WI CHW Network Committees

Alexa McGee Lawson is a dedicated Community Health Worker, advocate, and nonprofit leader committed to improving the health and well-being of underserved communities. As the founder of Resources With a Purpose and owner of Lois Lovable Lullabies Childcare Center, Alexa brings a unique, community-centered approach that bridges early childhood education, family support, and trauma-informed care.

With certifications in Mental Health First Aid for both youth and adults, Alexa is passionate about empowering individuals and families through education, advocacy, and access to resources. Her lived experience, combined with her professional background, fuels her mission to support survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and other forms of trauma.

As Advocacy Co-Chair, Alexa is committed to amplifying community voices, promoting equity, and advancing policies that create sustainable change. She is known for her compassion, leadership, and unwavering dedication to serving others.

Dr. Shay Gordon is motivated by children ,positive environments and the reward that comes from genuinely helping people. Shes passionate about uplifting communities and enjoy the outcomes of helping persons that receive the help. Accomplishments include working for an organization by the name of 414 Life as a Hospital responder, responding to gunshot patients and ensuring a safe discharge home. 

She has recently received her doctorate degree in theology. Mastering in youth and family services. Her future goals include philanthropic work, publishing books, as well as working on a new organization that she has created. Kokopelli’s Mobile Kloset, which was built to serve the youth with new clothing items and motivation for students every day. 

As an advocacy cochair, Dr. Shay is committed to learning and giving back to the community in every way she is needed. Dr. Shay believes in the CHW network, and is proud to be apart of a growing compassionate community. 

Mark Briggs was born and raised in Milwaukee, specifically in the Sherman Park neighborhood, and considers himself a lifelong servant of the community. For the past 28 years, he has served in a variety of roles, including teacher, postsecondary advisor, and youth and family advocate. His career has included positions with the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, the Department of Public Instruction, Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee, Milwaukee Public Schools Recreation, and he currently serves with the Medical College of Wisconsin.

Mark’s passion for being part of the solution continues to drive his commitment to supporting families and individuals who are less connected to resources and services. He is excited to continue engaging with UniteWI and the CHW Network and to collaborate with others to leverage shared talents, skills, and experiences to create positive change in the community.

Tanisha Stokes is the Director of Career Advisement at an edtech company, owner of Gold Ink Consulting, and a Community Health Worker and Community Health Worker Instructor. Born and raised in Racine, Wisconsin, she now lives in Fort Worth, Texas and remains deeply connected to her Wisconsin roots. She brings over 15 years of experience across nonprofit and human services spaces, with a strong commitment to career wellness, workplace well-being, and practical support. Through her current work in Texas, she has also seen more established community health worker integration across settings and hopes to bring that perspective to support continued CHW visibility and workforce growth in Wisconsin. Outside of work, she enjoys family and friends, sporting events, and all things wellness.

Heidi L. Odegaard, MS, CHES, is a Community Engagement Specialist for Mayo Clinic Health System, supporting initiatives that strengthen community partnerships and advance health equity. With 14 years at the organization, this role includes strategic planning, interdepartmental collaboration, and community engagement efforts focused on addressing social drivers of health and supporting community well-being.

Outside of work, Heidi enjoys spending time with family in La Crosse, WI. With three teenage sons, family time often includes sporting events and traveling together to Hayward, Minnesota’s North Shore, and St. Croix.

Andrea Kressin, MPH, is a public health and community strategy leader with more than 20 years of experience advancing community safety and well-being through cross-sector partnerships, applied research, and data-informed decision-making. She holds a Master of Public Health from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and most recently served as Director of the Office of Violence Prevention in Green Bay, where she led citywide efforts to strengthen prevention through community-driven strategies and collaborative systems change. Andrea is the founder of The Together Collaborative, where she partners with communities and organizations to design and implement equitable, community-centered approaches to safety, health, and evaluation.

Debra Lipscomb, small business owner of Lipscomb Support Services LLC, and a Volunteer Guardian for adults with disabilities. I bridge the gap between professional excellence and community service, dedicated to both the individuals and families I support through WI Medicaid Waiver services and disability advocacy.  Completed the 2025 CHW Certificate program through Milwaukee-AHEC which helped me realize I was a community health worker all along but now we can unite and grow across the state supporting each other and our communities.