JP Summit 2025 Recordings

Rachel R. Hardeman is a tenured professor in the Division of Health Policy & Management at the University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health, the Blue Cross Endowed Professor in Health and Racial Equity, and the Founding Director of the Center for Antiracism Research for Health Equity (CARHE, pronounced “care”). She serves as a member of the Advisory Committee to the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and she was named one of TIME’s 2024 TIME100 most influential people in the world. As a racial health equity researcher, she studies a critical and complex determinant of health inequity—racism. Her work contributes to a body of knowledge that links structural racism to health in tangible ways, identifies opportunities for intervention, and dismantles the systems, structures, and institutions that allow inequities to persist.

Geida Cleveland is the Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Enrollment at the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. Born in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, she moved to the U.S. at age 12. As a first-generation college student and immigrant, Geida is passionate about helping marginalized communities through community engagement and educational access. In addition, she’s committed to helping build a pipeline of Latinas interested in embracing a lifestyle of active civic participation with confidence and pride in our culture through her involvement in Poderistas.

Dr. Johnson Dias is a scholar and an activist whose life work is to develop innovative solutions to the challenges facing the poor mothers and their children. She is dedicated to making structural level changes, and works closely with policymakers to infuse academic research into public policy and advocate for more attention to be paid to the health and well-being of women and girls. Since 2011, she has served as the Founder and President of the GrassROOTS Community Foundation, a national pubic health and social action organization that supports, develops, and scales community-driven solutions to the health challenges facing women and girls living in poverty.

The self-described Mississippi-bred thought leader has been recognized as one of the most brilliant minds in education and business, Dr. Key Hallmon has transformed the lives of thousands of Black entrepreneurs across the world. Her love of community, paired with her mantra, “Support Is A Verb,” inspires and educates to create generational health and wealth. As an award-winning expert in education and business development, Hallmon’s innovative Village model has become highly sought-after for Black businesses. Her model has facilitated 8.3 million dollars in sales to Blackowned businesses. Dr. Hallmon serves on the board for Invest Atlanta and chairs the URFA Housing Committee. Dr. Hallmon has been featured in Forbes, Essence, Black Enterprise, CNN, HLN, the Today Show, NOW THIS, the Source, Atlanta Business Chronicle, Inc. Magazine, the Root, Forbes for the Culture, and The Breakfast Club.

Jehmu Greene is an evangelist for good and a serial political entrepreneur. She is the current CEO of We DefendTruth and Co-founder of VoteRunLead. Jehmu was a founding Board Member of VoteRunLead, a non-partisan organization that has trained more than 35,000 women to run for office. As a National Trainer for VoteRunLead, Jehmu travels the country training women to tell their stories and run for office as they are. Jehmu previously served as president of Rock the Vote, where under her leadership online voter registration was launched and young voter turnout in a presidential election had the highest increase ever recorded. An award-winning media and advocacy strategist, guacamole aficionado and proud Texan, Jehmu splits her time between between Austin and NYC.

Cristina Tzintzún Ramirez is a civil rights leader and movement-maker. She has organized construction workers, immigrant mothers and young voters to build a government and economy that works for all of us. Cristina has led on some of the most important issues of our time, including climate change, student debt, runaway inequality, immigration and voting rights. Her work has led to the passage of legislation at the state and local level on student debt and workers’ rights. Cristina has been named “Hero of the New South” by Southern Living Magazine, one of Texas’ top ten changemakers by the Texas Observer. She is also a JM Kaplan Innovation Prize winner and a Roddenberry Award winner.

As an architect of the Green New Deal, Rhiana Gunn-Wright wanted to change how we see the warming world. Her strategy relied on the idea that environmental issues aren’t distant, esoteric concepts, but instead are interconnected with everyday issues that impact people’s lives, from housing to Covid-19. Rhianna is the former Director of Climate Policy at the Roosevelt Institute, Rhiana Gunn-Wright led the Think Tank’s research at the intersection of climate policy, public investment, racial equity, and public power. Rhiana GunnWright’s strategy relies on the idea that environmental issues aren’t distant, esoteric concepts, but instead are interconnected with everyday issues that impact peoples’ lives, from housing to Covid-19.

Dr. Paris Woods is a first-generation college graduate of Harvard University and a lifelong educator, having worked at some of the country’s top institutions. As an author, coach, and consultant, Dr. Woods helps women of color achieve financial freedom using values-driven and low stress strategies so they feel truly confident in their financial health and overall wellbeing. Her bestselling book, The Black Girl’s Guide to Financial Freedom, teaches readers how to master money while living a life they love.