Leadership Team

Advocacy Committee Co-Chair

Chandra Lewis is a doula trailblazer known for her groundbreaking work in birth and full-spectrum doula support. Personal experiences with healthcare biases and the impact of unaddressed Social Determinants of Health on pregnancy outcomes have shaped Chandra's journey. With extensive training, Chandra is accredited as a PAILAdvocate, grief support specialist, peer support specialist, and childbirth educator.

As the Director of Doula Programming at Harambee Birth and Family Center, Chandra spearheads innovative initiatives for inclusive reproductive care. Chandra's advocacy for community-based care reflects a deep personal commitment to equitable healthcare.

Chandra's passion for advocacy extends beyond the defined professional role. Chandra champions marginalized communities' rights, aiming to dismantle systemic barriers to healthcare access. Chandra emphasizes empowering community health workers and community-based doula collaborations, envisioning them as catalysts for change. By providing resources and amplifying their voices, Chandra aims to advance health equity.

Engaged in grassroots advocacy, Chandra raises awareness of maternal and infant health issues through public speaking, workshops, community engagement, and partnerships. Chandra's dedication to positive change resonates, inspiring others to pursue a more equitable healthcare landscape.

Research & Evaluation Committee Co-Chair

 Dathan is the Director of Community Information at UniteWI. In August of 2023, Dathan finished his PhD in communication at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. His dissertation examined the resilience strategies of Lesbian and Gay service members and how service members used those strategies to get through difficult times. His other research topics included family communication, disability, LGBT military members, and LGBT mental health issues. During the 2022-2023 academic year Dathan was awarded the Distinguished Dissertation Fellowship.  

For his bachelor's degree, Dathan attended Luther College and double majored in Communication and Anthropology. His anthropology degree focused on medical anthropology, studying the need for cultural competency in the healthcare industry and the inequalities that affect health. Dathan earned his M.A. in communication at Northern Illinois University. There Dathan focused on quantitative methods and inclusive teaching practices. His thesis examined student perceptions of instructors and how that impacts affective and cognitive learning.