Aisha Saunders-Jackson is a native of Cambridge, Massachusetts, and the exceedingly proud mother of Jarad Saunders and Mikalia Jackson, as well as the grandmother of Zarah. She earned a Master’s degree in Business Management from Cambridge College and a Harvard University Administrative Fellowship, following her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Religion from Wheaton College. Over the course of more than thirty years, Aisha has built a diverse professional career that spans both the private and public sectors. Her experience includes work in media, marketing, public relations, special events, education, healthcare, human resources, government, and philanthropy.

Aisha’s philosophy on collective action is reflected by her volunteerism on non-profit boards including Bay State Games, Milton Public Library Foundation (President), Forbes House Museum, Celebrate Milton, Tutoring Plus of Cambridge, Coalition of 100 Black Women (Secretary), and served on the Lower Mills Merchant’s Association, to name a few.

Currently, Aisha demonstrates her dedication to community service through her involvement with Milton Community Food Pantry and the Bay State Games’ Board of Directors. This engagement honors her family’s longstanding commitment to charitable works in one’s own backyard. She consistently invests her extensive knowledge, talent, time, and resources to support underserved communities. Aisha’s contributions extend to various non-profit charitable organizations, reflecting her passion for uplifting others and enriching the lives of those in need.

During the Covid-19 pandemic in 2019, Aisha temporarily paused her professional career and traveled between the United States and the Dominican Republic with her husband, Kirk Jackson, Esq., a retired attorney-at-law in Boston by way of New York. He spent 2.5 years recuperating and making progress following a cancer diagnosis, before ultimately passing away due to a heart attack. After, her husband’s death from a heart attack, Aisha returned to Milton where they had raised their family. She currently resides in the town and leads an active lifestyle.

Aisha is deeply committed to lifelong learning and regularly engages in activities such as reading, traveling, music, cultural events and participating in various sports. She believes these pursuits enrich her life and keep her intellectually stimulated and physically active. In addition to her passion for learning and staying active, Aisha enjoys expressing her creativity, technical skill, and exploration utilizing AI to augment and create new forms of art and interaction and finds relaxation through activities like cooking, gardening, and practicing yoga. These hobbies provide her with a sense of balance and fulfillment, contributing to her overall well-being.

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.

 Albert W. Pless, Jr. is a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and public health professional who serves as a Connector for the HABIT Study. His involvement reflects a longstanding commitment to advancing health equity and improving outcomes he has for the  Black community. With more than 25 years of experience in community-based programming—particularly in men’s and Black men’s health—he has led impactful initiatives at both the Boston Public Health Commission and the Cambridge Public Health Department. Through this work, he has witnessed firsthand the effects of chronic pain and memory challenges. The HABIT Study closely aligns with his dedication to culturally responsive, community-driven approaches to health and wellness.

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.

Monterial Bynoe is the Founding and Senior Pastor of The Tabernacle of Praise (The TOP) in Randolph, Massachusetts, an author, and The Faith Advisor/Connector for The HABIT STUDY. An anointed, bold, God-centered visionary, he is passionate about empowering people through life-changing transformation and reaching those often overlooked by traditional ministry. Pastor Bynoe is the author of: Determination “Nothing and Nobody Can Stop Me”. He has been married for 31 years to his wife, Stella, and together they are blessed with five children and six grandchildren.

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.

bio to come

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.