Monica Sholar Anderson, CHW is a nationally certified Community Health Worker and the founder of Remembering Cherubs, Detroit’s first and only bereavement resource center for pregnancy and infant loss. As a current member and former co-chair of the Perinatal Infant Reproductive Loss (PIRL) Committee at the University of Michigan Health System, she partners with healthcare professionals to improve care for grieving families.
Monica is also the author of The Pregnancy Loss Guidebook and the visionary behind Black Women’s Health Month, which was officially recognized by the City of Detroit in an August 1, 2026 proclamation honoring her leadership and dedication to advancing the health and well-being of Black women.
Alicia Chalk is a social worker and Project Coordinator at Harambee Care, where she helps families and caregivers build resilience through equity-based self-care education and emotional-wellness workshops. Throughout her career, she has supported families, caregivers, and community partners with practical tools for stress awareness and everyday well-being.
Alicia brings a gentle, grounded presence to every workshop she leads, creating spaces where people can learn, grow, and experience meaningful “aha” moments. With experience spanning children’s health, maternal-infant support, and community-based wellness initiatives, she is dedicated to helping individuals strengthen resilience and turn their wellness goals into action.
Andre M. Ebron is a transformational leader, motivational speaker, elder, and educator, Mr. Ebron doesn’t just talk about impact—he embodies it. From classrooms to congregations, from courtrooms to corner offices, his pursuit has always been singular: turning potential into purpose.
With decades of experience in youth empowerment, education, and community transformation, Mr. Ebron brings a rare depth to every room he enters. His journey spans foster-care advocacy to dean of students, culture and climate strategist, Senior Director of DEI, and now Founder & CEO of Ebron & Associates, a leadership consultancy he built to scale principled influence. Each chapter of his career reflects an unwavering conviction: we are defined not by where we begin, but by how deeply we serve.
An author of three works—The Drawing Board, Mind Your Business: Self-care Strategies and Mindfulness Practices Designed to Reduce the Negative Effects of Stress, and The Sketch Collection—Mr. Ebron weaves pedagogy, resilience, and practical wisdom into accessible narratives that empower readers to lead with intention.
His work sits at the vital intersection of commerce and faith, proving that principled leadership can drive competitive success without compromising human dignity. The Michigan Chronicle has honored him as Man of Excellence and 40 Under 40, and Soul of Philanthropy has recognized him as a Community Champion, among others.
Mr. Ebron’s influence extends beyond boards and bullet points: he inspires students, leaders, organizations, and communities to recognize their potential, embrace their stories, and move forward with purpose. In every engagement, he invites others to reimagine what’s possible when integrity, influence, and impact converge.
Andre M. Ebron isn’t merely a leader of today—he’s a steward of tomorrow, championing a world where purpose fuels performance and every story is a catalyst for lasting change.
Vanessa Landrum, CNM, PMHNP-BC, PMH-C, is a Detroit-born Certified Nurse Midwife and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner specializing in perinatal and reproductive mental health. Her work centers on supporting women through pregnancy, postpartum, and beyond with culturally responsive, trauma-informed care.
She is the founder of Birth Detroit EMERGE, a mental health initiative providing culturally centered support for women experiencing depression, anxiety, and other mood concerns across the reproductive life span. Through this work, Vanessa integrates clinical care, education, and community-based approaches to address gaps in maternal mental health services.
Vanessa is a recognized speaker and advocate for advancing equitable postpartum care. She has presented at the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health Forum on Advancing Postpartum Care and the Kellogg Fellows Leadership Alliance, and continues to contribute to national and global conversations, including the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) Conference. She will also be presenting at the American Association of Birth Centers (AABC) Conference, further advancing conversations around equitable, culturally responsive maternal mental health care.
Her work is grounded in a deep commitment to improving outcomes for women—particularly Black women—by centering dignity, safety, and holistic well-being in every aspect of care.
Rena A. Menke, PhD, LP, IMH-M is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry with Michigan Clinical Consultation and Care (MC3), and Zero to Thrive at the University of Michigan. She has over 20 years of experience providing support and services to perinatal people and their children.
She is the Co-Director of the MC3 Perinatal program which offers no cost psychiatric consultation to prescribing providers, as well as educational opportunities to professionals, and resource support to perinatal people. She is also a staffing psychologist with the Perinatal and Reproductive Psychiatry Clinic. Dr. Menke is dedicated to improving the lives of families to build resilient and fulfilling lives.
She strongly believes in the strength of connection with and within a family, meeting families where they are upon seeking services, and the value of person-centered support in changing intergenerational patterns of psychopathology and risk.