About
AJ is the current Executive Director of the Onkwehón:we Midwives Collective in Akwesasne, which is a proud Fellowship/Affiliate site for the Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health Family Spirit program. Beyond sitting on the United Way Board of Directors, she sits on the New York State Department of Health Task Force on Maternal Health and Cornwall Community Hospital Patient & Family Advocacy Committee.
Why did you join the United Way Board of Directors?
When I was in University, all the sports teams, clubs, and sororities had very clear and poignant philanthropic endeavors, making it easy to give back to the community. When I graduated, it was easy, as an alumna, to keep donating time and energy to those causes, but the impact there did not translate back to the community here. I thought joining the United Way BoD would be a great opportunity to focus any service or philanthropy work I did on our local community so that I could help propagate meaningful change in the area that I grew up in.
What specific skills, perspective or lived experience do you bring to the United Way Board of Directors?
I try to keep my skillset unorthodox and interdisciplinary because we live in a world with complex and systemic issues that need well-rounded approaches to solve. I have a background in public health, construction management, sport management, marketing, nonprofit management and revenue auditing, which influences my work on the Audit Committee here with the United Way. Akwesasne is very service, volunteerism and philanthropy-focused and that has influenced my perspective on what it means to give back to the community and I hold try to honor that legacy in my work here on the United Way BoD.
What local issues are you most passionate about solving/supporting through the United Way and why?
I really appreciate that the United Way tries to tackle a plethora of sociological issues, including helping kids grow and develop, building strong communities and fighting poverty. The United Way addresses the interdependence of all of those issues and works with partner organizations to deliver on those goals. If I had to choose one UW Pillar/Community Impact Area, it would be “Building Healthy People and Strong Communities” because I see that as one of areas where we can make the most headway in my term as a Board Member.