We are a dedicated team committed to elevating the role of Community Health Workers (CHWs) in North Carolina.
Team
Honey Yang Estrada
President
Honey Yang Estrada
President
Honey Yang Estrada is the President of the North Carolina Community Health Worker Association. She was born in Fresno, California and moved to North Carolina when she was 11 years old. The eldest daughter of Hmong refugees who came to the United States during times of war, Honey understands the struggles families face in navigating various societal systems and the existing barriers that inhibits them from achieving positive outcomes.
A proud Community Health Worker, Honey has worked in healthcare and public health for over 20 years. Her experience is rooted in community health and advocacy. Throughout her career, Honey continues to serve as a catalyst for change where she champions racial and health equity.
She holds a Masters in Public Health and currently lives in Newton, NC with her husband and two children and teaches Zumba at the local library.
Lupe Avalos
Business Manager
Lupe Avalos
Business Manager
A first-generation Mexican American, Lupe Avalos was born and raised in North Carolina. At a young age she directly observed the many challenges her community experienced in everyday life. Helping those with barriers brought her great joy, and knew she wanted to work supporting those facing any obstacles.
With 13 years of experience in healthcare, the last 6 have been the most rewarding working directly with her community. Lupe hopes to “poner su granito de arena” do her part in making even a small impact.
Having a huge love for the outdoors, Lupe enjoys spending time hiking, biking, and traveling with her husband and 2 daughters. You can be sure to find her at a racing function or off-roading spending time with family and friends.
Tania Harper
Operations Manager
Tania Harper
Tania Harper has a rich background in non-profit and government domains, displaying an unwavering commitment to service. Throughout her career, she has accompanied individuals and families in navigating social, health, educational, and legal systems. One of her most notable experiences was serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Morocco, where she supported local development of health-focused and educational programs while contributing to gender equity initiatives and cultural competency training for fellow volunteers.
Over the last decade, Tania has flourished as a public health professional, working with teams to wield data for enduring positive change. She champions the significance of data equity as a vital component within the context of health equity. With honor, Tania enthusiastically directs her skills toward supporting North Carolina's Community Health Workers.
Raised in Sheridan, Wyoming, against a mountain backdrop, Tania enjoys pottery, outdoor pursuits, travel, and lifelong learning. Tania completed her Master's in Health Administration with an Information Systems concentration in 2023.
Dulce Ortiz
Regional Network Coordinator
Dulce Ortiz
Regional Network Coordinator
Dulce is a dedicated advocate for immigrant rights and community empowerment, driven by her own journey from Mexico to the US in 2002. Witnessing the challenges her family and community faced in accessing resources, she embarked on a mission to make a difference. Over the past decade, Dulce has actively volunteered at local churches, boys and girls scouts, food pantries, and distribution initiatives, while also participating in various social justice movements.
With over a decade of experience in the non-profit sector, Dulce has recently served as a Lead Community Health Worker in Greensboro, leveraging her passion for helping others. Her guiding principle in life is to "serve with purpose, serve with dignity."
Beyond her professional endeavors, Dulce finds joy in spending quality time with her family and embarking on new adventures. She relishes hiking, attending music concerts, and cherishing moments with friends.
Victoria Ramseur
Credentialing Specialist
Victoria Ramseur
Administrative Coordinator
Born and raised in North Carolina, Victoria Ramseur is a proud, certified Community Health Worker who has supported her local community for over 15 years. Her lived experience of working in and navigating systems has molded her into the person she is today. Supporting community members to ensure their needs are met is something that brings great joy to Victoria. One of nine siblings, she understands the need for a strong support system to overcome adversity. Victoria is married with three children and loves spending time with them.
Master Trainers
Erica Hall
Master Trainer
Erica Hall
Master Trainer
Erica is a Community Health Worker (CHW) instructor at Durham Technical Community College and serves as the Director of Community Health Programs at the NC Community Health Center Association. At the NCCHCA, Erica leads training and technical assistance efforts for special and priority populations defined by the Bureau of Primary Health Care's (BPHC) plans, provides guidance for the East Coast Migrant Stream Forum conference, and coordinates efforts to expand workforce development opportunities and interventions for CHWs in community health centers throughout NC.
