Co-Creating Community-Centered Emergency Action Plans Community Forum

Rev. Dr. Rodney Coles Sr was born in New York City. As a youth growing up in New York, Pastor Coles served in various ministries in his home church, St. Matthews Baptist Church. He received his call to Christian Ministry in 1987, and he graduated from NYC Theological Seminary School in June of that year.

 Pastor Coles began his post-educational career to further equip him for his ministry. He attended St Luke Baptist Church Disciple Class under the teaching of Rev. Dr. J.G.McCann Sr (A.A, B.A, M DIV, and S.T.M. D.MIN)

He relocated to Greenville, North Carolina, in 2006, and God called him to begin his own Ministry.  In January 2007, he founded The Children of God in Christ Church located in Greenville, NC. Pastor Coles is focused on building God’s kingdom, God’s community, and God’s people.

In the fall of 2007, he had a vision to share with the people of God. The vision of Churches Outreach Network was born.  It is focused on the people in the community, especially those who were not part of the body of Christ and those who were not attending a church. We provide a network of community referrals, resources, assistance, and help to those in need. In our opinion, many people who were in the Church building were either already saved or on their way to being saved, and that left out the people who did not know Jesus or how to find out about him. Churches Outreach Network outreaches the community through a network of community leaders that are Pastors, Ministers, Organizational leaders, or businesses. We network together as one, ministering the word of God or fellowshipping together at events. We are a public nonprofit 501©3 organization. Through Churches Outreach Network, several ministries were birthed, including The Inter-Faith Clergy based on Pastors, Ministers, and Community leaders meeting and coming together once per month to address the needs of the community and the Community Action committee by working with law enforcement and faith-based organizations. 

Shemecka McNeil is a multi-talented individual with a deep understanding of the relationship between food and health. Growing up in a family with a long history of preventable health conditions, she developed a passion for promoting good health through a nutritious diet.

With over a decade of experience in the health sector, Shemecka is well-versed in the importance of healthy eating for overall well-being. She founded SLICE 325, a non-profit organization dedicated to educating low-income individuals and families on how to create healthy meals using affordable ingredients.

Shemecka’s expertise extends beyond health education – she is also a trained chef, healthcare professional, and farmer. Her unique skill set allows her to approach health and nutrition from a variety of angles, making her a valuable resource for anyone seeking to improve their eating habits and overall health.

As the Executive Director of SLICE 325, Shemecka is committed to making a difference in the lives of others, one meal at a time. She firmly believes that every family is unique and that there are countless creative ways to prepare healthy meals that are both delicious and affordable.

Shemecka’s dedication to promoting health and wellness has earned her recognition as a PSA Grower and a Paul Harris Award Fellow. She is an inspiration to those around her and a true advocate for healthy living.

Gabriel San Emeterio, LMSW: Gabriel San Emeterio (They/she/he) is a queer and disabled activist from Mexico City. They hold a Master’s degree in Social Work with Community Organizing as a method of practice and a certificate in Social Policy from the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College, where they’re now part-time faculty. Gabriel’s life experience as a person living with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, ME/CFS, HIV, and other complex chronic conditions fuels their passion for disability justice and liberatory community work. They co-founded Strategies for High Impact and its project, Long COVID Justice.

Connect with Gabriel on social media:

@gabrielhse

@longcovidjustice

@highimpactstrategy

Yvonka M. Hall, MPA, is the Executive Director of the nationally recognized Northeast Ohio Black Health Coalition. She received a Master of Public Administration from Texas Southern University and a Bachelor of Arts from Notre Dame College. She is a proud graduate of John Marshall High School in Cleveland, Ohio, and a 2019 inductee into the Alumni Hall of Fame. The Cleveland Plain Dealer named her the HomeGrown Hero for her work addressing food insecurity. 

The 1974 murder of her mother, Yvonne Boston Hall, dramatically changed her life; her childhood promise to use her life to help others has led to the creation of cutting-edge programs and impacted thousands of people’s lives. She was named as 100 Women to Know in America. News Channel 5 WEWS named her number 10 of the 50 Everyday Heroes in Northeast Ohio.

She is a mother, grandmother, and activist deeply impassioned and involved in social justice activities locally and nationally. Her efforts will save many children from the lifelong impact of lead poisoning. She is currently working on a number of initiatives, including a ban on menthol products, healthy menu options, and implementing anti-racism in hospital settings policies. Her work is designed to address equity issues in the community and highlight the need for policy in calls to declare racism a public health crisis. She was honored as a Black Green Woman in 2021. She was named to the National Environmental Protection Agency National Justice Advisory Committee, where she serves as the chair for the Farmworkers and Pesticides Workgroup.

She is a member of numerous local and national organizations. She is a nationally recognized Congressional award-winning health disparities expert. She speaks all over the country about effectively engaging the African-American Community in the Art of Community Engagement. 

She is an activist, leader, influencer, humanitarian, speaker, researcher and philanthropist.