Oshun Family Center is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. It was birthed from an experience by the founder Saleemah J. McNeil, she suffered a traumatic birth in 2006 while delivering her son. From suffering severe preeclampsia to an emergency c-section, Saleemah has worked hard to recover from this experience. This experience increased her drive to make a change in the field of maternal and child health and wellness. Saleemah obtained several positions in women’s health over the last decade such as a Birth/Postpartum Doula (no longer practicing), Lactation Consultant, and more recently a Marriage and Family Therapist. As a direct service worker, she identified a need that was not being met and through support, encouragement, and training, twelve years later, Oshun Family Center was born.

Natasha is the Associate Director for the Penn Medicine Heart & Vascular Center. In this role Natasha partners with physician and administrative leadership in all aspects of Practice Operations. Prior to her role with Penn Medicine, Natasha spent over 8 years within various healthcare organizations in the multitude of Practice Management roles. Natasha has her Master’s Degree in Health Administration from St. Joseph’s University and is a graduate from Florida A&M University (FAMU) with a Bachelor in Health Sciences. Outside of work, Natasha loves to cook, travel, and engage with family and friends. She is also a two-time broad street marathon runner. While being a mentor to young women and an active member of the Mime Dance ministry she sees a need for guidance and strong mentorship. Natasha believes that women of color should have adequate Obstetric and Gynecological Care thus she is working to change the narrative.

Michelle has a passion for serving and empowering marginalized and underprivileged families. She has spent the past ten years in various positions in the social service field. Michelle is the Residential Director of Transitional Services for Methodist Services. She puts a strong emphasis on education while she is currently advancing her education at Lincoln University where she obtained her Master’s Degree in Human Services. Michelle balances work and school while still finding time to provide nurturing support and educational activities for her children and companionship to her loving husband.

(Pronouns: she/her/hers) 

Nikki has a decade of experience in education and gender justice work. After serving as a high school teacher on the Navajo Nation with Teach for America, Nikki spent two years as a Fulbright Grantee in Spain where she developed the University of Cantabria’s first gender and sexuality course and organized charitable productions of Los Monólogos de la Vagina. Nikki cultivated her facilitation skills by developing and leading hundreds of LGBTQ diversity and inclusion workshops for thousands of professionals across industries. Most recently, Nikki completed her law degree while focusing her pro bono work on civil rights issues ranging from employment discrimination and name change services to asylum and family law services. 

Nikki holds a Juris Doctor degree from Temple University School of Law, and B.A. degrees in Women’s Studies, Spanish, and International Studies from the Pennsylvania State University’s Schreyer Honors College.

Bio coming soon…

Karla is a kind, passionate, and generous person that currently works at Pennsylvania Hospital in the accounts receivable department. She has worked in the medical field for about a decade in the area of Obstetrics & Gynecology. Karla is also pursuing her Bachelor’s degree at the University of Phoenix in the Health Science Administration. While finding time to incorporate self-care for personal growth, she admires and believes in the therapeutic process and personal transformation. During childhood, Karla and her family migrated to the United States from Puerto Rico. This is a pivotal part of her life that has defined the beginning journey of perseverance and healing. Karla is passionate about Maternal & Child Health and Wellness because as a SURVIVOR of sexual trauma and traumatic birth experience, she is dedicated to a change in Maternal Mortality. Karla is the mother of 2 beautiful daughters, Amelia (Angel baby) and Mia Angel who is her precious rainbow baby.

Kerienne Huggins is a public health nurse working as a Nurse Home Visitor at Philadelphia Nurse-Family Partnership. She was born and raised in Philadelphia and is an alumna of the Philadelphia High School for Girls. From there, Kerienne attended Notre Dame of Maryland University and earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2015. Attending two consecutive all-girls’/women’s institutions instilled the importance of sisterhood and community safety, especially as it relates to addressing social justice issues. Kerienne is very passionate about maternal-child health and strives to bring the Black Maternal Mortality Crisis to an end by collaborating with like-minded community partners to create safer conditions for growing families.