Bank of America Wealth Management, where she focused on financial education and empowerment. Recognized for her leadership, Danielle has received prestigious awards, including Crain's Cleveland Power 150 and Crain's 40 Under 40.
Dr. David Margolius
Director, Cleveland Department of Public Health
Dr. David Margolius was sworn in as Director of Public Health for the City of Cleveland on August 1st, 2022. Previously the Division Director of General Internal Medicine at MetroHealth, Dr. Margolius brings a decade of experience to the role along with a deep understanding of the impact of Cleveland's social determinants of health. An active educator, he is an Adjunct Associate Professor in the School of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University and was faculty co-lead for the Medical Director Leadership Institute at Harvard Medical School's Center for Primary Care.
Dr. Chris Pernell
Director, NAACP Center for Health Equity
Dr. Chris T. Pernell is a dynamic physician leader and social change agent. In her practice, she focuses on health justice, community-based advocacy, and population-wide health promotion and disease prevention. A celebrated visionary and apostle of public health, Dr. Chris serves as the Director of the NAACP Center for Health Equity. The Center is charged with driving equitable health outcomes and transforming healthcare systems while valuing the whole person. Prior to joining the nation's oldest and most venerable civil rights organization, she launched The Esther Group, a public health consulting and health equity strategy firm. As founder of The Esther Group, she lives the mandate to dare a future where organizations, communities and systems can innovate for a better world and humanity.
Dr. Leslie Cho
Director, Women's Cardiovascular Center, Cleveland Clinic and Section Head of Preventive Cardiology and Cardiac Rehabilitation, Cleveland Clinic
Professor Cho is the Vice Chair of Heart, Vascular and Thoracic Institute, Section Head of the Cleveland Clinic's Preventive Cardiology and Rehabilitation Center and Director of the Cleveland Clinic's Women's Cardiovascular Center at Cleveland Clinic, USA. She is currently Chair the of American College of Cardiology Cardiovascular Disease in Women Committee and is a special consultant to the FDA.
Sam Prewitt
Heart Health Advocate, American Heart Association Board
Sam "SP" Prewitt is an award-winning multimedia executive, on-air personality, motivational speaker, and dedicated community volunteer with over 21 years of industry experience. A proud son of Warrensville Heights, Ohio, Sam holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Ohio Dominican University. His radio career began in college, and by his sophomore year, he was promoted to Operations Manager and On-Air Personality at RadiODU. After graduating, Sam achieved his dream of joining Urban One.
Dàna Langford
Co-Founder & CEO, Village of Healing
Dàna M. Langford is a Cleveland native. As a certified nurse midwife and with previous experience as a women's health nurse practitioner, her expertise was initiated and expanded while working in Albany, Georgia, and St. Petersburg, Florida. She returned to her roots in Cleveland, Ohio. While working as a certified nurse midwife and serving on numerous committees, she observed Black women were not being heard in the discussion of racial disparities in maternal and infant health. She co-founded Village of Healing, a community development organization focused on healing and empowering the village to tackle the social determinants of health and decrease disparities. Under that umbrella, The Village of Healing Center was developed to deliver quality health care that meets the social and cultural needs of patients.
Dr. Tony Price Jr.
Senior Fellow, NAACP Center for Health Equity
Tony serves as the Senior Fellow within the Center for Health Equity at the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, where he leads national initiatives aimed at eliminating health disparities and advancing health equity. In this role, Tony provides strategic leadership on key projects and leverages his expertise in chronic disease prevention, exercise, and physical activity to support healthier outcomes in historically underserved communities.
Tanisha M. Sullivan, J.D., M.B.A.
Head, External Engagement & Health Equity Strategy, Sanofi
Ms. Sullivan is an award-winning civic, legal and business leader with decades of experience working in and with the life sciences companies. As Head of External Engagement and Health Equity Strategy for Sanofi Ms. Sullivan's portfolio includes US health equity strategy, executive engagement and government relations. Committed to public service, from 2013- 2015, Ms. Sullivan served in a cabinet level position with the Boston Public Schools as its inaugural Chief Equity Officer. Ms. Sullivan is the President of NAACP New England Area conference. In addition, she serves as chair of Governor Maura Healey's Advisory Council on Black Empowerment and as a member of the Boston College Law School Rappaport Center for Law and Public Policy Advisory Board. She received several business and civic recognitions, including the BBJ 40 Under 40, Power 50, 100 Most Influential Leaders in Boston and BC Law Alumna of the Year.
Edwin Hubbard Jr.
Executive Director, Greater Cleveland NAACP
Edwin Hubbard Jr. is a Cleveland native and graduate from the Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University. His passion for his community and commitment to giving back, led Edwin to the world of non-profit work early in his career. In Edwin's most recent role, he served as the Vice President of Development for New Bridge and oversaw the growth and sustainability of the organization by cultivating key relationships among corporations, foundations, and individual donors.
Annette McCoy
3rd Vice President, NAACP Ohio State Conference
Annette McCoy is a "Civil Rights" policy activist and the daughter of Mary and former Dewey McCoy. She is a proud Honors graduate of Warren Western Reserve, class of 1974, where she began her leadership journey as a member of the Eastern Stars Girls Assembly and Girl Scouts. She attended Tennessee State University and The Ohio State University, majoring in Nutrition with a minor in Business Management. She earned her degree from ISSMA in Sports Medicine as a personal trainer.