2025 Hope and Health Conference Speakers

Featured Speakers

Rev. Dr. Michael David Bailey '06

Rev. Dr. Michael David Bailey is the Co-Pastor of The First Cathedral and shares leadership with his father, Archbishop LeRoy Bailey, Jr., Senior Pastor. He is a creative leader and a critical and strategic thinker. He also is a prolific preacher and a cultural trendsetter for this generation.

Doctor Bailey has sensed the call of ministry in his life since his youth. He began in ministry as a teenager. He accepted his calling to the ministry and preached his initial sermon at the age of 17 in April of 2002. Then he was ordained at the age of 19 after successfully completing an ordination hearing and council. In 2011, he became the Youth Pastor and Youth Director and served that ministry faithfully for over 5 years before becoming the Co-Pastor. As he served in capacity of Youth Pastor and Youth Director, the ministry grew tremendously through his effectiveness at reaching the next generation with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In 2016, he was installed as Co-Pastor of The First Cathedral and charged to carry the mantle of his father and predecessors.

Pastor Bailey not only has a high regard for the ministry, but also a commitment to education. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Gordon College in Wenham, Massachusetts, a Master of Divinity and a Doctor of Ministry from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, Massachusetts. Upon graduation with a Doctor of Ministry degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, it was acknowledged that he is the youngest African American and the third youngest ever to complete the program.

Pastor Bailey is also a philanthropist. He believes in contributing to the external community and the city at large he serves. For his philanthropic work, he has received city citations and proclamations being recognized in Connecticut and Massachusetts. He has also received many awards including Manchester Community College’s Black History Community Award and 100 Men of Color recognizing the contribution of men of color in business, education, entrepreneurship, government, service, and the impact they have made in the lives of people throughout the State of Connecticut and Western Massachusetts communities. In 2020, he received the “Brother of the Year Award” from the Delta Pi Sigma Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. In 2021, he received the “Outstanding Community Leadership in a Pandemic” award from the Greater Hartford Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance and the Town of Bloomfield “Outstanding Community Partner Award” as he led the charge with food distribution during the pandemic. He also is the recipient of the 2021 Young Alumni Award from Gordon College in Wenham, MA.

Recently, he has served on the executive board of the Greater Hartford Branch of the NAACP. He has served as an executive board member of the Greater Hartford Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, He also has served as a board member for High School, Inc. He also chartered along with 5 other men and women, the Institute for the Study of the Black Christian Experience at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, Massachusetts. Currently, this program has shifted to the Rev. Dr. Michael E. Haynes Scholarship Steering Committee which serves the purpose of providing 70% to 100% tuition to students of color who are interested in furthering their theological education. Dr. Haynes was a close colleague of the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Currently, Dr. Bailey serves as Chaplain for the Hartford Police Department, executive board member for Vision New England formerly known as New England Evangelistic Association, committee member of the alumni advisory committee which assists and advises the President of Gordon College, Dr. Michael D. Hammond. He also serves on the board of trustees for The Master’s School, The Urban League of Greater Hartford, Urban Alliance and the American Baptist Churches of CT.

He is also a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated, whose objectives are instituted to effectively embody “Culture For Service and Service For Humanity” and promote brotherhood, scholarship and service. Currently, he serves as the President of the Delta Pi Sigma Chapter, Hartford Alumni Chapter. He also serves as the New England State Chaplain for the Eastern Region. He also is a founding and chartering member for the nonprofit organization, Culture For Service, Incorporated which he also serves on the board of trustees.

He has been featured on National News Programs inclusive of PBS NewsHour and NBC News in reference to Communities of Faith and the Pandemic. Also, was featured in the Boston Globe post-election of the 44th President of the United States, Barack H. Obama. In addition, he has been featured on Local News Programming in Connecticut inclusive of Fox News, CBS News and NBC News in reference to COVID-19 Testing, Vaccine Clinics, Food Security and the entirety of the COVID Pandemic. He was also featured on NBC in collaboration with Hartford Healthcare media with the effects of maternal medicine, child loss and the birth of his child Bailey and eldest daughter, Ava Joy Bailey with his wife Lady Sonya. He also co-authored The Priority of Making Disciples: The Messiah and Our Mission in Matthew 28:16-20 with General Editor Danny D. Clymer.

