Introducing Our 2024 “Champions for Change” Winners

Infant mortality is an issue that no organization can solve alone – collaboration is essential.

For more than ten years, we have seen Hamilton County unite around a common goal of reducing infant mortality. In that spirit, Cradle Cincinnati launched the “Champions for Change” Awards to honor leaders who went the extra mile for moms and babies in our community. This year, we’re thrilled to recognize eight such champions.

Because of champions like these and countless others, more babies are celebrating first birthdays in Hamilton County. We’d like to thank these champions for their compassion and innovation in helping moms and babies thrive.

Our 2024 “Champions for Change” are:

Champion for Better Care: Darlene Garcia, UC Health

Darlene is a passionate advocate for the moms she serves. As Nurse Case Manager with UC Health, she works alongside the highest risk patients to ensure that they are understood, that they are actively involved in their care, and that all their needs are met. She is the consummate patient advocate and deeply cares about the women and families she works with. Darlene collaborates with the Cincinnati Health Department and many community-based teams to build trust with patients and assure that moms have the best outcomes possible.

Community Activist Champion: Jamie Ayer, Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health

As a community health worker with Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health, Jamie meets individuals where they are, providing needed support and advocacy for moms and their families. Her hands-on approach to her work ensures that no family is left behind; community baby showers have become a cherished tradition that bring together resources and support for those who need it most. Her work has led to better health outcomes and a stronger sense of community among mothers and families. Jamie's initiatives have fostered a culture of health and support, making a lasting impact on the lives of moms and babies in Hamilton County. 

Safe Sleep Champion: Natahsa Shull, Charlie’s Kids

Natasha is a leading advocate of infant safe sleep. Charlie’s Kids is dedicated to providing families nationwide with the resources and support they need to create safe sleep environments for their babies. Through Charlie’s Kids’s book donation program, which distributes 6,000 safe sleep board books annually to health systems and organizations, Natasha ensures that families have access to vital information on safe sleep. In addition, she spearheaded a safe sleep video campaign, featuring relatable and accessible animated shorts on essential topics such as staying awake while caring for a baby at night. 

Champion for Equity: Julietta Ladipo, All Moms Empowered to Nurse

Julietta is a dedicated champion of breastfeeding. She works tirelessly to create a culture of support where moms can connect, share experiences and receive guidance on their breastfeeding journeys. Her empathetic nature creates an environment where everyone feels listened to and supported in an equitable way. On top of that, she mentors other breastfeeding champions and ambassadors, empowering them to carry out AMEN’s community work. A busy mom herself, she keeps lots of balls in the air for her family, home, work, and breastfeeding as well as other community-led opportunities in which she is involved.  

Champion for Equity: Mawusi Ashshakir, The Mothership Institute

Mawusi has been working diligently in the community for the past 20 years to bridge the minority health gap. She created a safe circle for women to heal their birth traumas and get culturally competent care. Mawusi has also trained hundreds of doulas worldwide to provide culturally competent healthcare in minority and low-income communities. In addition to doula training, she offers free childbirth education classes and provides moms with the resources they need to be successful in parenting. Mawusi has overcome a lack of funding for her business and has operated off of community support at times. But she has persevered so that she can continue to do the work that she loves.

Champion for Healthy Families: Queen Smith, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center

Queen is known for her unwavering commitment to supporting families. As a community health worker for Cincinnati Children’s, she plays a crucial role in helping families during their child's first year, providing essential support like access to community resources and high-quality care as well as building skills for greater independence. Despite working with limited resources, Queen has demonstrated exceptional creativity and resourcefulness in addressing the challenges of poverty. Her innovative approach maximizes the impact of available resources, ensuring that her clients receive meaningful support, even when resources are constrained. 

Champion for Healthy Families: Samonyca Spillman, Mercy Health

As a certified community health worker with Mercy Health’s Perinatal Outreach Program, Sam hopes to be the kind of support to families that she needed when she was a first-time mom. That mindset compelled her to complete breastfeeding and doula trainings – all in pursuit of providing the best care for moms. This year, she even provided pro bono doulas services for three families. She repeatedly goes above and beyond to ensure that families have the knowledge and resources they need to thrive. Her focus on centering moms throughout all stages of pregnancy and parenthood sets Samonyca apart. 

Champion for Knowledge: Brian Kegley, The Health Collaborative

Brian’s expertise has been instrumental in developing of Mama Certified, a new maternal equity certification program for birthing hospitals. Brian played a key role designing the back-end infrastructure for the certification process. He was also crucial in developing the underlying methodology and certification framework for Mama Certified. His work has helped to ensure that Mama Certified aligns with current research and best practices in healthcare and public health. Thanks to his contributions, Mama Certified is already a sought-after program for other communities nationwide.

Congratulations to all of our winners!

Thank you for making Hamilton County better for moms, babies and families.