Janel is a born and raised Wilmingtonian where she graduated from E.A. Laney High School. She earned her Bachelors Degree in Psychology from North Carolina Wesleyan College.
Janel is the mother of two young men who keep her grounded and she wears many hats as a community advocate. She currently serves as the Director of Outreach and Community Engagement for Price Cathedral A.M.E.Zion Church. She also serves on the NHC Integrated Family, Faith and Community Sub-Committee as an advocate for resiliency and restoration within the Cape Fear Region.
Her continuous work, diligence, research and advocacy has allowed her to grow, develop and ignite strong, essential community partnerships. This work has led her to accept this new part-time role as the Director of the NHDC.
Fawn N. Rhodes, MPH, is a passionate Subject Matter Expert on Health Equity with over a decade of experience in Public Health. As the Founder and Executive Director of Rhodes to Wellness, LLC—an educational consulting organization focused on reducing health disparities through impactful public health education, outreach events, program development, and research—Fawn leads initiatives that encourage sustainable resilience in communities.
She holds a Master’s in Public Health from UNC-Chapel Hill and a Bachelor’s in Behavior and Social Science from North Carolina Central University. Currently pursuing a PhD in Global Health Equity at Meharry Medical College’s School of Global Health as part of the inaugural cohort, she continues to expand her reach in the field, supported by a merit scholarship and certification in Project Management.
Guided by Bell Hooks's words, Fawn reflects, “The moment we choose to love, we begin to move against domination, against oppression. We begin to move toward freedom when we choose to love.” This philosophy fuels her commitment to advancing health equity and social justice for all.
Emma Baltezore is the founder and director of One Christian Network, where she has been connecting Christian leaders and community members with resources since 2014. She was recognized by Governor Cooper for her volunteer work during Hurricane Florence in 2019, and was awarded the 40 Under 40 award by the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce and Star News in 2020 in recognition of her work in the community. Emma was integral in the foundation of New Hanover Disaster Coalition and currently serves on the board as co-chair. She is also involved in the Cape Fear Continuum of Care which supports housing insecure people, the Cape Fear Housing Coalition, and the New Hanover Resiliency Task Force. Emma holds a bachelor's degree in elementary education from UNCW and taught in New Hanover County Schools for 12 years. Emma lives in Wilmington with her husband Allen and their two children.
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