Meet Our Training Team

Meet The Team

Jessica Bauer Walker, B.A., CHW

Dayatra Hassan, M.S., CHW

Renee Cadzow, Ph.D., CHW

Jessica Bauer Walker, B.A., CHW

Jessica Bauer Walker is the Executive Director of the Community Health Worker Network of Buffalo, where she works as a Community Health Worker, trainer, and facilitator of collaborative projects. Jessica has worked in community-building and civic engagement in local, national, and international contexts. She has served in AmeriCorps and the U.S. Peace Corps, as an organizer in two Presidential campaigns and director of operations for Rock the Vote, and as a project manager for several agencies.

Dayatra Hassan, M.S, CHW

Dayatra Hassan is a Community Educator at CHWNB, where she works as a CHW, trainer and facilitator of Cultural Competency and Trauma Informed & Restorative Justice practices in the community, schools and nonprofit sectors of Buffalo. Dayatra is a life-long Artist and Arts advocate and the creator of SistaCypher; a Self-Love initiative that focuses on women and girls in the Buffalo community through the Arts, Holistic Wellness, and Social Justice.

Renee Cadzow, Ph.D.

Renee holds a Ph.D. in Anthropology and is an Assistant Professor of Health Services Administration. She is the Co-Director of the Center for Research on Physical Activity, Sport, and Health at D’Youville College. Her research and evaluation efforts focus on maternal and child health and include both health care practice-based research as well as community based participatory research. Renee is active in public health advocacy and is also a board member of numerous agencies.

Show More

Grace Tate, CHW

Grace is the Vice President of Community Initiatives and Human Resources at Buffalo Urban League (BUL). She directs the Housing and YouthBuild programs, as well as BUL’s Minority and Women’s Revolving Loan Trust Fund. Additionally, she serves as the community liaison for health and wellness related initiatives and oversees projects and opportunities related to business and economic development. She also serves on the boards of many organizations in Western New York

Michael Chase, B.S., CHW

Michael is a Public Health Educator with the Erie County Department of Health. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Buffalo State College and has been working with the county for the past 18 years. Michael is the Public Health Coordinator of the HIV Partner Services Program and is able to work closely with the Buffalo Public Schools providing HIV and STD education to youth, teachers, and administrators. He has provided sexual health education to various professionals and organizations.

Sherman Webb-Middlebrooks, B.A., CHW

Sherman is a fellow with the Open Society Foundation and has created the WIN initiative, which is focused on youth engagement/leadership. He is an experienced CHW who has worked with CHWNB for years, first as a student CHW conducting school health work, and then assisting with training and advocacy work. He has worked at many other organizations including Leaving Our Legacy, Gateway-Longview, Erie County Medical Center, Buffalo Federation of Neighborhood Centers, and Boys and Girls Clubs.

Show More

Orlando Dickson, J.D., CHW

Orlando Dickson, J.D. is a recent a graduate of UB Law School, and a 9 year Army veteran. Orlando came to this work through his own experiences of homelessness and poverty, international cultural study, and policy work. Orlando is a 2017 Open Buffalo Emerging Leader and acted as Supportive Housing Chair for a year for Plymouth Crossroads, a transitional housing organization for youth. He is a group leader for the Breaking Barriers program and is active in the Buffalo organizing community.

Khadijah Hussein, CHW

Khadijah works with CHWNB as our lead student CHW and youth trainer. SHe came to the United States from Kenya when she was 7 years old. She is a 2016 graduate of International Prep High School, who completed high school in 3 years and is currently enrolled at University at Buffalo studying Biomedical Sciences. Khadijah was trained as a student Community Health Worker as a high school junior, and applied her work throughout Buffalo Public Schools.

Erin Verhoef, M.L.S.

Erin Verhoef, M.L.S. has been a Program Assistant for CHWNB since 2016. She has an M.L.S. from UB and has spent many years working in the Buffalo community in bookstores and libraries.

Show More

Orlando Dickson, J.D., CHW

Khadijah Hussein, CHW

Erin Verhoef, M.L.S.

Grace Tate, CHW

Michael Chase, B.S., CHW

Sherman D. Webb-Middlebrooks, B.A., CHW

Board of Directors

Renee Cadzow, PhD: Board Co-Chair

D'Youville College

Michael Chase, B.S., CHW

Erie County Department of Health

Roberto O. Diaz Del Carpio, MD, MPH

Department of Medicine, University Buffalo

Mark King

AXA Advisors

Assunta Ventresca, RN, CHW

Buffalo Public Schools Health Related Services (retired)

Sherman D. Webb-Middlebrooks, BA, CHW

WIN Initiative

Maribel Irizarry, CHW

Buffalo Urban League

Breonna Norward, BA, CHW

Say Yes Buffalo

William O'Connell, JD

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Taryn Spencer, MD

Department of Medicine, University at Buffalo

Ex-officio/Executive Director- Jessica Bauer Walker, BA, CHW

Ex-officio/Legal Counsel- Diane Tiveron, JD, HoganWillig Attorneys at Law

The following individuals no longer serve as active trainers for our team, but we acknowledge their contributions to the development of our curriculum and training approach:

Rahwa Ghirmatizion, CHW

Kathleen Grimm, MD, FAAP, FACP, MHSC

Samuel Radford III, B.A., CHW

Deborah Puntenney, PhD

Denise Walden, CHW

Renee Cadzow, Ph.D.

Renee holds a Ph.D. in Anthropology and is an Assistant Professor of Health Services Administration. She is the Co-Director of the Center for Research on Physical Activity, Sport, and Health at D’Youville College. Her research and evaluation efforts focus on maternal and child health and include both health care practice-based research as well as community based participatory research. Renee is active in public health advocacy and is also a board member of numerous agencies.