Meet Our New CAB Members

Allen Hodgkin | Fresno

Allen is from the San Francisco Bay Area. Upon relocating to Fresno, he found his passion with his church and community-based organizations. Allen served as the Site Coordinator for an initiative from the Department of Justice called Weed and Seed. Some of the strategies are still in effect today. Allen is the past chairman of the board of the Fresno Self-Sufficiency Corps, the non-profit arm of the Fresno Housing Authority. He currently serves as Vice President of a locally owned affordable housing complex. Allen previously served on the Fresno PTBi CAB. He is concerned about the treatment and welfare of the Mothers, Fathers and babies involved in birth. Through the years Allen has shown his concern about the quality of life for the residents of Fresno, young and old, and continues to promote the cause of Human Rights.

Areas of expertise
Working with groups. Working with men. Working toward making things happen.

Licenses, certificates or degrees
BA, CSUSF, Management.

Personal mission and/or goal to address preterm birth and reproductive justice
My mission is to assist those moving forward with the efforts to improve the quality of life for families and find effective ways for them to receive quality service from all medical professionals. I also believe that the fathers need assistance with being aware of the mother's and child's needs before and after birth.

Kalisha Goodwin | Fresno

Kalisha Goodwin is a Mother, Scholar, and Researcher. She was raised on the Southside of Stockton, California and started her life in Fresno after high school. She is the mother of 2 children and experienced preterm birth first-hand. She currently owns a relational life coaching business specializing in family, dating, and friendships. She received her Master's Degree in Marriage, Family, and Children Counseling from CSU Fresno. Her graduate research looks at modalities tailored to the Black couple.

Areas of expertise
Group Prenatal Care, Group Facilitation, Psychotherapy, Interpersonal Relationships

Licenses, certificates or degrees
B.S. in Criminology, Victimology Drug and Alcohol Abuse Certification, M.S. in Marriage, Family, and Children Counseling Associate, MFT Licensure - In Progress

Personal mission and/or goal to address preterm birth and reproductive justice
I believe that self-advocacy and knowledge is key. I would like to educate and empower our families so they can better support themselves.

Joby Jones | Fresno

Joby Jones is the founder of Stop The Violence-Fresno. Program Coordinator for the Fresno EOC Street Saints. Born and raised in Fresno, California. Community Activist, runs an after school boxing program at the Hinton Community Center.

Areas of expertise
Outreach, community engagement, at risk youth. Speaking

Licenses, certificates or degrees
Trauma-Informed certificate, Family development certificate, Financial Literacy certificate

Personal mission and/or goal to address preterm birth and reproductive justice
To help our men understand the roles they play in supporting and lessening the stress added to the lives of the pregnant women.

Schyneida Williams | San Francisco

Schyneida was born and raised in the Bayview District of San Francisco. Schyneida comes to the Community Advisory Board from a place of understanding, empathy, and compassion for her community and others like it around the world. A mother of a preterm, low birth weight baby at 35 weeks, Williams had to figure out many things on her own such as knowledge that contributed to her professional development as a Case Manager at the Homeless Prenatal Program. Working with pregnant women at risk for preterm birth, Williams facilitates a curriculum-based parent/child group (“Knowing Your Baby”) which addresses parenting issues and facilitates emotional bonding with babies from birth. Schyneida has transitioned to UCSF over the last two years and has become an invaluable representative of community experience bringing community, partners and leaders together with the institution. Schyneida is very joyful and bubbly for the most part. She feels she is always herself in any space and is not afraid to speak up on issues of community and her heart. She owns a t-shirt business called State My Peace which is unapologetic apparel that makes a statement in any room.

Areas of expertise:
Community Health, Community Engagement, Case Management, Public speaking and consulting on various working groups.

Licenses, certificates or degrees
Community Health Worker

Personal mission and/or goal to address preterm birth and reproductive justice
Schyneida would like to work towards educating her community on the health disparities Black women face. She aims to be a part of moving the needle and the way things are researched in an innovative way when it comes to preterm birth outcomes.

Cherri Wright-Taylor | Oakland

Cherri spent for first ten years of her life in Compton, CA. Her parents were community activists and their activism inspired her to get involved in her own community. She has volunteered for several community programs. She is a mother, a grandmother, a gardener and loves repurposing and upcycling found treasures.

Areas of expertise:
Cherri is an expert at planning and organizing.

Licenses, certificates or degrees
Cherri holds an AA and Bachelor of Arts degree in Women’s Studies and a Master’s in Organizational Leadership.

Personal mission and/or goal to address preterm birth and reproductive justice
Her goal is to first gain a better understanding of the issues around preterm birth and reproductive justice. Once she has the information, she will use her knowledge and life experience to support her community.