CWI Board of Directors - Changing Woman Initiative

Nicole Johnny

Interim President & Treasurer

Dr. Monica Lucero, DOM

Member

Christina Waterman

Board Secretary

Mary Ben, DrPH

Board Member

Larissa Chaves

Board Member

Jessica Whitehawk

Board Member

Nicole Johnny

Interim President & Treasurer

Nicole is a member of the Navajo Nation with her clans as Kiyaa'áanii born for Tsi'naajinii, her chei is Tábaahí and her nali is Naashaashi Dine'é. Nicole graduated from Pepperdine University, with an MBA in finance and an undergraduate degree in finance and economics. Her background includes experience working in investment banking with RBC Capital Markets, and tribal land valuations from both a federal and tribal perspective and knowledge of commercial real estate development. Currently, she works for Raven Indigenous Capital Partners and in addition to her current position on the Board with Changing Woman Initiative, she also serves on the Board for Diné Development Corporation and Miss Indian New Mexico, Inc. Nicole values the work that Changing Woman Initiative does to renew cultural birth knowledge and reclaim indigenous birthing practices and traditions for women in our communities.

Dr. Monica Lucero, DOM

Member

Dr. Monica Lucero is a Nationally Certified Diplomate of Oriental Medicine, and Licensed Doctor of Oriental Medicine, that blends the traditional medicine of the Americas with Chinese Medicine.She specializes in Women's health; infertility; pregnancy; pain; PTSD; and mental health. She also practices Chinese, Mesoamerican and New Mexican Herbalism.

Christina Waterman

Board Secretary

Christina (Christy) Waterman (Seminole Nation/Muskogee Creek)

Christina (Christy) Waterman is an Early Childhood Education professional and progressive education advocate. After spending several years as a Preschool and School Age Site Director, including positions with the Harry Pregerson Child Care Center in DTLA, the Child Education Center in La Canada, and the Burbank Community YMCA, she began working in the field of Higher education in 2017 with the aim of teaching at the college level to prepare Early Childhood Education professionals. She holds a BA in Psychology from Oklahoma State University and an MA in Child Development from Tufts University. Current areas of research and interest include Diversity, Equity and Inclusion practices, Indigenous culture, community and identity, and incorporation of Anti-racist education into early childhood practices.

Christy grew up in the central Oklahoma city of Shawnee. She is an enrolled tribal member of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma and also is of Creek (Muskogee) descent. She has worked with various tribal organizations as a student and as an education professional including the Iowa (pronounced I-oh-way) Tribe, Pawnee Nation Indian Child Welfare and Central Tribes of the Shawnee Area which is affiliated with the Absentee Shawnee Tribe, Kickapoo and Sac ‘n’ Fox Nations. It is with great pride and honor that she presents herself as a member of a culture rich in history, tradition and resilience.

Mary Ben, DrPH

Board Member

Mary has been farming in New Mexico for over 8 Years, and has over 15 years of experience working in public health nonprofits. She is a founding member of The BEN Initiative, a 501c3 established to provide capacity building for farmers and grassroots organizations leading Birth, Environment and Nutrition (BEN) related projects across northwest New Mexico. Mary co-founded Bidii Baby Foods with her partner, Zachariah Ben, and helps operate their 40-acre farm in Aztec, NM. She is a proud mother of two children, and Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Ethiopia 2012-14). Mary is also a former CWI client and joyfully birthed her two children at home under CWI’s care. Mary holds a Masters of Public Health (MPH) in Maternal and Child Health and a Doctorate in Public Health (DrPH) in Health Equity & Social Justice from Johns Hopkins University.

Larissa Chaves

Board Member

My name is Larissa Chavez. I was born and raised in New Mexico, I am from the Pueblo of Isleta, my ancestors are from the Red Eye clan and were sheep herders. I spent my time growing up between Isleta and Willard NM on our family’s small farm. I am a full spectrum indigenous Doula serving families in Sandoval County and surrounding areas. I am a mother of 8 and grandmother of 1. My passion is birth work and I hope to one day open a birthing space in the beautiful mountains of Manzano NM. I am excited for this opportunity to be a part of CWI’s present journey and future endeavors.

Jessica Whitehawk

Board Member

Jessica has three grown children and one grandson. Her journey to get where she is has been varied and full of diversions and wisdom-gaining. She became a mother very young and left high school with a GED. Through perseverance, she chose to pursue higher education after that in order to forge a future for her family as a first generation college student. In time, she earned a master’s degree in Public Health Services from the University of Washington while simultaneously breaking barriers, healing, and raising her three children.

When she was fresh out of graduate school, Jessica observed the high rates of maternal and infant mortality in Native populations. Her experience with community data collection, evaluation, and needs assessments led her to initiate an assessment of maternal and child health care as experienced by Indigenous people living on and near the Yakama Nation Reservation. The findings of this assessment led to the creation of Ttáwax̲t Birth Justice Center. Jessica believes all of the solutions for thriving communities are carried within our Indigenous peoples. She has been serving Indigenous families for over 30 years of her life and has a passion for creating new pathways to overcome systems of oppression. She strives to lead an organization that is rooted in restoration, justice, and repair from the impacts of colonialism.