United Black Mothers of America is founded to support and strengthen the physical, emotional and social wellness of Black mothers.
We encourage and support Black mothers to place their health as a top priority by engaging in wellness activity, education, and healthy daily practices. We are a safe space of zero explanation for Black mothers; where we can share, find relatability and have access to resources that promote health and wellness. We Are Deserving.
Please see below the members of our Advisory Board.
Click on a member to learn more.
Wendy Batiste-Johnson is the founder of United Black Mothers of America, a nonprofit organization developed for strengthening the wellness of Black Mothers, specifically but not limited to, providing access for therapy and physical, emotional and social wellness support. UBMA was created during the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic and proceeding the horrific and public murders of Black Americans in our country. Wendy participated in a live local news panel of Black mothers who were asked to discuss the tough conversations being had in the home with their children during this racially charged time. This authentic, heartfelt and relatable discussion was an unexpected cathartic experience for Wendy; which ignited the foundation of support she aims to provide for fellow Black mothers with UBMA.
In spring 2019, Wendy resigned from her career as a Retail Real Estate Executive with over 20 years of experience, combining flair for creating excellent customer experiences with an aptitude to monitor retail trends and exceed financial projections in fluctuating retail markets. She held leadership roles as an entrepreneur in retail for 10 years, and also in a corporate setting overseeing real estate development, marketing and merchandising, brand activation campaigns, security, leasing, along with tenant, customer, and community relations.
Wendy is an active and committed citizen who proudly serves in the metro Detroit community as she understands the importance of community engagement and representation; she serves on the board of directors for the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, Henry Ford Macomb Hospital, Macomb Community College Foundation & the Detroit Public Theatre.
Wendy earned a Bachelor of Science degree at Cornell University. She went on to receive the Women in Leadership Certification at Cornell University SC Johnson College of Business. She is married to her loving and supportive husband and they share two thriving children.
Rhonda Powell is the Statewide Operations Director for We The People-MI, which is focused on community organizing and seeks to build a multi-racial, working class constituency across the state rooted in economic, racial and social justice. She is also the founder and Vice-Chair of Metro Equity Collaborative, a nonprofit organization in Macomb County working to build advocacy and power in civics, economics, education and social justice. In Rhonda’s previous role, she served as Director of the Macomb County Health and Community Services Department. She is the first African American appointed as a Director in Macomb County. Rhonda has an extensive history of leadership experience which also includes; Director of Macomb Community Action Agency, Deputy Director of Michigan’s Aging and Adult Services Agency, Director of Macomb County Senior Services and Director of MCREST. Rhonda has received multiple awards for her strategic leadership and vision, including the 2019 Athena Award from the Macomb Chamber Foundation. Rhonda has been committed to the work of advocacy, equity, inclusion, and organizational development for over 20 years. She is a certified Sixth Sigma Green Belt, holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Siena Heights University, and a Master of Science degree from Capella University, both of which are concentrated in Human Service.
Dr. Jennifer Pierre is the founder and CEO of JenteelNature Health, a boutique health consultancy. As a physician and public health professional, she specializes in women’s health, with the goal of improving reproductive health outcomes and reducing health disparities. Dr. Pierre integrates her knowledge of medicine with public health acumen by designing public health and wellness programs, and provides medical advisory for non-profits and corporate entities. She has been voted 10Best in the Natural Nutmeg Readers’ Choice Awards repeatedly.
Dr. Pierre is a licensed Naturopathic physician in Arizona and Connecticut. She received her Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine & Health Sciences in Tempe, Arizona. Dr. Pierre is a native New Yorker and alumna of Cornell University and University at Albany, School of Public Health. Her experience as a public health professional and advocate spans over 15 years, with roles in health research, prenatal health education and mental health counseling. She currently serves as an Executive Board Member for the Divine Grace Foundation, Nutrition Security Solutions and United Black Mothers of America.
Prior to becoming a physician, Dr. Pierre received certifications in prenatal and Kundalini yoga, which she emphatically integrates into her patient care protocols. Her love of patient care has expanded into global health initiatives, participating in medical missions in Haiti, Mexico and Kenya. Preceding the explosion of the “natural hair movement”, Dr. Pierre was an influencer whose tips for healthy hair growth, treatment and styling were widely sought after in the natural hair community. When she is not seeing patients, Dr. Pierre enjoys prayer and meditation, traveling, fashion, reading, and cooking vegetarian meals that make meat lovers reconsider.
Leslie VanHorn has been a registered nurse for nearly 20 years. She is a alumni of Wayne County Community College District and Rochester College. Her nursing career has mainly focused on adult critical care. Recently, she made a transition into the neonatal intensive care. The majority of Leslie’s career has been with the Detroit Medical Center and the Beaumont Health System. For a very brief time, Leslie, also served as a case manager for the Information Center and as well as Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. She also served as a director and co-owner of Visiting Angels, a non-medical home care service in the Downriver area for five years.
Leslie is a very active member her church community and has served as a Sunday school teacher, Vacation Bible School and Free Market coordinator. She, is know for her willingness to support those in need.
Spending time with her family is very important to her. Leslie has been married to her husband Patrick for more than 20 years. They have two children Makenna and Preston.
Like many people, Sibyl Chavis worked overtime to create the ‘good life.’ She earned her Bachelors of Science degree from the University of Michigan and Juris Doctorate degree from Harvard Law School. Following law school, Sibyl began her career practicing law at a leading law firm in Atlanta, Georgia. From there, she became an Executive Vice President at one of the top multicultural advertising agencies, where she played a key role in helping grow the company, with billing and personnel tripling over the course of her tenure.
Sibyl left the lucrative corporate world on the East Coast to create a life of greater clarity and purpose. In 2011, she launched The Possibility of Today. What began as a blog, turned into a lifestyle media brand with hundreds of thousands of fans engaging with Sibyl on webinars, social media platforms and her podcast. In 2015, Sibyl launched Ripple Agency. Ripple partners with mission-driven companies to create social good programs that help people transform and lead better lives. One of Sibyl’s biggest passions in life is her work with Sounds True, a multimedia publishing company, that works with some of the leading spiritual teachers and visionaries of our time.