But he mostly takes pride in his family. He is the proud husband to Lady Sonya Bailey and the proud father to two daughters, Ava Joy and Shiloh Grace.

Rev. Gloria White-Hammond

Rev. Gloria E. White-Hammond, M.D. is Co-Pastor of Bethel AME Church, Boston, MA, and the Swartz Resident Practitioner in Ministry Studies at Harvard Divinity School (HDS).

Dr. White-Hammond served as a pediatrician at the South End Community Health Center from 1981-2008. From 2001 through 2003, Dr. White-Hammond traveled to war-torn South Sudan to participate in an elaborate “underground railroad” to facilitate the freedom of more than 10,000 people enslaved in northern Sudan during the civil war. The experience prompted her and five other women to co-found My Sister’s Keeper, a humanitarian and human rights organization that champions social justice for women and girls in conflict zones.

Rev. Gloria White-Hammond serves alongside her husband, Rev. Ray A. Hammond, M.D., to pastor Bethel’s 500-member congregation. Her innovative ministries include Shatter the Silence, which addresses sexual victimization of women and men in predominantly African American communities and Planning Ahead, which encourages church members to begin conversations and complete their advance directives regarding their wishes for end-of-life care.

Dr. White-Hammond was appointed Swartz Resident Practitioner in Ministry Studies in 2015 where she develops learning opportunities for students to explore the intersection of the practice of medicine, spiritual care, and public health. She co-directs the Harvard Medical School and HDS course, “Spirituality and Healing in Medicine.”

Rev. Gloria White-Hammond, MD is a graduate of Boston University (AB, 1972), Tufts University School of Medicine (MD, 1976) and Harvard Divinity School (MDiv, 1997). She is a recipient of numerous honorary degrees and community service awards. She is a trustee emeritus of the Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) Board of Trustees; member of BWH Executive Advisory Committee for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; trustee emeritus of Tufts University; trustee of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum; a member of the Boston Public Health Commission COVID-19 Community Partners; and a member of the board of directors of the Roxbury Presbyterian Church Social Impact Center.

Presenters

Jeff Abramowitz

Jeffrey Abramowitz, J.D. is the Chief Executive Officer of the Petey Greene Program and the Puttkammer Center for Educational Justice. Jeff is the past Executive Director of Justice Partnerships and Executive Director Reentry Services for JEVS Human Services and the founder and Program Director of Looking Forward Philadelphia Reentry Program. Jeff previously served on the Board of the Coalition on Adult Basic Education, COABE, where he served as Secretary, and currently Co-chairs the State Advocates for Adult Education Fellowship Program and is Chair of the Public Policy Committee. Jeff was appointed to the Pennsylvania Reentry Council and serves as Chairman of the Employment Committee and past co-chair of the Reentry Committee for the PA Workforce Development Board and served as the past Chair of the Philadelphia Reentry Coalition. Jeff is also a member of the Fair Chance Business Consortium and Vice-Chair of Philly Truce Foundation.

Jeff served as a subject matter expert for the US Department of Education, as the Moderator for US Department of Education LINCS Community of Practice on Correctional & Reentry Education and worked on the IET in Corrections project for OCTAE. Jeff sits on several organizational boards and centers his work in the intersection of adult education, workforce development, and justice. Jeff is the producer and host of the award-winning weekly radio/television show “The Looking Forward” on Philly Cam Radio WPPM 106.5FM and PhillyCam TV (Live Streaming; Xfinity 66/966; Fios TV 29/30; Roku; Apple TV) and Co-Host/Producer of the Behind Every Employer Podcast.

Jeff is a recognized keynote speaker and presenter across the country.

Benjamin Aisya

Benjamin Aisya is a development economist with over 20 years of experience in performance monitoring, evaluation, and learning across the health, education, and economic sectors. Born in Uganda, his journey from humble beginnings to influential leadership has been driven by a deep commitment to community empowerment and social equity. As Board Chairman of Kyampisi Childcare Ministries, Benjamin has played a pivotal role in transforming the organization into a professional force dedicated to tackling poverty and injustice through innovative, community-based health initiatives. His extensive work with major international donors – including USAID – has honed his expertise in designing robust monitoring and evaluation systems that drive impactful programming in resource-limited settings across Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and South Sudan. Benjamin’s leadership is grounded in core values of compassion, integrity, resilience, and equity, which have guided him from his early educational challenges to his current roles in public health and organizational development. He is currently enhancing his expertise through advanced studies in Public Health and Management, reflecting his continuous commitment to lifelong learning and adaptive leadership.

