NEW YORK, NY, AUGUST 4, 2020 — Hip Hop Public Health is pleased to announce three new additions to its Board of Directors: James R. Whitehead, Patrice Webb and Andrew Post. The Board provides leadership in carrying out the nonprofit’s mission to foster positive health behavior change among youth through the transformative power of hip-hop music.
“Alongside our current dedicated and dynamic board, these talented leaders from various backgrounds and experiences will work together to achieve our vision of empowering youth around the globe with the knowledge and skills to make healthier choices,” said Lori Rose Benson, Executive Director and CEO of Hip Hop Public Health.
“For more than 15 years now, Hip Hop Public Health has been innovating in the field of health and physical literacy with free, engaging, culturally-tailored and evidence-based resources for children and their families” stated Dr. Olajide Williams, founder and chairman of Hip Hop Public Health’s Board of Directors. “This is an exciting time for our new board members to join Hip Hop Public Health as we are rapidly growing and responding to new health crises by amplifying our reach and building deeper relationships to help youth lead healthier lives.”
Pictured left to right: James R. Whitehead, Patrice Webb and Andrew Post.
James R. Whitehead
James has been the leader and CEO of multiple global and U.S. organizations, with a driving force to enlarge and amplify their ability to benefit humanity overall in a sustainable fashion – especially human, societal, and planetary health. Based in Indianapolis, IN, Jim currently is CEO of an expanding portfolio of health-based NGOs, such as the International Society for Sports Psychiatry, as well as an incubator for organizations that innovatively use technology to advance health and performance and economic development in the sectors of worksite, healthcare, and sports. Jim has led, created, or co-founded numerous start-up organizations and initiatives that have become established and successful enterprises, such as the Datalys Center on Sports Injury Research and Prevention, the Joint Commission on Sports Medicine and Science, the U.S. National Physical Activity Plan, and the International Association for Worksite Health Promotion.
Patrice Webb
Patrice started her career as an Ambassador for the renowned TRUTH campaign. She later joined the staff of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation as a Manager of the Spouses program. After that she joined the national American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) as a National Community Organizer working with rural and urban communities and then the team at Free Press as the Director of Community Affairs where she worked to educate others on the critical telecom issue of Net Neutrality before joining Heineken as the Director of Public Affairs. In 2015, while finishing her MA in behavior change, she led the transition team for newly elected Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby and then joined the American Beverage Association (ABA) to lead a behavior change initiative to reduce beverage calorie consumption through education, awareness, and the support of choice. Today, as the SVP of Public Affairs at ES&S, she’s working to save our democracy by increasing awareness of and trust in the use of secure technology in elections.
Andrew Post
With over 15 years of experience in the education, healthcare, and philanthropic sectors, Andrew currently serves as the Chief Innovation Officer at Invo Healthcare, overseeing his brainchild, the Invo Multidisciplinary Program to Address Childhood Trauma, complex school district and agency initiatives, and research and accountability. Prior to joining Invo, Andrew served as a classroom teacher and school site administrator in Miami-Dade County Public Schools, an Assistant Superintendent in Duval County Public Schools, and the President of Catapult Academy. Andrew has also founded a 501(c)(3) non-profit that infused literacy and sports to increase students’ chances of achieving academic and social/emotional success through programming in the United States and Jamaica.
The full slate of board members is listed below:
Doug E. Fresh, Honorary Board Member
Olajide Williams, MD, MS, Chairman
Gillian Barclay, DDS, MPH, DrPH
Raymond Javdan, Esq.
Saju Joseph, MD, MACS, CHWS
Olugbenga Ogedegbe MD, MPH, FACP
Eric Pliner
Tiberius Vadan
Lori Rose Benson, Executive Director and CEO
James Noble, MD, MS
Patrice Webb
James R. Whitehead
Andrew Post
Advisory Board:
Chuck D
Darryl “DMC” McDaniels
Rob Shepardson
Scott Silverstein
Tony Drootin
James “Jimmy” Maynes
Tommaso Giuseppe
Dana Austin
John Allegrante, PhD
Kelly Fogel
Ian Ellis James
Terry Nelson
Monique Hedmann
Alexandra DeSorbo Quinn
Jonathan Fassberg
Melinda Gould
Maibe Ponet
Mindy Feldman Hecht
Get to know all of Hip Hop Public Health’s Board of Directors here.
