Akeia Blue is a public health communicator with over six years of experience in deliveringmulticultural marketing, health literacy and culturally competent communications for non-profitand government organizations.Prior to joining NMQF, Akeia’s work at health-focused public relations and marketing agenciesgave her the opportunity to support several non-profit organizations, government organizationsand pharmaceutical companies across a variety of health topics including sexual/reproductivehealth, mental health, diabetes, COVID-19 vaccination, general adult vaccination and severaltypes of cancers.

Akeia has contributed to several award-winning campaigns, earned high profilespeaking engagements for clients and advised on health equity topics, including word choice,campaign design and research and outreach plans. Akeia was named an Emerging Leaders Award finalist by the Washington Women in PublicRelations (WWPR) in 2021 for her contributions to her organization, community and the publicrelations field. She has been quoted on topics including health literacy and health equity in pointof care marketing.

Outside of work, Akeia is also a consultant through her business, Be Health Literate, where sheworks with organizations to create health literate materials and develop social media strategiesfor small start-up non-profit organizations. Additionally, she previously served on the publicrelations committee for her local chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated. Akeiagraduated with her Master’s in Public Health degree from The George Washington University.

Dr. Sarfaraz Hasni is the Director of Lupus Clinical Research at the National Institute of Arthritis, Musculoskeletal, and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland, USA. He did his post-graduate training in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology from State University of New York at Stony Brook and a Master of Health Sciences in Clinical Research from Duke University. He is the recipient of William G. Coleman Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Innovation Award. He has established DC lupus consortium, a platform to bring all stakeholders to brainstorm ideas about improving lives of lupus patients.

He is chosen by American College of Rheumatology to increase awareness of lupus and is conducting a peer-peer mentoring program to improve participation of minority communities in lupus clinical research. He serves as chair of the scientific review committee for the US Department of Defense, Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs, and scientific reviewer for the NIH-IRB. Dr. Hasni has been invited to present his research at multiple regional, national, and international conferences, medical grand rounds, patient summits, and keynote lectures.

 

Cora Carter

First Lady

ARK Church

Cora Carter is a native of Baltimore City. She grew up in the East Baltimore community. She has traveled extensively both nationally and internationally. Although she has resided in other parts of our nation for a number of years, she returned to the East Baltimore community to apply the 25 years plus experience in management and community involvement to the same community in which she was born. Cora understands the needs of the community, possesses the skills, and has the resources to address the issues and help resolve the problems. She is a retired Banker and a current Administrator. She brings professional expertise in training, mentoring, educating and counseling to better serve the community.

 

Bishop Dr. J.L. Carter

Senior Pastor

ARK Church

J.L. Carter has been the Senior Pastor of Ark Church, Baltimore, Maryland since 1987 to the present. In 2014 he was consecrated as a Bishop in the Lord's church, with the responsibility to serve and give leadership to more than 25 churches nationwide. He is the presiding Prelate of Kingdom Impact Covenant Fellowship.

He received his undergraduate degree in Biology & Chemistry from Morgan State University, his Masters in Divinity from Samuel DeWitt Proctor, School of Theology from Virginia Union University, his Doctorate of Ministry from United Theological Seminary as a Saumel DeWitt Fellow and lastly, has participated in an Ecumenical Study Program at the University of Boston.

Bishop Dr. J.L. Carter has been the Regional Coordinator for Disaster Relief for the National Baptist Convention, USA., Inc. and American Red Cross, the Chairman for Family Enrichment Commission for National Baptist, USA., Inc. Convention. He has also been the President of the Ministers Conference of Baltimore and Vicinity, which is the oldest African American Clergy Organization that is more than 116 years old.

Ministry and serving people is what he lives for, his excitement for prison ministry and foreign mission ranks at the top. Bishop Carter loves traveling internationally, playing chess and playing musical instruments. His wife and soul mate is the First Lady Cora Carter and together they have four adult children and five grand boys.