Nia graduated from the University of Washington (Seattle) with a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience and minors in Chemistry and Human Rights. While living in Seattle, she coordinated research at Harborview Medical Center on the impacts of Severe Acute Brain Injury on loved ones, as well as racial disparities in healthcare delivered by early-career practitioners. In the future, Nia hopes to travel and pursue a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology. In her free time, she enjoys swimming, cooking, creative makeup looks, absurdly long video essays, and trying new things. 

Wanna Charlot is a strategic healthcare leader and advocate for health equity, with over a decade of experience advancing medical education, clinical training, and community-based health initiatives. She currently serves as the Director of Project Management and Operational Administration at The Wellness Collaborative, Inc., where she leads cross-functional initiatives that promote sustainable health outcomes through culturally responsive education and care delivery models.

A proud alumna of Howard University, Ms. Charlot earned her Bachelor’s degree in Nutritional Sciences with a minor in Chemistry. Her passion for equitable access to health and education took root early and led her to join the U.S. Peace Corps, where she served as an HIV/AIDS Outreach Volunteer in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa. There, she conducted a comprehensive community needs assessment and designed targeted health education programs for youth. She also led grassroots awareness campaigns and partnered with local health clinics to increase HIV/AIDS testing access through mobile testing units, bringing critical services directly to underserved populations.

Ms. Charlot holds a Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration from Suffolk University in Boston. She has held key leadership roles across renowned institutions, including Joslin Diabetes Center, where she managed national medical education programs, and Commonwealth Care Alliance, where she served as Manager of Clinical Education and Training. In each role, she has been recognized for her ability to combine operational rigor with visionary thinking, building high-impact learning ecosystems that enhance provider performance and improve patient outcomes.

A published contributor to the field, her work on the Prime Program was presented at the American Diabetes Association in 2020, underscoring the value of quality improvement strategies in diabetes care.

Driven by a lifelong commitment to health equity, innovation, and the power of education, Ms. Charlot continues to shape systems that empower communities and cultivate culturally competent care.

Bio to come

Robin Hicks is a Boston-based HABIT Community Champion.

She is a leader in her church community. She hopes to serve as a bridge between her community and this wellness study. She's drawn to the study because the team honors participants by prioritizing health equity and being community-focused. She brings over 10 years of experience in project management, quality improvement, coaching, and advancing health equity initiatives. Throughout her career, Robin has designed and implemented healthcare transformation strategies to achieve large-scale change while creating inclusive spaces for learning and collaboration. Robin holds a Master of Public Health from Boston University and a Bachelor of Arts in Women's Studies from Hamilton College. In her spare time, Robin enjoys going to the movies or having a cup of coffee with good friends.

Bio to come

Natalie Ribeiro is a Boston-based HABIT Community Champion.

Natalie is originally from the Boston/Dorchester area and has a professional background in application analysis, along with a bachelor’s degree in nursing. She chose to get involved with the HABIT study because she believes research that reflects real-life experiences has the power to meaningfully improve community health. In her role, she connects with people in the community to raise awareness about the study and invite them to take part.

Natalie is an active volunteer through her church and participates in Hope Worldwide, which supports food pantries and natural disasters through donation efforts. Giving back to the community is something she cares deeply about. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and spending time with family.

Leonard M. Lee is a HABIT Boston-based Connector.

He is currently the Senior Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and Strategic Planning at Kelley Chunn and Associates, playing a pivotal role in leading the organization's efforts to foster a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace culture while aligning strategic initiatives with these principles for all clients. Reporting directly to the CEO, he is responsible for developing and executing comprehensive DEI strategies and integrating them seamlessly into the overall strategic planning processes of Kelley Chunn and Associates.

Leonard is Former President and CEO of South Coast Community Foundation in New Bedford, and formerly Division Director of Violence and Injury Prevention at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, where he oversaw a $30mil budget. Under his leadership, he managed four units to include: Sexual and Domestic Violence Prevention, Child and Youth Violence Prevention, Suicide Prevention Program, and Injury Prevention and Control Program.

Prior to taking on the senior managerial role at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, he served the Commonwealth as the Unit Manager of Child and Youth Violence Prevention. This role included managing the following programs: Shaken Baby Syndrome, Youth Violence Prevention, and Safe Spaces for GLBTQ Youth.

Leonard founded “Masking the Community,” an ongoing effort to provide masks to under-served communities which have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. As of October 2020, he had raised just under $350,000 and has given out over 950,000 masks. As a result of these efforts, he has become known as the “Mask Man.

Leonard served as the former Deputy Commissioner of Public Health for the State of Connecticut, overseeing a $100mil budget. In this capacity he oversaw Injury and Violence Prevention as well as several other departments. Before working at a state agency, he has been an Executive Director at a number of nonprofits throughout the Boston area, such as the Roxbury YMCA, ABCD, Inc. Dorchester Neighborhood Service Center, Odwin Learning Center and the Wang Theater. He also serves on a number of community boards, committees and commissions, ran a Broadway theater in Boston at the Wang Center theater, is President and CEO of Blakestone and Associates marketing and promotion company, promoting concerts and music festivals in Boston. He is also an avid skier and Master Urban BeeKeeper.

Martin Berry is a Cambridge-based HABIT Community Champion.

He has a Bachelor of Science from UMass Amherst, and is a hospitality and entrepreneurial professional. In 1995, Martin founded the Cambridge-based social networking organization, The Positive People Network (PPN). He was owner, operator & food truck pioneer in Cambridge, from 2004-2011, for “Marty B Mobile Meals,” and has over 40 years of experience in the hospitality industry, professional networking, community engagement and health and wellness.

Martin has a solid reputation in the Cambridge community as a dynamic organizer, having worked with multi-generational individuals, being driven by a passion to empower others through networking, he has led and participated in numerous wellness-focused events, community outreach programs, and professional development workshops, with an emphasis on inclusivity, resilience, and sustainable impact.

In his current work and through HABIT, he aims to continue bridging the gap between professional advancement and personal well-being, while cultivating networks that uplift individuals and strengthen communities.