2024 Imagining Community Symposium

Birthing Justice is a film that centers Black women's lived experience, following them through the journey of pregnancy, delivery, postpartum periods, and the structures and systems that have resulted in racial disparities in maternal and infant health.

Following the film, a facilitated discussion was conducted by Sharon Hawkins, MPA, MSN/ed, RN, and Director of the Health Engagement Activation Think Tank in the Fitz Center for Leadership in Community at the University of Dayton.

Monica E. Unseld, Ph.D., MPH is the founder of Until Justice Data Partners, a non-profit dedicated to bridging the gap between community-lived experiences and data-driven societal intervention. A scientist and public health advocate, Dr. Unseld earned her doctorate in biology from the University of Louisville and her Master’s in Public Health from Benedictine University. Guided by the Jemez Principles for Democratic Organizing, she has dedicated over 15 years to environmental justice, community leadership, and equitable partnership.

Ashley Stevely, Manager of Social Determinants of Health at Dayton Children’s Hospital’s Center for Health Equity, leverages over a decade of experience to build sustainable improvements in community health across rural, suburban, and urban areas. She directs a dedicated team of community leaders focused on after-school programming, community resource connections, and localized research to address the "ESSENCE" (economic stability, social context, environment & neighborhood, community, and education) of health. Additionally, as the Healthy Home Environments workgroup leader for the Dayton Asthma Alliance, she actively implements strategic solutions to reduce environmental asthma triggers and dismantle community health disparities.

Cait Botschner is the principal and owner of Field in Sight Consulting, LLC, where she facilitates impactful regional strategies focused on climate and the environment. With over 16 years of experience across the environmental and non-profit sectors, Cait dedicates her career to implementing programs that serve the planet, people, and community philanthropy. A 2022 graduate of the Miami Valley Environmental Justice Academy, she actively champions regional preservation as the National EJ Academy Alumni Association Board Secretary and as a steering committee member for the Greater Dayton Partners for the Environment. She holds a Bachelor’s in Sociology from Ohio University and a Master’s in Environmental Science from Miami University.

Carlos Buford is a true champion of voter engagement and a dedicated activist who has been working tirelessly for the betterment of his community for almost a decade. He has always gone above and beyond to encourage his fellow community members to get involved in issues that affect them directly. Mr. Buford's activism stems from his concerns about the future of his children in a world where injustices against Black Americans are still prevalent.  Unfortunately, he has also experienced the devastating effects of gun violence firsthand, having lost his brother and his brother's son at a young age. These tragedies have only strengthened his resolve to fight for change and serve as a beacon of hope for others struggling.

Christa Wheeler, CEO of Efinity Pro, leverages over 25 years of experience in project management and human services to drive meaningful community development and advance equity initiatives. A dedicated catalyst for positive change, her work centers on promoting sustainability and economic equity across diverse communities. Her impact is backed by an MPA from Wright State University and active leadership alumni status with both the U.S. EPA Region 5 Environmental Justice Academy and the Institute for Community Economists.

Destiny Brown is an experienced community wellness advocate and Community Organizer with Advocates for Basic Legal Equality (ABLE) in Dayton, where she leads coalition efforts to improve tenant housing conditions and establish community-driven police oversight. Her work centers on elevating residents in disinvested communities across health equity, reproductive justice, housing, and decarceration. Grounded by lived experience, Destiny is a Certified Community Health Worker, trained Birth Doula, and creator of Prosperous Parenting. A graduate of Bethune-Cookman University, her background includes managing casework for up to 200 families across Ohio Medicaid, SNAP, and TANF programs, bringing deep expertise in the social determinants of health to community-building.

Gayle Covington Fowler is an inspiring speaker and educator with 20+ years of experience in multigenerational coaching and family-strengthening practices. As a graduate of the US EPA Region 5 Inaugural Environmental Justice Academy, she champions health equity and environmental justice for vulnerable populations. She is the President of the National EJ Academy Alumni Association, Vice Chair of the Miami Valley Family Engagement Collaborative, the 2023 Individual Environmental Partner of the Year, and an Associate Minister at Tabernacle Baptist Church.

Julio C. Mateo is a researcher, human-rights activist, and systemic designer with over 15 years of R&D experience specializing in human factors psychology and complex cognitive skills. For the past seven years, he has focused on civic impact in Dayton, designing progressive governance systems that protect human rights, promote justice, and increase government transparency. His work includes creating collaborative crowdsourcing systems to drive collective public decision-making. Recognised for his civic contributions, Julio received the City of Dayton’s Community Impact Award, was named one of the Dayton Business Journal's 40 Under Forty, and was honored as a Distinguished Hispanic Ohioan by the State of Ohio Latino Affairs Commission. He holds an MS in Human Factors Psychology from Wright State University and a Bachelor's from Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca.

