Wynfred Russell
Founder & Director of Health Equity at AFRICAN CAREER EDUCATION & RESOURCES- Claim this Profile
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English Native or bilingual proficiency
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French Elementary proficiency
Topline Score
Bio
Credentials
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Organizational and Professonal
University of Minnesota
Experience
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AFRICAN CAREER EDUCATION & RESOURCES
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United States
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Technology, Information and Internet
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1 - 100 Employee
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Founder & Director of Health Equity
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Feb 2008 - Present
Founder & Director of Health Equity, African Career, Education & Resources, Inc. (ACER), Brooklyn Park, MN; August 2017 – present: • Project manage a Minnesota Department of Health statewide COVID-19 response project and a CDC Foundation-funded influenza (flu) initiative focusing on BIPOC groups • Co-Principal Investigator on the African Memory Loss project with the Families and Long-Term Care Projects (FLTC), University of Minnesota School of Public Health. • Develop and manage strategic partnerships to deliver on health & wellness, civic engagement, immigration, and education initiatives that produce equitable outcomes. • Build and maintain relationships with external constituents, bringing forth potential partners that can help to advance ACER’s organizational strategic priorities. • Proactively monitor and assess the landscape, generating actionable recommendations and driving new innovative ideas for the strategic growth of the organization • Partner with clients and stakeholders to identify initiatives that advance business development relationships; assess, vet, and recommend potential partners • Ensure ACER maintains a strong development pipeline of new business opportunities, proposals, partnerships, and income to sustain the organization’s programs. • Integrate key metrics to measure and monitor diversity and program areas of focus. • Establish and utilize mechanisms to track progress across program areas. Show less
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City of Brooklyn Park
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Government Administration
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1 - 100 Employee
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Former City Council Member
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Jan 2019 - Dec 2022
(City Council Members are paid elected officials who, as part of the full City Council, govern the City using the powers conferred upon them by State Statutes and City Ordinances.) • Participated in public events, sometimes performing ceremonial duties, giving information and formal speeches, and served as a spokesperson for the City • Responded to community member requests, including providing information, sharing City policies and procedures, and directing individuals to City staff for resources • Negotiated labor contracts, and review meeting agenda, and aa materials before meetings • Communicated with City Manager, Mayor, City staff, and individuals impacted by city policies to gather input prior to meeting discussions • Attended all regularly scheduled Council, Economic Development Authority (EDA), and Commission meetings (each Monday and the third Wednesday of each month) • Actively participated in the discussion of meeting topics and considered all presentations, proposals, and facts while voting on official actions • Participated in special committees, subcommittees, and task forces as needed • Participated in annual goal-setting and strategic planning with staff and City Council • Reviewed and established public and administrative policies with City Council • Reviewed and approved the annual budget, tax levy, and capital improvements program • Participated in civic events to provide leadership and stay abreast of programs and trends • Appointed and evaluated the performance of the City Manager in concert with the City Council • Appointed City Attorney, Police Chief, Fire Director, and other department heads upon recommendation of City Manager in concert with Council • Created advisory boards and commissions, made appointments, and evaluated output • Served as chair of the Minneapolis Northwest Tourism Board • Served a four-year term on the Joint Airport Zoning Commissions representing the city of Brooklyn Park. Show less
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Program Manager, Health Delivery Systems
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Oct 2015 - Jan 2019
• Improved the health of Nigerian families through the delivery of high quality integrated health services by strengthening the public and private sectors to deliver these services; • Administered and expand health delivery programs across multidisciplinary teams; • Coordinated programmatic and managerial strategies for three program areas: Supply Chain, Health Camps (essential drug procurement and logistics), and Vaccine Direct Delivery; • Managed a rapid assessment of existing supply chain systems in Nigeria across the major health programs: HIV, TB, Immunization, Malaria, Family Planning, and Essential Drugs; • Last-mile service delivery and systems thinking in the global health supply chain to build on the organization’s growth and helped it realize its potential across the West African sub-region; served as the primary contact with partners for all project-related deliverables; • Managed program timelines to ensure timely completion of program goals and objectives; • Developed and ensure budgets are tracked against grants and contract milestones; • Conducted training of health care workers; synthesize and disseminate best practices and lessons learned through reports, working group meetings and workshops; and • Tracked global health sector trends and work with the technical experts from the private and public sectors and other development projects to determine how to respond technically and programmatically to changing needs, innovations in health systems strengthening, and gender considerations. Show less
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American Refugee Committee
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United States
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International Affairs
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200 - 300 Employee
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Program Operations Manager
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Mar 2015 - Jun 2015
• Managed operational support for the implementation of all program activities (medical, WASH, care kit delivery, and psychosocial services) in southeastern Liberia• Ensured smooth functioning and high quality service delivery to health centers• Supervised facilities management, warehouse, transportation, and financial departments to ensure full compliance of USAID/OFDA policies and procedures • Collaborated with the Medical Director in developing the work plan for the medical staff and ensuring that the CCC and ETU are ready to take patients within hours• Maintained good relations with the county political authorities and foster close working relationship with the county health and the county education teams Show less
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Ebola Response Manager
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Oct 2014 - Feb 2015
• Managed Ebola response operations including community engagement activities; provided oversight to the procurement and logistics operations to the Ebola Treatment Unit (ETU) in Fishtown, logistics hub in Harper, and central office in Monrovia • Developed and executed responsive and appropriate operations management systems (for people management, local procurement, fleet management and logistics, financial, consultant and subcontractor administration, etc.) in line with local laws and regulations, USAID/OFDA guidelines and standard operating procedures, and donor requirements;• Aligned staffing and systems with country projects and available resources to provide timely, cost effective, and high quality support and administrative services to all ARC country-based projects and activities. Show less
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African Career, Education & Resources, Inc.
