This collective of guests has all significantly contributed to the success of AWHONN’s Emerging Leaders Program. The discussion explores the program’s impact on leadership development and personal growth through its immersive education, strategic networking, and advocacy training. Listen and keep watching for the greatness of these nurse leaders.

Miriam W. Yeung

Miriam Yeung is a social justice leader who has successfully fought for and improved the lives of young people, women, LGBT people, immigrants, and people of color in the United States. Currently, Miriam is the lead faculty for the AWHONN Emerging Leaders Program and runs a consulting practice that focuses on helping leaders and organizations spend their resources most meaningfully to improve the world we live in.

Miriam led the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF (2008-2016)), the nation’s only national multi-issue organization dedicated to building power and winning reproductive justice, economic justice and immigrant rights for Asian American and Pacific Islander women and girls. She co-founded We Belong Together, a campaign that organizes women for immigrant rights; spent 10 years at NYC LGBT Community Center organizing youth, improving policy and government relations; and built the Causes in Common coalition, a cross movement initiative to more closely align the LGBT liberation movement with the reproductive rights, health and justice movements.

Miriam played a key role in developing the NYS and NYC Dignity for All Students Act, supported LGBT inclusion within the foster care system, and successfully advocated for the inclusion of LGB youth in statewide data collection efforts.

In 2016, Miriam received the Ms. Foundation’s Gloria Steinem Woman of Vision award. She serves on the board of the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum, MomsRising and GalvanizeUSA. Raised in the projects of Brooklyn, Miriam is a proud, queer, immigrant, woman, activist parent to two amazing young daughters.

Jacquiline Blanco, BSN, RNC

Jackie Blanco is an obstetrical nurse and now a Clinical Nurse Leader with a background in economic development and policy reform. She’s driven by a commitment to advancing equitable, evidence-based care in reproductive health and passionate about empowering all individuals through their reproductive journeys with informed, holistic, and compassionate care that prioritizes autonomy and consent.

Jackie is always pursuing leadership opportunities that integrate evidence-based practice, activism, and a nursing framework that addresses disparities in obstetric outcomes. Her career is deeply rooted in activism and legislative work, with a focus on shaping policies that directly impact BIPOC and Queer communities. Additionally, Jackie is deeply invested in the standardization of policies, procedures, and best practices to ensure consistency, safety, and excellence in obstetric care. Jackie is a native Seattleite, vegetarian, dog mom, and roller skater who lives with her wife in west Seattle.

Elena Jenkins BSN, RN

Elena Jenkins is a Program Manager for Missouri Collaboration for Clinical Community Integration, a HRSA-funded Maternal Health Innovation Grant. She’s also Executive Director and Co-Founder of Nurture Birth & Health, an upcoming Birth & Wellness Center in St. Louis, MO.

Elena has had a career-long passion for improving the health of moms and babies and has led both birth equity and perinatal mental health initiatives at her institution, striving to implement strategies to address implicit bias, maternal health disparities, and promote conditions of optimal births for all people. She served as an AIM Clinical Champion in the 2022-2023 cohort and has been integrally involved in the implementation of several AIM Patient Safety Bundles with multidisciplinary team members at the hospital level. Elena is also a member of the 2022-2023 AWHONN Emerging Leaders Cohort and is an Entrepreneurial MBA student at William Jewell College in the OneDay program. Elena and her partner have 3 daughters, and in their free time enjoy creating art and spending time with their 4 grandchildren.

MioNeshia McDonald, MSN, RNC-OB, CLC, C-EFM

MioNeshia McDonald is a nurse leader and educator with extensive experience in women’s health, ambulatory operations, and quality improvement. She currently serves as a Regional Nurse Manager, overseeing multiple OB/GYN clinics and leading initiatives focused on patient safety, operational efficiency, and evidence-based practice. As an adjunct nursing faculty member, she’s passionate about mentoring future nurses through reflective learning and professional development. Her scholarly and professional interests include patient safety, process improvement, leadership development, and advancing high quality, equitable care through data driven decision-making.

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