She is a health educator by trade with experience in NC, SC, GA, and OK. Her career has afforded opportunities to work in various health promotion and prevention areas to include tobacco, diabetes, heart disease, end stage renal disease, physical activity and nutrition, and disability benefits to name a few. She has over 18 years of public health knowledge and credits her success to NCCU's Department of Public Health Education.
Jennifer Norville
Master Trainer
Jennifer Norville
With 35 years in public health and health education, Jennifer brings a wealth of experience to her role as Director of Health Occupations at Edgecombe Community College. As an instructor for the Community Health Worker program and other courses, she coordinates programs like Phlebotomy, CNA, Medication Aide, and more. Her curriculum experience spans medical law, ethics, terminology, and early childhood education.
Jennifer's leadership extended to ECC's role in redesigning Developmental Studies, while her involvement in committees like SAP and the Wellness Committee emphasizes her dedication to academic and holistic well-being. Previously at Edgecombe County Health Department, she managed health education programs, wrote grants, and established community health initiatives. Native to Tarboro, she treasures family moments with her husband, son, daughter, and grandchild. Jennifer is an NC Core Competency Community Health Worker development team member.
Community Health Worker Ambassadors
Jose Infanzon Chavez
Region 1
Jose Isidro Infanzon Chavez
Region 1
Jose was born in Mexico and is the father of 2 children, Diego (17) and Eva Paloma (14). He spent 18 years working in retail, 16 of those as a manager and 3 years working with the community. Jose's first job serving the community was as a Recruiter/Outreach Specialist for the Migrant Education Program (MEP) where he learned about how important and impactful it is to serve underserved communities by overcoming barriers and assisting to navigate the different systems such as medical and educational. Now, as a Community Health Worker, Jose's work has expanded to understand not just to connect and assist the clients with needs but also to advocate for them bringing equity and to find new and creative ways to outreach our communities.
Cassandra Wright Glenn
Region 2
Cassandra Wright Glenn
Cassandra Wright Glenn is a native of Winston-Salem who has truly embraced her role as a Community Health Worker with Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Health. Her passion and desire to see all people healthy and living a sustainable quality of life keeps her engulfed in her work day, which sometimes transcends outside work hours. Whether she's providing food to people experiencing homelessness, volunteering at community events, or sharing her musical gifts to uplift those fortunate enough to hear her sing, she contributes in diverse ways to her community.
Lending to and in recognition of her success in this current role, she received approval from the Medical Center allowing her to start a DME (durable medical equipment) Closet that assists underinsured, uninsured, and or low-income families with used equipment such as wheelchairs, walkers, shower chairs, adult briefs along with a list of other donations.
Cassandra's contributions to her community as a Community Health Worker have made an indelible impact. Her continued efforts to connect with community leaders, clergy, and organizations fuel her drive to collaborate when and where most beneficial for the people of the great city of Winston-Salem.
Cassandra is a proud mother of four children: two daughters, both college graduates, and two teenage sons.
Tamika Williams
Region 3
Tamika Williams
Region 3
Tamika Williams is a Certified Community Health Worker at Atrium Health covering Mecklenburg, Union, Anson, Stanley, and surrounding counties. Tamika has a Masters in Public Administration with a concentration in Government Management. Tamika is also a certified financial education instructor. As a leader in her community, Tamika is passionate about economic mobility and promoting health and self sufficiency. In addition to her work as a CHW, Tamika is the President of the Monroe Rotary Club (2022-2023) where she continues to model "Service Above Self."
Melissa Elliot
Region 4
Melissa Elliot
Melissa Elliott's impactful journey spans roles on the Henderson City Council and a remarkable background in Criminal Justice. Her initiation of Gang Free Inc. stemmed from this foundation. With an extensive repertoire including Correctional Officer, Gang Intel Unit, and more, she recently served as Gang Officer for Vance County Sheriff's Office. Recognized for her dedication, she garnered honors like the Delta Sigma Theta community service award, acknowledging her workshops on gang culture and the Warren County Gang Assessment Steering Committee's "Outstanding Community Service Award."