Bonnie Gatchell

Rev. Bonnie J. Gatchell is an ordained minister with the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. In 2010 she co-founded Route One to serve women sexually exploited in strip clubs. She desires equality for each person and seeks to remove blindspots around women, sexual abuse, domestic violence, and sexuality. Given Bonnie’s background, she seeks to equip church leadership, staff, and volunteers to meet the needs of women who have suffered sexual or physical abuse no matter their age, race, or sexual orientation. Before coming to Route One Bonnie worked as the Family Advocate for homeless women with children at The Salvation Army. She holds a Master of Divinity from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and a ThM from The Boston Theological Institutes that include Harvard and BU. She also has a Trauma Narrative Response Certificate from the Allender Center of the Seattle School of Psychology and Theology.

David Jennings

The New Life Community Health Center was founded in May 2000 by David C. Jennings and a small group of volunteers (mostly nurses) who felt called to respond to the unmet physical needs of immigrants, unhoused neighbors, and the uninsured in Elmhurst, NY.

Since our inception, we have held 112 community health fairs serving over 5,000 people, mostly in Elmhurst and Corona, Queens. In 2005 a drop-in free clinic was launched on Tuesdays and Saturdays that now provides over 3,000 visits annually. Approximately 30-40 unhoused neighbors are provided with toiletries and a warm shower each time the health center is open.

We partner with others to provide annual flu shots, mammogram screenings and hold a blood drive. St John’s School of Pharmacy has partnered with us to provide monthly health talks at the Boulevard Family Shelter, and their doctoral students provide preventative health presentations each spring on-site for clients waiting for showers. In 2018, after many years of planning, we launched a monthly program providing Women’s Health Services to clients of Restore NYC. This women’s health program provided care for women rescued from sex-trafficking and domestic violence.

David Jennings began his career working in small businesses and has spent over thirty years serving with not for profits in New York City. He has served as the Executive Pastor of New Life Fellowship in Elmhurst, Queens, Executive Vice President and Treasurer of the former Nyack College and Alliance Theological Seminary, and currently as the Church Administrator for Hope Church NYC in Manhattan.

Dr. Eno Mondésir

Born on the Island of Haiti, Dr. Mondésir is the first born son of 2 servants of God who had very limited means to enable him to have a complete education. After migrating to the United States, and getting transferred from a few colleges, he acquired his B.S, in Biology from Oral Roberts University, Tulsa, OK. From there, he moved to Massachusetts and attended BU School of Public Health where he received his MPH degree in 1993. He later pursued his graduate studies and acquired his Doctorate in Pastoral Clinical Counseling from Cornerstone University, Louisiana! Also, Eno attended Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary to pursue his MDiv.

Dr. Mondesir is the Senior Pastor of the Haitian Baptist Church of Cambridge, and the President of the Haitian Pastors' Association of Brockton and Southern Massachusetts. Rev. Mondesir presently resides in Randolph, Mass with his wife and children.

Professionally, Dr. Mondesir has held many positions: past Director of HIV/AIDS Program for Catholic Charity/Haitian Multi Service Center, a Faculty of Higher Ed at Roxbury Community College, a former Infectious Diseases Coordinator at the Boston Public Health Commission. Eno has founded "Agape Global Health Organization", a Not-for-Profit, Christian-Based Institution, 501 (C) 3, incorporated in Massachusetts that provides compassionate healthcare service to the underserved citizens in Haiti. Dr. Mondesir serves on many Boards, and authors a couple of books.

Dr. Mondesir is the current Public Health Director for the Department of Health for the City of Brockton, Mass. His precise title is: Executive Health Officer.