Kathy Rowell is a resident of Dayton and has been a professor of Sociology at Sinclair since 1996. She also teaches a course on poverty at Wittenberg University each year. Recently, she is the recipient of two American Community of Learned Societies Carnegie/Mellon grants to research the issues of eviction, housing insecurity and children. She earned a Bachelors in Political Science from Wright State University, Masters in Applied Behavioral Science from Wright State University and a Doctorate in Sociology from The Ohio State  University.  She currently serves on the City of Dayton Eviction Task Force, the Human Relations Council and is advocating for the unhoused through various groups and organizations.

Keslina Luoma, MSW, LSW, is a Licensed Social Worker and mental health therapist at CHOICES, where she centers relationship building as the foundation for youth healing and empowerment. Trained in trauma-informed care, Keslina brings extensive experience as a domestic violence victim advocate, supporting diverse populations including LGBTQIA+ individuals, asylum seekers, and refugees. Her therapeutic practice empowers young people to look beyond their immediate challenges, working creatively through play and artistic expression to help them achieve their goals. Keslina holds a Bachelor’s in Anthropology with a focus on gender, sexuality, and religion, and a Master of Social Work from Wright State University.

Meg Maloney, Sustainability Manager for the City of Dayton, drives environmental justice and measurable community transformation by spearheading energy efficiency programs that have saved local residents and small businesses over $10.5 million. Her strategic focus on utility auditing also secured more than $3.5 million in savings for municipal facilities. Passionate about community equity, Meg actively works to redevelop disinvested areas and turn blighted sites into valuable community assets. Her regional impact has earned her distinct honors, including the Dayton Business Journal's Innovator Under 25, Best Sustainability Staff Member in the State by the Ohio Mayors Alliance, and the top Sustainability Leader for the Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio region.

Shenise Turner-Sloss, Dayton City Mayor and former Dayton City Commissioner at the time of this Symposium, a Dayton native and the third Black woman to serve on the Dayton City Commission, leverages over a decade of local and federal government experience to champion transparency, public participation, and housing affordability. Her extensive background includes co-founding Neighborhoods Over Politics (NOP)—a neighborhood redevelopment and economic sustainability organization—and administering key HUD federal funding programs, including CDBG and the Neighborhood Stabilization Program. A Logistics Management Specialist at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, she is the only sitting Commissioner who is a current union member (AFGE Local 1138). She holds a BA in Political Science from Fisk University, an MS in Administration from Central Michigan University, and serves on multiple civic and grassroots boards dedicated to equitable community advancement.

Tara Campbell is a native Daytonian, grassroots activist, and the Executive President of the Dayton United for Human Rights coalition. Her leadership was instrumental in securing the City of Dayton’s commitment to become a Human Rights City in 2025. With over 27 years of experience across the public and private housing industries, Tara leverages deep expertise in HUD regulations, Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, and Fair Housing Compliance to eliminate homelessness and advance affordable housing. A recent graduate of the City of Dayton Neighborhood Leadership Institute, she serves on the steering committee for the North American Human Rights Cities Alliance. Tara holds a BA in Political Science from Central State University and imagines a community where everyone lives with purpose equally in dignity, knowledgeable of their human rights.

Tony Talbott is the Director of Advocacy of the Human Rights Center at the University of Dayton. He is co-founder and director of Abolition Ohio, the Miami Valley Anti-Human Trafficking Coalition. He also lectures in Human Rights, Political Science, and Sustainability. He serves on the Ohio Attorney General’s Human Trafficking Commission and researches and writes on Southeast Asia, nationalism, human rights, and human trafficking. Originally from Dayton, Tony joined the military and served a total of 13 years in both the Army National Guard and the US Navy. He traveled extensively throughout the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean regions—including Asia, Australia, and Africa. While finishing his tour of duty, he earned a BA in History and Government from Columbia College. He then left the service to attend graduate school. He earned an MA in International Affairs from Ohio University and studied for a PhD in Political Science at Arizona State University. 

Utsey T. Shelton is a business advisor for the Miami Valley Urban League, where she drives local economic impact by connecting minority-owned businesses in Montgomery and surrounding counties to vital grant funding, loans, and specialized resource partners. A passionate advocate for diversity, inclusion, and community growth, she lends her leadership to key regional organizations like the Dayton Heart Association and the National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ). Utsey is a graduate of the Miami Valley Regional Environmental Justice Academy, holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from Central State University, and is a published author and co-author.