Nationally acclaimed, she was deemed a "Game Changing Woman" by Steve Harvey for her unrelenting community efforts. With academic achievements and multiple accolades, she educates schools, churches, and organizations about gang risks. Additionally, Elliott worked as a Servant Leader to get vital resources to the doors of community members during the pandemic, and now she has aspired to a Level IV CHW. In Theodore Roethke's words, she specializes in the impossible, showcasing compassion for at-risk youth.
Charissa Smith
Region 5
Charissa "Nikki" Smith
Region 5
Charissa "Nikki" Smith was born and raised in southeastern North Carolina. Charissa is known for her passion about making a difference in her community. She has served and continues advocating for equity and equality for the place she calls home with her community members plus peers at heart for 23 years.
Charissa has experience working in Substance Abuse/Mental Health & Recovery in addition to Infectious Disease Prevention and Awareness. Charissa’s experience includes working with Duke University School of Medicine - Infectious Disease where she collected data for the CDC and NC Health and Human Services. Duke is where she became formally introduced to the Community Health Worker role. Her well rounded medical background encompasses working in various medical specialties ranging from Dermatology to Orthopedics. Charissa is a Certified Peer Support Specialist, Whole Health Action Management Facilitator, and Certified Phlebotomist Technician. Currently, she’s pursuing becoming a CPR/First Aide Instructor. While being employed with a non-profit organization that focuses on reducing recidivism for injustice involved individuals re-entering into society after being released from incarceration. She looks forward to continuing sharing her experiences, skills, and compassion to uplift her peers in all members of her community and surrounding areas.
Ashley Owens
Region 6
Ashley Owens
Region 6
Ashley Owens is a Registered Medical Assistant and has worked in the healthcare field for over 14 years. She is currently employed by United Healthcare as a Community Health Worker Supervisor and a member of the DEI Committee. Her goals include completing her Bachelors of Science in Nursing in the year of 2025, traveling to a few different countries and serving her community. She enjoys giving back and doing fundraisers. Ashley finds joy in knowing that she can not only help her community, but she can make a difference in it also. Ashley loves children and wants to create a big family of at least five kids. She currently only has one right now, a 4-year-old named Ania. Ashley serves as an usher at her local church and is also a youth leader. Her most proud achievements are having her daughter and purchasing her first home. Some fun facts, Ashley has a photogenic memory and loves the smell of paint.
Board of Directors
Debbie Royster
Board Member
Debbie Royster
Debbie Royster, a dedicated Community Health Worker since 2010, currently contributes her expertise to the Duke Durham Neighborhood Health Initiative at Duke Population Health Management Office. With a BS in Business Administration from Livingstone College, Debbie's journey includes impactful roles like Community Outreach Specialist for Clean Energy Durham, educating residents on energy conservation.
Later, she served as a Community Health Organizer at Durham Health Innovations Division of Duke Community and Family Medicine, fostering community health improvement partnerships. Debbie's commitment shines through her involvement with the NC CHW Initiative, advocating for CHW training and certification. Her passion for Durham and creating a healthier community underscores her valuable contributions to Duke and the city.
Jeremy Moseley
Board Member
Jeremy Moseley
Jeremy Moseley, Associate VP of Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist's FaithHealth Division in Winston-Salem, NC, guides a team of Community Health Workers and Connectors, expanding patient care into communities. He oversees community benefit efforts, health needs assessment, population health, and Medicaid Managed Care collaborations. He holds a B.S. in Public Health Policy and Administration from UNC-Chapel Hill and an MPH in Analysis and Management from East Carolina University.
He's championed community-based care, resource accessibility, and healthcare linkage. He's designed CDC-funded projects, CMS-funded initiatives, and health system programs targeting heart health, care transitions, and complex communities. Jeremy's vast background spans academic and community health settings, reflecting his dedication to enhancing health systems through partnerships and transformation.