Chisa Nosamiefan

Chisa Nosamiefan is a dedicated missionary with 30 years of experience preaching the gospel in Africa, Europe, America, and the Caribbean. Her ministry focuses on empowering women, church planting, medical missions, and intercessory prayer. She leads Mother Arise and Pray (MAP), an intercessory prayer ministry for mothers, and has authored a prayer manual guiding mothers in praying for their children using scripture. Chisa is also a Global Health and Patient Leader s the Co-Founder of the Labalaba Foundation, Chisa has made a substantial impact on the lupus community by establishing Nigeria's first patient-run lupus organization and providing vital support through various patient-centered programs. With extensive experience in global patient advocacy, nonprofit management, and community engagement, Chisa is recognized for her visionary leadership and effective communication skills. She graduated from the Patient Professor Academy at the University of Maryland, where she refined her advocacy skills to improve patient experiences and outcomes through community-centered research. As a consultant, Chisa is part of a Mass General Brigham research team working to increase vaccine uptake among Black individuals with rheumatic diseases through community-academic partnerships and social networks. Her focus is on culturally sensitive strategies to improve healthcare access, and she also facilitates cultural competence training for organizations. Her leadership at Rise International bolstered collaborative partnerships and empowerment programs in Tampa Bay, Boston, Haiti and Nigeria, improving health outcomes and educational access for children and families. Chisa holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from the University of Ibadan and a Master of Arts in Intercultural Relations from Lesley University.

Gabriella Synder Stelmack

Gabriella Snyder Stelmack is the Executive Director of Bread of Life, a nonprofit, faith-based, nondenominational food security organization based in Malden, MA, with which she has worked since 1993. Under her leadership, the BOL Under One Roof project to create a new central home for all BOL programs, along with 14 units of affordable housing operated by Metro North Housing Corp, was realized in 2024. She began her work in human services at the Pine Street Inn, Boston, and was a homeless advocate at Tri-City Community Action Program (Tri-CAP), Malden, MA. Ms. Stelmack holds a BS in Music and Biochemistry from Binghamton University in NY, and was a research assistant at Harvard University and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. She holds a certificate from the Boston University Nonprofit Management and Leadership Certificate Program. In 2024, she was honored to receive a Commonwealth Heroine Award, selected by the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women (MCSW), and the ABCD Mystic Valley Community Hero Award. She served on the board of Tri-CAP for 20 years and currently serves on the boards of the Malden Warming Center and Metro North Housing Corp.

Lynne Sullivan

Lynne Sullivan has been involved in the Criminal Justice System and prison education for over 25 years. She has a BA in the Science of Sociology and was valedictorian in the class of 2009 from the Boston University Prison Education Program. Lynne went on to complete paralegal studies from Blackstone, has a Cosmetology license and a Drug and Alcohol counseling License. Recently; Lynne finished her Master’s degree in Criminal Justice from Boston University first generation 2021. As an advocate for education justice impact and mental health support, Lynne has participated as a Peer Support practitioner and trained in Trauma-informed techniques,(Timbo), Today Lynne is the Regional Manager for the Petey Greene Program in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. She currently oversees academic support and programming in several correctional facilities, youth centers, and reentry programs. Lynne is an advisory board member, and mentor for the Tufts Educational Reentry Network (MyTERN) And Trenton Rescue Mission (New Directions ). Lynne is an active lecturer/mentor and supporter of Partakers Inc,and The Association for Addiction Professionals. As an activist, Lynne has been published in several articles, books and interviews while highlighting the voices of the justice impacted. She is a member of the New England Commission on the Future of Higher Education in Prison, Massachusetts Prison Education Consortium , Department of Corrections Pell Grant ,Community Compass Advisory Board and Reentry Campus Program advisory board member. Lynne hopes to continue to support programs that help reduce recidivism, create steps to reentry, education and strengthen communities as a whole. Lynne is a firm believer that education is a key to prevent recidivism, one student at a time. “Education gives a person options, the option to choose a different path in life, the option to be who they never thought they could be.”

Rebecca Williams

A mission-based trip to Romania with a team from Gordon College was a pivotal moment for Rebecca, one that lead her to becoming a nurse. Rebecca received her nursing degree from Rush University School of Nursing and her master’s in public health from Boston University. Throughout her career of working in public health and as a nurse, Rebecca has focused on helping families with infants, specifically with support in breastfeeding and lactation. Rebecca is an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and currently runs the lactation department at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, which serves a primarily rural population. Rebecca lives in Woodstock, Vermont with her husband, three children, and a rescue dog named Stella. In her spare time she volunteers on Ski Patrol at her local mountain.