NICHQ Employee Spotlight: Shalonda Coleman

Full name and title: Shalonda Coleman, MSEd., CHES

Job Title: Lead Community Engagement Coordinator

Key Projects: Community-Centered Hospital Initiative (CCHI) 

Time with NICHQ: 6 months (Joined NICHQ January 2025) 

How have your background and experiences led you to work for a children’s health organization?

The foundation of my public health work actually began from my career in juvenile justice. The youth that I worked with were adversely affected by a lot of behavioral health issues. That ignited my passion for health which, in turn, led to my educational path to become experienced with teaching individuals how to make informed decisions about their health. So, ultimately, that’s what began my career in public health and led me to work at NICHQ.

You are the Senior Project Manager and Lead Community Engagement Coordinator for the Community-Centered Hospital Initiative (CCHI). What does defining and establishing the role look like? What skills and responsibilities does the role entail?

In terms of defining and establishing the role, I would say I’m looking at what the defined CCHI strategy and objectives are to identify what needs to be done to ensure that the Community Engagement Coordinator (CEC) role matches the CCHI goals. Then, at that point, responsibilities can be assigned. 

Along the way of defining the role, you update the roles and/or responsibilities as needed for the success of the project. In terms of what skills and responsibilities of the role entail, I would say the key responsibilities of the CEC would include being able to build or establish relationships, having skills in outreach and communication, data collection and analysis, and even event planning and coordination, as well as having some collaboration and partnership experiences, which also includes having problem-solving and conflict resolution. I would say those are the skills and responsibilities that the role of the CEC should have. 

How do you define the word ‘community’?

If I had to define community, I would say it’s a unit. It’s a unit where its members share commonalities such as values, interests, goals, or even kinship.

How do you plan to engage with the communities you’ll be working with and how will these experiences contribute to your work for CCHI?

Hosting town halls, listening sessions, focus groups, and other community-driven maternal child health activities, in addition to supporting community-led initiatives, in my opinion, will show communities that CCHI is not in their communities to take over. CCHI is there to provide them with the resources and support that they need to self-advocate, as well as build lasting relationships with stakeholders who can advance maternal and child health in their communities.

How will you ensure that community engagement initiatives are available to all members of the community?

I would probably say by exhausting all marketing strategies that we have available and by meeting the community where they are. We have to remember that sometimes we have to go where the community is to provide them with education, so I would do that. 

What are you most looking forward to accomplishing with the CCHI team this year?

I am looking forward to creating a foundation that communities need to implement effective and successful initiatives to advance maternal and child health in their communities. 

What does NICHQ’s mission mean to you?

To me, the mission means challenging the norms to ensure families and children can live healthy lives.