Public Health Joy: Community Power, Health Equity, and Leadership in Action

With the uncertainty that lies ahead with the change in administration, our time is now! As public health soldiers, it’s time to prepare ourselves to thrive, and that starts with coming together.

We need to unite to organize, mobilize, and strategize for whatever 2025 may bring. Join Dr. Joyee as she shares details about the upcoming Bracing for 2025: A Virtual Summit for Public Health Consultants and Entrepreneurs. In today’s episode, she reflects on her word for 2024: exponential growth, and unpacks a pivotal moment following the 2024 presidential election that inspired the creation of this summit.

Tune in to learn about the biggest threat to public health and humanity, why you should feel encouraged and motivated to attend the summit, and what you can expect from this transformative event. For more information, visit: www.joyeewashington.com/summit.

Key Points From This Episode:

What is the connection between Black hair, self-esteem, and mental health? In this episode, we welcome Ameka Coleman, the visionary founder and CEO of Strands of Faith, to discuss her entrepreneurial journey and how hair can be a source of empowerment.

Strands of Faith is a clean beauty brand dedicated to nourishing and revitalizing textured hair with cruelty-free, non-toxic, moisture-rich ingredients. In our conversation, Ameka shares how she transitioned from being a researcher in the oncology lab to building a brand that reflects her commitment to creating high-quality hair care products for underrepresented communities.

We also unpack the cultural significance of Black hair, the intersection between hair and identity, and the need for clean beauty solutions for textured hair types. Gain insights into Ameka’s advocacy work, the impact of hair discrimination in professional and educational settings, and how she is paving the way for the next generation of empowered young Black girls.

Join us as we explore how our hair can be a tool for empowerment and a source of community joy with Ameka Coleman.

Key Points From This Episode:

Across America, there are persistent health inequities that impact communities in ways you might not expect. Joining us to discuss health equity in action is leading health equity champion, Dr. Jovonni Spinner.

In this conversation, you’ll hear all about our guest’s phenomenal career, what made her want to get into public health, why she loves working on improving health equity, and more! We delve into the importance of recognizing a community’s value and lived experience above your own textbook knowledge before touching on how acknowledging your privilege can help you take health equity action.

We also discuss why regular health checkups are imperative, how the wealth gap plays into health equity, and why real change will only come when someone wealthy is affected by the problematic system. Finally, Dr. Spinner tells us what brings her joy in her work. To hear all this and be reminded to speak abundance into your life, tune in now!

Key Points From This Episode:

Are we truly addressing the root causes of public health challenges, or are we merely reacting to the symptoms? How can we shift our approach to create lasting, impactful change? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Dorothy Cilenti, Founder and CEO of Health Ascent Associates, LLC, and a seasoned public health professional with over 20 years of experience in local and state health agencies in North Carolina.

Dr. Cilenti brings a wealth of knowledge from her work in improving public health systems, particularly in maternal and child health. In our conversation, we delve into shifting focus from addressing individual health issues to tackling the systemic and policy-level factors that influence health outcomes.

We unpack the importance of understanding the “Why” behind the health outcomes and current public health trends. Discover the challenges of balancing individual autonomy and community health and the various hurdles of addressing system-level problems in public health. Gain insights into the concept of a collective impact approach, why meaningful partnerships are vital, how organizations can strengthen their capacity in public health, and more.

Key Points From This Episode:

When we realize that democracy truly places power in the hands of the, so many people’s lives will change. Today Garrison McMurtrey joins us to discuss politics, policies, and politicians. He is currently the District Director for the office of US Congresswoman, Angie Craig.

Garrison has had an extensive career from working on the Public Affairs team at Target, to being an Outreach Director for Senator Amy Klobuchar, and now he is a candidate for Ramsey County Commissioner in Minnesota. Dr. Washington wanted to have Garrison on the podcast because public health and politics are closely related and in this episode, you will hear how.

We discuss Garrison’s lifelong interest in politics, what led him to run for Commissioner, and how Obama inspired him. We delve into how he defines politics, policies, and politicians before he shares how they are all related and how they affect public health.

