BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MEET OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS





Jennaya Colóns, PTA, CBIS
President & Executive Director
Jennaya has been a dedicated health professional and advocate for nine years. Community health is her passion, and when she saw gaps that needed to be satisfied in the city she loves, she founded Highroots Wellness & Consulting. She also works at Penrose Hospital (CommonSpirit) in outpatient physical therapy as a physical therapist assistant (PTA) and is a Certified Brain Injury Specialist (CBIS). She works with people who have different diagnoses, helping people regain movement, decrease pain, regulate stress, while empowering self-advocacy for individual health. She serves as a health educator for the Penrose Cancer Center, increasing access for individuals facing barriers to care and treatment.
Jennaya holds a Master of Science in Health Education and Promotion and is driven to build community programs for health. She is chair of the Patient Navigation Taskforce for the Colorado Cancer Coalition, and chair of the Healthy Community Collaborative's Barriers to Accessing Healthcare Workgroup. She also sits on the advisory board for the Pikes Peak Business and Education Alliance (PPBEA) and is a recent Mayor's Civic Leader Fellowship graduate. Jennaya enjoys hiking with her family, volunteering, yoga, meditation, and live music.

Athena Reese
Clinical Instructor Worcester State University
As a speech language pathologist (SLP) for the past 26 years, Athena has made tremendous impact for patients in adult neurological rehab. She has worked in a variety of settings to help individuals thrive including acute care, outpatient rehabilitation, and home health. She now serves as an instructor in higher education at Worcester State University, where SLP students receive her invaluable knowledge around the importance of healthcare and sociopolitical advocacy when treating people with diverse social and economic backgrounds.
Athena received her bachelor's degree from the University of Louisville, and her master's degree from the University of North Texas. She is a SLP clinical doctorate student at Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions with a focus on mental health challenges among people with brain injuries. She was recently selected as a mentor in the National Black Association for Speech and Hearing (NBASLH) Power to Empower Mentorship Program. Athena enjoys the outdoors, especially with her two standard poodles, Josie and Wyatt.


Laura Howard
BSN, RN
As a Registered Nurse of 30+ years, Laura has worked in a variety of roles in her career including a Charge Nurse position on an acute medical surgical unit which became a covid unit. Laura precepted new grads through the onset of the pandemic as their first Nursing job. She has worked in management as a House Supervisor, she has worked in ED, Home Care, Rehab, Bariatrics, Float Pool, Ortho, and currently works on a Cardiovascular Neuro/Stroke unit.
Laura is the President of the Colorado Council of Black Nurses, Inc. (CCBN) and has served as a mentor for the American Nursing Association (ANA). Laura is currently serving as the main contact of Social Action and Legislation for the CCBN to affect change positively for our healthcare needs by utilizing her legislative advocacy voice. Laura enjoys music, cooking, reading, and traveling.

Brittany Nash
Owner Ebon Business Services
Brittany Nash is a photographer, owner of Ebon Business Services, and founder of The Daily Adoptee, an online space where Black and Brown transracial adoptee voices are prioritized and celebrated. As a Black-adopted woman, small business owner, and racial justice advocate, she prides herself on being a strategic networker in pairing projects she consults on with racial justice education, event planning, and community revitalization.
Brittany graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Liberal Arts degree in Communications and has committed to using her knowledge of business, journalism, photography, and graphic design to leave an impact world in as many little ways as possible.
