2025 Community Leaders Institute

The CCTST Community Engagement Core completed their annual Community Leaders Institute (CLI) on March 21, 2025. The CLI is a leadership development training program held over five consecutive weeks in February-March. It aims to build research and leadership skills to improve or develop health programs. Key training areas include:

• Grant Writing

• Accessing Public Datasets

• Program Evaluation

• Quality Improvement

• Survey Development & Assessing Community Health Needs

• Design Thinking

• Research Ethics

Participants receive a small grant ($1,500–$2,000) and apply their skills to a health-related project over the next 12 months. The program is open to program administrators, organizational leaders, community physicians, and other key staff. Unpaid volunteers can apply as Community Health Advocates, and members of CCTST partnering institutions may apply as Auditors.

 In 2025, 18 individuals graduated from the CLI. Congratulations to all graduates! 

Auditors:

• Gihani Isaacs – CCHMC INNOVATIONS

• Zoe Wagner – UC Health Cancer Center

• Puneet Joshi – The Christ Hospital Health Network

Community Leaders:

• Jenetta Thomas – Hearts in the Park

• Julietta Ladipo – AMEN

• Libby Hunter – Adventure Crew

• Paige Young – Adventure Crew

• Lisa Capannari – People Working Cooperatively

• Sherwin Anderson – Sherwin Anderson Academy

• Christian Davis – Cincinnati Parent Empowerment Network (CPEN)

• Pooja Rachewad – SOTENI International

• Dawnetra Blackwell – Cincinnati Vibrant Youth Project

• Teresa Hardin – The Center for Healing the Hurt

• Denaja Haygood – The Christ Hospital Health Network Women’s Heart Center

• Anthony Fairhead – Childhood Food Solutions

• Anna Burrage – The Unity Center

• Jason Winbush – Young CEO Program

Community Advocates:

• Simone Bess – Queen Mother’s Market