Ashley brings more than 20 years of experience in communications, public engagement, grants management, and public service. Most recently, she worked with the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, supporting programs and partnerships focused on Hurricane Helene recovery and helping communities across Western North Carolina access resources to support their long-term recovery.

Prior to joining state government, Ashley worked with Leidos, where she supported communications and outreach for the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance. In that role, Ashley developed communications and outreach strategies, wrote blogs and other digital content, produced podcasts, and supported national conferences and events designed to connect communities with federal programs and resources.

Ahsley also spent several years with the City of Asheville as a Communications and Public Engagement Specialist, leading communications and engagement strategies for departments including Community and Economic Development, Planning and Urban Design, Sustainability, Equity and Inclusion, and Capital Projects. Her work included media relations, digital communications, community engagement, social media, website content, and helping City departments find better ways to communicate and engage with the communities they served.

Earlier in her career, Ashley held positions in grants and program management with the City of Asheville, Rochester Housing Authority, and the Government of the District of Columbia. Across these roles, a common thread has been helping people understand complicated information, connecting communities with resources, and using communications to make government and organizations more accessible.

Ashley is originally from Toledo, Ohio—home of the Jeep! She earned my Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Howard University in Washington, D.C., and my Master of Public Administration from the University of Toledo.

Erin Storie is a native North Carolinian, born on one side of the state in Hickory, NC and raised on the other in Gates, NC. She holds a Bachelor of Spanish from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

She is passionate about using communications and design as a way to advance health equity and social justice.  Erin has worked extensively with the Affordable Care Act as a former Certified Application Counselor with the Health Insurance Marketplace, and has experience tailoring messaging to rural and farmworker populations from her time as a medical interpreter and Communications Coordinator at a Community Health Center in Northeastern North Carolina.

With a background in public health education and nonprofit program management, Jalah uses a social justice and health equity lens to lead in her role at Care Share, helping to challenge systemic barriers to wellness. Beyond work, Jalah enjoys exercising, exploring new foods at local farmers’ markets, and spending time with her family.

Katie Spears Warner is a transformational public health and policy leader with more than 17 years of experience advancing equity through advocacy, intergenerational collaboration, and systems change. She is widely recognized as a catalyst for change, a visionary and pragmatic leader who not only works within systems but redefines them to create pathways where others see barriers.

Katie’s career has been devoted to building equitable communities through authentic partnerships and shared leadership. She excels in her ability to align diverse stakeholders around a common purpose, transforming collaborative potential into tangible progress toward health, racial, and economic justice.

Her leadership legacy includes co-founding Youth Empowered Solutions (YES!), where she helped to develop a nationally recognized model for youth–adult partnership and serving in senior roles with organizations such as Community Catalyst and the Partnership for Southern Equity, leading initiatives that embedded equity frameworks into policy, organizational practice, and cross-sector collaboration. In every role, she brings integrity, compassion, and strategic vision, combining bold ideas with the operational discipline to turn them into sustainable policy and practice.

Katie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Community Health from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and a Master’s degree in Health Education and Promotion from East Carolina University.

Kenjuan Watkins is a passionate advocate for marginalized communities. He is dedicated to fostering change through strategic leadership and community empowerment. With a background in social work and a deep commitment to addressing health disparities, Kenjuan has spent years connecting underserved families to essential resources and supporting individuals affected by incarceration and social determinants of health. He is currently pursuing his MBA at UNC Wilmington while joining the team at Care Share Health Alliance as the Medicaid Expansion Outreach and Education Coordinator. Kenjuan is driven by his belief in the power of education, partnership, and advocacy to dismantle systemic barriers and create lasting social impact.

Outside of his professional work, Kenjuan is an active volunteer, mentoring youth impacted by parental incarceration and supporting the next generation of social work students. His work, presentations, and certifications reflect his passion for social justice, public health, and community-driven solutions. Last but not least, Kenjuan gave his life to Christ in 2019 and is a proud member of Bethel Temple Faith Church. He calls Kannapolis NC, home where he, his wife and three beautiful daughters reside. 

Renee Harvey is a native of Washington, North Carolina. She holds an Associate in Applied Science-Medical Laboratory Technology from Beaufort Community College, as well as a  Bachelor of Science in Public Health Studies and a Master of Arts in Health Education from East Carolina University. Additionally, Renee is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES), and a North Carolina Rural Center Homegrown Leaders East Alum.

Renee has a strong background in community health. She previously worked with the Health Assist Program as the Community Health Program Specialist where she assisted the uninsured population. Renee also served as the Catalyst Coordinator for Healthy Eating and Active Living for Beaufort County with the North Carolina Public Health Foundation. Most recently, Renee held the position of Community Health Improvement Manager for the Healthy Opportunities Pilot with Access East. The Healthy Opportunities Pilots (HOP) is the nation’s first comprehensive program to test and evaluate the impact of providing select evidence-based, non-medical interventions related to housing, food, transportation and interpersonal safety and toxic stress to high-needs Medicaid enrollees.

Renee is passionate about supporting community based organizations’ capacity to address the social drivers of health and believes authentic community engagement is one of the keys in advancing health equity.