Speakers 2022 – Cultural Diversity Conference

OUR 2022 Keynote Speakers

Karen Rice, PhD, LSW, ACS

Millersville University

Professor/Department Chair
Millersville University

This session will explore the various behaviors that impede efforts to foster an environment that promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion. These behaviors include conscious and unconscious bias, prejudice, stereotypes, discrimination, and microaggressions. To foster inclusivity and create a sense of belonging, various interrupters can be implemented. These interrupters include involve create an environment that fosters psychological meaningfulness, safety, and availability.

SUBJECT: Behaviors that Create Barriers to Engaging Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Karen Rice serves as the Chair of the School of Social Work at Millersville University of PA. Utilizing a human rights framework, her research centers on ways to enhance individuals' levels of compassion, advocacy, and dialogue across and within various social groups. Trained in the Intergroup Dialogue approach, Dr. Rice conducts trainings and co-facilitates dialogues to raise awareness, foster understanding and appreciation, build alliances, and develop individual and collective efforts to promote positive social change, specifically related to creating diverse, equitable, and inclusive policies, practices, and programs, and institutions and communities. Her training and research resulted in the development of initiatives and programs that address the United Nation’s Global Goals, specifically hunger, poverty, gender equality, quality education, mental wellbeing, and just institutions. Dr. Karen Rice obtained her MSW from Temple University and her PhD in social work from the University of Maryland Baltimore. She currently serves on the Housing Development Corporation MidAtlantic Resource Development Committee, United Way of Lancaster Equity Committee, and co-chairs PA Governor Wolf’s Poverty Reduction Action Team.

Kimberly Brister

WellSpan Health

THE 2022 Event Speakers

Jenny Englerth, BS

Family First Health

Jenny Englerth, BS

Family First Health

President & Chief Executive Officer, Family First Health

During this session, Jenny Englerth and Anika Jackson will share how Family First Health launched Connections, a collective effort by residents,
businesses and organizations to build connection so families and community organizations can work together to enhance neighborhood health and well-being.

Using the collective impact framework, the Connections team successfully engages in a two-pronged approach: 1) including community residents to identify community needs and make decisions about solutions, and 2) leveraging Community Health Workers to build relationships with residents and facilitate resident connection to various resources. Participants in this session will leave with a roadmap for convening a collaborative and mobilizing with residents.

SUBJECT: Leveraging the Collective Impact Framework to Engage Community Residents as Decision-Makers

Jenny Englerth has spent over 25 years working to improve the health of vulnerable populations through her employment with federally qualified community health centers. Currently, she serves as the President & CEO of Family First Health, a not for profit health care system providing high quality and cost-effective care in urban and rural communities throughout south central Pennsylvania. Since joining the organization in 2004, Family First Health has more than doubled its footprint and patient volumes while consistently meeting or exceeding state and national quality benchmarks.

She takes every opportunity to work with community initiatives focusing on health-related issues, including
education and advocacy on the health care transformation. Since the passage of the ACA in 2010, Jenny has provided numerous presentations and media appearances and contributed to the national dialogue through participation in various publications and panels, including the National Press Club. She will continue to deploy her passion for health equity and policy in the current rapidly changing environment. She has contributed to pieces in ProPublica and WITF’s Smart Talk and more recently has contributed to the state and local dialogue on the impact of COVID-19 on vulnerable populations.
Jenny’s passion for system level change, knack for breaking down complex problems into actionable pieces, and engaging diverse voices has positioned her to lead many change initiatives. Most recently, she assumed the role of Chair of the Healthy York Coalition, where she is currently leading a county level study on opportunities to improve local public health infrastructure. She served as the founding board chair for the PA Coalition on Oral Health and more recently was the founding Board Chair of the White Rose Leadership Institute. She serves as the Pennsylvania representative for OPEN, Oral Health Progress and Equity Network, a national movement aimed at increasing equity in oral health access. She leads health equity work at a state and local level and in
doing so is an advocate for building tables that value all voices and experiences.

