Events

Danielle Jones, PhD, MPH

Danielle joined AWHONN in 2022 as the organization’s first Vice President of Accountability, Belonging, and Culture.  She previously served as director of the American Academy of Family Physicians’ Center for Diversity and Health Equity (CDHE). In this role, she operationalized the strategic priorities of the AAFP’s Board of Directors and executive leadership on issues of workforce diversity, health in all policies, medical education and practice tools that advance equity. 

Prior to joining the AAFP in 2017, Danielle served as Director of Maternal Child Health for March of Dimes Kansas and a Fellow with the Army Public Health Center at Fort Leavenworth KS advising the Senior Commander of the Combined Arms Center. Both roles involved the development and implementation of equity focused health promotion strategies to reduce disparities in maternal mortality, preterm birth, substance use and suicide by addressing the social determinants of health, policy, systems and infrastructure.

Danielle’s service to the Kansas City area includes board appointments to organizations like Uzazi Village, KCKCC Foundation, Reach Healthcare Foundation, United Way of Greater Kansas City, and Young Women on the Move.  She also holds an adjunct faculty appoint at the University of West Florida Department of Public Health. 

Danielle completed her doctoral degree from the University of Kansas School of Medicine in Health Policy and Management where her research on unconscious bias has led to the development of evidence-based curriculum and training for faculty. She also earned a Master of Public Health from the University of West Florida and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Missouri Kansas City.

First Lieutenant Roger D, Coldsnow distinguished himself by exceptional heroism in connection with military operations against a hostile armed force.  At 2:45 AM, on 21 August 1968, Battery B, 6^th Battalion, 84^th Artillery was subjected to a violent rocket, mortar, automatic weapon and ground attack inflicted by two battalions (600+) of North Vietnamese and main force Viet Cong.  Lt. Coldsnow’s fighting force consisted of one half of an artillery battery - 50 men and 3 howitzers.  Immediately after the attack commenced, Lt. Coldsnow, with complete disregard for his own personal safety, positioned himself between two howitzers, completely in the open.  He directed their fire in illumination and high explosive direct fire missions.  His skill and courage enabled his guns to place timely and accurate fire on enemy positions.  Lt. Coldsnow’s exemplary performance and complete disregard for his own personal safety was largely responsible for the successful defense of his battery’s position.

Chef Shanita McAfee-Bryant, founder and Executive Director of The Prospect KC, will share her journey from chef to changemaker and the organization’s mission to address food insecurity, workforce development, and economic mobility on Kansas City’s Eastside. In this presentation, she will introduce the innovative food-based solutions The Prospect KC is using to disrupt poverty from culinary job training and case management to community meal programs and social enterprise ventures. Attendees will learn how food can be a catalyst for change and how community partnerships, like those fostered by Rotary, can help build a stronger, healthier, and more equitable Kansas City.