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United States
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Civic and Social Organizations
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1 - 100 Employee
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Executive Director
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Feb 2008 - Nov 2014
Managed a U.S. Housing & Urban Development grant; implement a multi-stakeholder public and community engagement programs, using a systems change framework and a participatory approach; manage the overall administrative operations of the organization; including, hiring, fundraising, budgeting, program interventions, and supervision of staff; Consulted with donors to determine project requirements; ensure that project deliverables meet project requirements; planning for and conducting staff meetings; and board of directors development, grant writing & management and meeting management; and, Successfully developed and implemented project orientations, project implementation trainings, staff development trainings, and project supervision. Show less
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Transtec s.a.
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1 - 100 Employee
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TVET Research Consultant
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Mar 2013 - Jul 2013
• Support coordination for strategy and program development and implementation across ministries engaged in the TVET sector and with the private sector. • Review the projects and programs currently undertaken with the view to revitalizing and rationalizing the vocational training system under the Government; • Prepare problem analysis, identify gaps and bottlenecks and facilitate strategies to promote vocational education; review existing coordination structures and recommend improvements; provide technical and strategic advice to the Liberian Government on how to take TVET programs and components and transform them into practical plans. Show less
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University of Minnesota
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United States
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Higher Education
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700 & Above Employee
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Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy
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Mar 2010 - Nov 2012
Researched, analyzed, wrote, and edited national-level health policy documents; Conducted nationwide site visits to collect data, interviews, designed quality control measures, and wrote articles on promising public health practices of emergency hazards for publication on – www.cidrappractices.org, www.cdc.gov, and www.astho.org – ; conducted research, including literature reviews and web-based searches; Planned and organized outreach to community and faith-based organizations (CFBOs); and, analyzed information on public health emergency preparedness topics, particularly pandemic influenza on vulnerable and at-risk populations. Show less
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Normandale Community College
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United States
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Higher Education
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400 - 500 Employee
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Director, Center for Multicultural Services
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Feb 2008 - Feb 2010
• Provided constituency-based support, outreach, and programming, as well as, assist in broad diversity education efforts for all undergraduate students. Through advisement of organizations and heritage months, affinity programming, caucus development, and strong advisory relationships; provided developmental guidance, support, and trainings for various student constituencies, including international students. • Developed conferences and workshops to support the success of minority students; and • Supported faculty professional development; maintain collaborative relationships with higher education and K-12 institutions, as well as throughout community-based organizations and agencies serving underrepresented and underserved populations. • Provided advice and counsel to the President, Deans, campus committees, and other stakeholders in curriculum development, assessment, diversity, equity and integration. • Advised two student organizations, and mobilize the NCC campus in its ongoing efforts to improve integration, Access, Opportunity, and Success of underrepresented students. Show less
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University of Minnesota - Crookston
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United States
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Higher Education
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100 - 200 Employee
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Director of Diversity Programming
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Oct 2007 - Feb 2008
Assisted racial minority students to determine and accomplish their educational goals; Provided support services to assist students of color attain academic success; Promoted the intellectual, career, social, and moral development of underrepresented students; provided training in leadership skills and other personal and social skills for minority students and faculty; designed retention and academic assistance programs; Identified appropriate ethnic mentors and role models; and supported outreach and community and service-learning opportunities for underserved students. Show less
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Education
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2019 - 2021
Humphrey School of Public Affairs
Policy Fellow, Public Policy Analysis -
Northern Michigan University
Bachelor's Degree, Broadcast Journalism -
Northern Michigan University
Master's Degree, International/Global Studies -
University of Minnesota
International Public Health/International Health -
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Master's Degree, Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies (community health, communications, and education) -
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Master's degree, Organizational Communication, General
Community