Anika S. M. Jackson, MS

Family First Health

Anika S. M. Jackson, MS

Family First Health

President & Chief Executive Officer, Family First Health

SUBJECT: Leveraging the Collective Impact Framework to Engage Community Residents as Decision-Makers

Anika Jackson is Family First Health’s Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. In her role, Anika
works with leaders within the organization to set and implement an overarching vision of diversity,
equity and inclusion. Her work spans internal stakeholders as well as the community. Anika is
passionate about “meeting people where they are” to understand and support how to meet individuals’
needs.

Some of Anika’s proudest work has been working closely with diverse local groups of community
influencers to build COVID-19 vaccine confidence. She is also passionate about her work to address
medical care access disparities through Family First Health’s school-based health center at Hannah Penn
K-8 School.

Previously, Anika led Family First Health’s substance use services program and worked within
community-based organizations to lead organizational growth and relevancy.

Anika earned her Master of Science degree in Public Relations from the S.I. Newhouse School at
Syracuse University, her Bachelor of Arts degree in Corporate and Broadcast Communications from Elon
University and her Diversity and Inclusion Certificate from Cornell University. She serves on various
boards in the community and enjoys giving back. Anika lives in York, Pennsylvania with her husband and son.

Evelin A. La Paz

Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health

Evelin A. La Paz

Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health

Manager, Language Services & Inclusion

This presentation aims to explore the language barriers immigrants face in the United States. These barriers may impact how they navigate simple daily life activities such as opening a bank account, to more complicated ones, including accessing healthcare services or navigating the legal system. The target audience will be exposed to a discussion about regulations that protect their rights to effective communication in certain instances as well as the resources available to service providers and the individuals with limited English proficiency or emerging English language skills.

SUBJECT: Language Barriers and Immigration

Born and raised in the Dominican Republic, Evelin La Paz has an administrative background in diverse fields, from high-end cruise line industry to high-end jewelry and bilingual education. Mrs. La Paz holds an Associate degree in Accounting, a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration, and a Master of Science in Healthcare Administration. In healthcare, Ms. La Paz has been working in Language Services for over eleven years, and ten of these years have been as the department’s manager. Mrs. La Paz is a nationally certified medical interpreter and is a former Director of the National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters (NBCMI). She leads a team of Medical Language Facilitators and a Translation Specialists who serve the linguistically and culturally diverse population of Lancaster County and surrounding counties. Mrs. La Paz enjoys learning about other cultures and being exposed to cross-cultural and diverse interactions, finding her passion in languages, food, music and other aspects of diverse cultures.

MK Strohman, MSW, LSW, HSV

MK C. Strohman, MSW, LSW, SSW, HSV, is a Licensed Social Worker and Certified School Social Worker and Home and School Visitor at an educational agency in Pennsylvania. They completed their master’s degree in Social Work at Millersville University, and received their Home and School Visitor Certification from Widener University. Their professional experience has been primarily focused on urban school social work with students who have complex behavioral, familial, and academic needs. They have previously worked within the School Districts of Philadelphia and Lancaster. For the last 6 years they have worked at Lancaster Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13 with transitional age students with special needs working to secure employment upon graduation.

Additionally, MK works as an independent consultant around diversity, equity, and inclusion, specifically
as it relates to LGBTQIA+ youth. MK provides trainings and consultation to a variety of professionals
across multiple fields to promote the mental and physical wellness of LGBTQIA+ youth. As a relentless
social justice advocate and openly transgender professional, MK is visibly and vocally involved in
advocacy work prioritizing the needs of all marginalized communities, centering their collective
liberation. MK’s direct work with students and families, their continuous activism, along with their
professional and personal experiences, has made them a known resource in the surrounding
community. By making sure professionals and community members are equipped with the information and education necessary to uplift, support, and affirm— MK hopes all LGBTQIA+ youth will see and feel it is possible to grow up and live a happy, healthy, successful life as a queer adult.

TaLisa Ramos-Watts

Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Education for the Commonwealth

TaLisa Ramos-Watts

Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Education for the Commonwealth

A skilled DEI practitioner, data driven-strategist, and culturally responsive mental health clinician.

Subject: Strengthening our Culturally Responsive Approach to Healing: The Dire Need for LGBTQ+ and BIPOC Visibility & Representation in Behavioral Health Practitioners

For the past 13 years TaLisa has dedicated herself to cultivating an environment of equity, inclusion, and justice in higher education, health care, government, and community settings. With a background in human behavior, TaLisa has supported several institutions in DEI strategic planning, improving organizational culture, implementing change management, and cultivating a trauma-informed workplace. In 2021, TaLisa was appointed as the inaugural Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Education for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, tasked with providing DEI education and trainings, strategic planning support, and establishing trauma-informed approaches to state government. When TaLisa is not at the state capitol, she serves as mental health therapist in the Central Pennsylvania area. She is a certified clinical trauma professional with a special focus in working with Black, Indigenous, and communities of Color. Her specialties include: identity development, cultural trauma, and intergenerational trauma, to which she utilizes a comprehensive and client centered approach through ancestral healing, internal family systems, and cultural somatics. She applies a holistic approach to de-colonize the therapy space, empowering clients to reclaim what healing looks like in their culture while reconnecting clients to the roots of their identity and the sacred wisdom of their ancestors.

Cathy Bollinger

York County Community Foundation

Karla Tolan

WellSpan Health

Tina Nixon

UPMC Pinnacle

Tina Nixon

UPMC Pinnacle

Vice President Mission Effectiveness-Chief Diversity Officer UPMC

Tina joined PinnacleHealth System in May 2015 as vice president, mission effectiveness-chief diversity officer. Prior to joining PinnacleHealth System, Tina served as chief executive officer and director of resource development of the YWCA Greater Harrisburg for 15 years.

SUBJECT: Women’s Health & Vulnerable Populations

Her career started in the Pennsylvania State Legislature working for former Speaker of the House K. Leroy Irvis. She has worked in the human service field for over 25 years, collaborating on issues dealing with hunger, homelessness, the welfare-to-work program, health care, domestic violence, sexual assault, childcare and racial justice and is compelled to make sure those less fortunate have a voice.

In her dual role at UPMC Pinnacle, Tina ensures that all business and clinical programs and services delivered are consistent with system’s mission—We are dedicated to maintaining and improving the health and quality of life for all the people of Central Pennsylvania—and that its programs and services are aligned with the system’s strategic plan and community benefit programs.

The position also ensures compliance with the federal National Cultural and Linguistically Appropriate Services standards and advocates for bringing together existing resources in order to better serve the community, promote inclusion and diversity, and create positive change in the lives of others.

Tina ensures that the system’s mission is embedded in its core values and permeates the culture, business practices and delivery of health care across PHS and facilities. She is also responsible for creating an environment for patients, visitors, employees, and caregivers where the uniqueness of all races, ethnicities, colors, religions, beliefs, abilities, appearances, genders and sexual orientation are understood, respected and welcomed.

Aziza Kline

WellSpan Health

Aziza Kline

WellSpan Health

Aziza H. Kline was born and raised in the storied, walled, coastal city of Essaouira, Morocco, before relocating to Rabat to further her post-secondary school education with the goal of pursuing international career opportunities. Her language skills in Moroccan, Arabic, French and English served to open a number of doors for work in Morocco, Bahrain, Yemen and finally the United States.

SUBJECT: Panel - Learning through the bias we hold and receive.

After marriage and trading in her career to accompany her husband and start a family, Aziza departed Yemen for onward travel to Washington, D.C. before relocating to Berlin, Germany and subsequently returning to the United States. It was during these years that Aziza managed not only to improve her English fluency but was able to put her foreign language abilities to excellent use in starting a new line of work as an interpreter/translator for WellSpan Health Care in York, Pennsylvania. A more recent two-years stint in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, found her
continuing to perform WellSpan-related work remotely during the onset of COVID-19.

Now back in York, Aziza maintains a steady effort to support WellSpan’s foreign language program by making excellent use of her consummate people skills within multiple Middle Eastern and North African cultural contexts. Additionally, she is actively improving her career development through medical interpreter certification coursework.

Aziza’s passion for family, home and hearth notwithstanding, she is an adventurous traveler,
consummate cook and likes to challenge her creative side through fashion design and sewing.

Parker Webb

Lititz Chooses Love