Milton Butterworth
Board Member
Milton Butterworth
Milton Butterworth, a highly respected community health leader, has dedicated over two decades to fostering resilient, healthier communities. His expertise lies in community health, farmworker outreach, and multi-sector collaborations. Leading diverse teams, he's successfully devised and executed strategies for culturally sensitive healthcare access, focusing on vulnerable groups like agricultural workers and homeless populations.
Presently a Community Health Manager at UNC Health Pardee, he previously directed development at the nation's oldest active migrant health center and headed a migrant education program. Milton's commitment extends internationally—he served as a Peace Corps Public Health Volunteer in Paraguay. Fluent in English, Spanish, and Guarani, he engages with numerous health equity, social justice, and child advocacy groups. A co-chair of the NC CHW Stakeholder Initiative's Certification and Accreditation workgroup, he co-authored the pivotal "Creating an Infrastructure for Sustainability" report. As a founding board member of the NC CHW Association, representing the Western region, Milton continues his influential journey.
Steve Justus
Board Member
Steve Justice
Steve Justus is a Public Health and General Preventive Medicine specialist serving multiple community-based organizations in north Mecklenburg County. These organizations include North Mecklenburg Economic Mobility Collaborative, Unity in Community, Davidson College Presbyterian Church and the town of Davidson’s Board of Commissioners. His interests revolve around community well-being, equity, and sustainability. Food security and air quality at the community level meaningfully intersects with these interests. Prior to his current grassroots engagement, he served as Touch Foundation’s Chief Medical Officer strengthening health systems in Tanzania. Earlier in his career as a board-certified
emergency physician, he served as the CEO of a multi-specialty physician group in Charlotte. A graduate of the UNC School of Medicine, Dr Justus acquired a Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene from the London School in 2008 in preparation for his career change to Global Health.
Dr. Justus received his undergraduate education at Davidson College and resides with his wife, Phyllis in Davidson, NC.
Keila Marlin
Board Member
Keila Marlin
Keila Marlin is the Community Health Worker Initiative Program Manager at the Mecklenburg County Public Health Department in Charlotte, NC. She directs and implements innovative program and systems-level change strategies to improve and strengthen the CHW workforce in Mecklenburg County. Particularly, Keila has founded and managed the Mecklenburg County CHW Stakeholder Advisory Collaborative and the Queen City Community Connect Coalition, where both groups serve to create a sustainable infrastructure that supports and values CHWs. She also manages the Health Department’s first maternal child health community health worker program, A Guided Journey, in partnership with Care Ring.
Keila is a certified CHW and has experience working with marginalized communities, where she has worked to reduce race and health inequities in the Black and LGBTQ+ communities by providing health education, linkage to care, and policy and systems-level change advocacy. Building off her passion for policy and systems-level change advocacy, Keila coauthored “A Strategy to Address Racism and Violence as Public Health Priorities: Community Health Workers Advancing Equity & Violence Prevention” with other NC CHW leaders that was adopted as an APHA policy in 2022. Keila continues to lend her expertise in new spaces, where she champions sustainable community impact as a Rowan County native.
William Castro
Board Member
William Castro, NCPSS, CHW
William Castro is a native of the Virgin Islands, also known as
America’s Paradise. The road that brought him to Western NC and the Community Health Worker field was filled with curves and bumps. Leaving home to join the USMC at 18, he came to North Carolina for training. After two consecutive tours of duty in Iraq, a string of bad decisions landed him an open count of murder and facing a life sentence at a minimum. While in the system, he realized that he couldn’t continue doing the things he was doing. He decided to make the most of the time he was behind bars. Service became the focus of his attention.
He realized that the greatest sense of purpose came while he was in the service of something greater than himself.
Castro is an avid reader. He loves good music, and who doesn’t like great food? He has found a home in Western NC and, more importantly, a home on the OG Team. This work is more than just a job to him. His greatest passion is seeing people overcome insurmountable odds and learning how they did it.
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