We even discuss the importance of being intentional about where you get your information from and the risks of social media as a source of education. Finally, Garrison tells us what brings him joy in his work and reminds us to use our voices and vote

Are you ready to tackle your finances with confidence and clarity? In today’s episode, Dr. Jennifer Edwards, a seasoned Financial & Retirement Consultant at Savvy Financial Wellness, joins us to demystify the path to financial stability. Dr. Edwards, a fourth-generation business owner and third-generation financial professional, specializes in helping energetic working women and moms design a flexible and funded retirement. With her experience managing multi-million dollar grants in public health, she offers valuable insights into balancing financial planning with a demanding career. In our conversation, we dive into the essential strategies for effective retirement planning, from understanding employer benefits, like 401(k) matches, to making your money work harder with smart investments. Dr. Edwards offers insights on developing a personalized financial strategy, addressing common mistakes, and planning for life’s unexpected events. She also sheds light on managing your finances as a public health professional and emphasizes the importance of starting small but staying consistent. Tune in for actionable tips on achieving financial stability and growth while positively impacting public health!

Key Points From This Episode:

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate and, leave a review! For more transcripts, show notes,and more visit: https://joyeewashington.com/public-health-joy-podcast-season-3/

In this episode of the Public Health Joy podcast, host Dr. Joyee Washington shares how her first international trip to Mexico gave her a new perspective on abundance

Witnessing the beauty and abundance of Mexico made Dr. Joyee realize that public health is often too focused on problems and deficits, rather than the strengths and joy

Dr. Joyee's goal is to shift the public health industry to be more positive, joyful, and focused on the abundance all around us. She is committed to continuing to seek and share this abundance in her own work, and to inspire others to do the same.

Key Points:

Links mentioned:

Get your official Public Health Joy Gear at www.joyeewashington.com/shop

Public health and epidemiology are constantly changing, albeit slowly. One thing that needs to be addressed sooner rather than later is the importance of research, the need to reexamine what it is, and how we approach it in this modern world.

Today, we are joined by Mary Carney, a consultant specializing in research, data analysis, and communications services to help non-profits achieve their goals. We begin with how Dr. Joyee and Mary met as members of WE Public Health, a women’s leadership platform that partners with people and organizations who are unflinching in their commitment to equity and ready to take courageous action, with a little help. We go on to explore the power of collaboration, the need to redefine what research means to us, the importance of relationship-building, and how to find order in the chaotic mess that is research.

To end, we highlight the strengths of consultants and their willingness to think deeper and complete tedious tasks that others would rather avoid, and Mary explains why people are at the center of her joy in the workplace.  

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate and, leave a review! For more transcripts, show notes,and more visit: https://joyeewashington.com/public-health-joy-podcast-season-3/

Your vote might not bring immediate change, but it is crucial as it contributes to the possibility of a better future. Joining us in conversation today is Dr. Jeanine Abrams-McLean, the President of Fair Count, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization with a goal of building continued civic participation and ensuring that every person in Georgia and America is counted in a fair and accurate census.

Jeanine details the work being done at Fair Count and what her role entails before deeply examining the complicated relationship between democracy, civic engagement, and public health. We learn about the importance of improving digital equity, why it’s important to vote, even if you don’t know who to vote for, the history of voting in America and where it stands today, and how voting clears the path for potential game-changing opportunities. As ever, we end with the aspects of her work that bring Jeanine the most joy!

Key Points From This Episode:

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate and, leave a review! For more transcripts, show notes,and more visit: https://joyeewashington.com/public-health-joy-podcast-season-3/

Data is the foundation on which public health is built. Without data, there is no public health. As such, it becomes the responsibility of all those interested in public health to ensure – like all other public health aspects – that data is approached from a place of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

On today’s show, we welcome the Founder, CEO, and Principal Consultant of Chilombo Consulting, Vanessa Da Costa, who is here to speak on the importance of data equity from her experience running a human and data equity consulting company.

We discover how Vanessa found her feet in public health and why she chose to focus on analytics before discussing the value of adopting quantitative and qualitative strategy methods. Then, we address the problematic power dynamics by exploring how to approach data from an equity mindset, what we can learn from the CDC’s Five Principles of Data Equity, why data transparency should be non-negotiable, and how to improve data literacy in public health professionals and their community members.

To end, Vanessa Da Costa shares some smart advice for moving the data equity needle forward, and she recalls the uplifting work moments that have brought her the most joy. 

Key Points From This Episode: