Sidney Thomas Health Advocacy Inductee

Dr. Karriem S. Watson, DHS, MS, MPH, is the Chief Executive Officer for the UI-Health Mile Square Health Center.  As part of the University of Illinois Hospital and Health Science System, the Mile Square HealthCenter includes several Federally Qualified Health Center clinics throughout south and west Chicago, Cicero and Rockford communities, with a mission to provide holistic, quality health services amid an underserved, urban community.  Prior to Mile Square, Dr. Watson led the National Institutes of Health’s All of Us Research Program’s efforts to foster relationships with participants, communities, researchers, and providers across the U.S. to help build one of the largest, most diverse health databases of its kind to study health and illness.  Dr. Watson spent over 15 years as a community-engaged research scientist addressing cancer prevention and control.

Ben Montgomery Civic Engagement Inductee

Ramon Gardenhire serves as the Director of Government Relations (South Region) for ViiV Healthcare. He works on federal and state healthcare legislation and policies to improve access to care, treatment and, prevention for people living with
and vulnerable to HIV. In this role he works closely as a Medicaid, insurance,
healthcare access and HIV subject matter expert in multiple states, lobbying to ensure adequate funding for HIV treatment and prevention, as well as ensuring access to care, treatment, and prevention, including open access to all HIV
medicines in state contracted managed health plans.

Before joining ViiV, Ramon served as a member of Illinois Governor JB Pritzker’s senior staff as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy (Policy Director). In that capacity, he served as one of the Governor’s top advisors. He assisted in developing key policies, coordinated the administration’s policy work with other Governor’s Office departments and over 30 cabinet level state agencies. And facilitated the
administration’s legislative tracking and review process making more than 4000 bill action recommendations. During his tenure in the Governor’s Office Ramon helped Illinois enact some of Illinois’ most sweeping and consequential policy and
legislative achievements in decades, including enactment of a $3.5 billion renewed Hospital Assessment Program, launching the state's Getting to Zero plan to end HIV, cannabis legalization, first in the nation expansion of Medicaid for undocumented seniors (twice, first 65 then 55), Hospital Transformation program that will be directing $150 million annually to community-driven solutions to address healthcare
inequities in Black, Brown and rural communities, expanding Medicaid to cover gender-affirming surgery for transgender individuals, criminal justice reform and assistance with implementation of COVID-19 testing and treatment programs.

Before joining the Pritzker, administration Ramon served as the Vice President of Policy and Advocacy for the AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC), overseeing AFC's
advocacy and policy work at the federal, state, and local levels. Gardenhire previously served as AFC's Director of Government Relations, where he worked to expand Medicaid coverage for half a million Illinoisans and helped enact comprehensive sexual health education for Illinois students. Gardenhire, also served as the Deputy Director of Policy for SEIU Healthcare Illinois-Indiana where he
focused on healthcare policy and health insurance issues and helping develop and implement SEIU’s legislative and political initiatives.

He received his Juris Doctorate from Wayne State University Law School and his bachelor's degree from Slippery Rock University.

Ramon lives in Chicago with his husband (Cecil) and is an advent tennis fan and reader, and watches “Murder She Wrote” nightly.

Dr. Keith R. Green Community Leader Inductee

Roderick K. Hawkins is the Associate Dean of External Affairs and Chief of Staff at the Northwestern University School of Communication. He supports the strategic vision of the Dean of the school and leads teams that manage communications, events, diversity, equity, and inclusion, high school programs, and performing arts venues in Evanston and Chicago. He also leads staff development and stakeholder engagement initiatives at the school.

Before joining Northwestern, he was the Communications Director at Advance Illinois, an independent policy and advocacy organization focused on equity in public education. Prior to Advance Illinois, Hawkins was Deputy Chief of Staff for Public Engagement in the office of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. As a senior leader in the administration, Hawkins and his team connected residents, advocates, and activists to the administration through neighborhood outreach, community dialogues, and special events that celebrated the rich diversity of Chicago.

Prior to the Emanuel administration, Hawkins was Vice President of External Affairs at the Chicago Urban League, one of the region’s largest civil rights and economic development organizations. During his tenure at the Urban League, Hawkins was the lead strategist for marketing, communications, and public relations, and served on thestate wide steering committee for the Illinois Unites for Marriage campaign.

Before the Chicago Urban League, Hawkins was the Deputy Press Secretary to Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco, where he managed media relations and served as a spokesperson for the governor. He also played a key role in the responses to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005.

Hawkins was the Communications Associate at The Chicago Community Trust from 2001 to 2004. While there, he led the launch of the Trust’s philanthropic initiatives in the African American and Latino communities.

In 2024 Hawkins’ civic leadership earned him a Chicago Defender Men of Excellence honor as well as a community service award from Cook County State’s Attorney Kimberly M. Foxx. He is a 2023 Center on Halsted Human First Award recipient. In 2018, he was named one of Chicago’s notable LGBTQ executives in Crain’s Chicago Business.

In 2023, Hawkins was appointed to the board of directors of the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority by Governor JB Pritzker. He is vice-chair of the board of the Auditorium Theatre and an advisory board member for iHeartMedia Chicago and the Black Information Network. From 2015-2021 Hawkins served on the board of Lambda Legal, the nation’s oldest legal organization serving the LGBTQ+ community and people impacted by HIV. A native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Hawkins is a graduate of Louisiana State University.

Joel Hall Creative Visionary Inductee

Dubbed the “Godfathers of LGBTQ+ TV,” real-life married couple Deondray & Quincy LeNear Gossfield are the creators, writers, and directors of the iconic GLAAD award-winning anthology series, The DL Chronicles. Building on their brand and following their passion for telling Black, LGBTQ+ stories, they created and directed the Amazon Prime spinoff series, The Chadwick Journals.

The third season of The Chadwick Journals, featuring Jamar Michael (Dear White People), won a 2021 Silver Telly Award and garnered a 2020 Daytime Emmy® Nomination for lead actor Damian Toofeek Raven (“Chadwick”). The Gossfields were also tapped to be part of the producing teams for hit shows like Kocktails with Khloé (FYI) and Sunday Best (BET).

Their short film, Flames, Executive Produced by Lena Waithe and Rishi Rajani, starring Deion Smith (Outer Banks) and Dontavius Williams, premiered with critical acclaim at 2021’s Tribeca Film Festival. It won a Gold Telly Award for Outstanding Direction and the Silver Telly Award for Outstanding Short Film.

Another of their notable works, the short film Congo Cabaret, highlighting the LGBTQ+ contribution to the Harlem Renaissance, has won numerous awards. The film features Parisa Fitz-Henley (Luke Cage), Kevin Daniels (Modern Family), and Darryl Stephens (B Positive).

Their film, Smoke, Lilies and Jade, narrated by Emmy® and Tony Winner Billy Porter (Pose), premiered at the Outfest Film Festival in Los Angeles and went on to win “Best Short Film” at the 2021 Black Alphabet Film Festival in Chicago.

The pair made their TV directorial debut in 2022 on Lena Waithe’s and Showtime Network’s drama, The Chi. After that groundbreaking episode, they were asked back as Producing Directors and directed three episodes (including the finale) for season 6, which won Best Drama from The African American Film Critics Association. They then directed three more episodes (including the finale) for the upcoming season 7.

Lori Branch Community Ally Inductee

For the past two decades Stephen has empowered and equipped individuals to reach their full potential by leading them to change what’s within in order to change what’s around.

A native of Chicago, IL Stephen gained his intellectual prowess at some of the most respected academic institutions in the world, including Oxford University, Northwestern University, Mercer University, and Morehouse College.

Stephen’s ability to translate truths and practical principles to divergent demographics led him to author the book Mirror Moments and has enabled him to address audiences across the globe leaving them challenged, changed, and charged.

Stephen currently serves as the pastor of the New Covenant Baptist Church in Chicago, a social justice champion within the city, and CEO of InPowered Enterprises.

Stephen’s overarching focus is to lead individuals to change what’s within in order to change what’s around.

Sidney Thomas Health Advocacy Inductee

Noel C. Green is a 36-year-old, African American, Chicagoan, and University of Chicago trained Master’s level Social Worker. Noel is a leader in the discussion of systemic effects on black, LGBT+ people in Chicago, IL. With more than 10 years of experience in social services, Noel has led several nonprofits to mission attainment, driven for-profit entities to profitability, brokered relationships to achieve policy outcomes, and acquired $3.5 million for various causes. Noel C. Green lives today so that his community will be better tomorrow.

Ben Montgomery Civic Engagement Inductee

Donald M Bell (He, Him, His) identifies as a 74 year old single, cisgender, profeminist, gay or SGL man of African, Indigenous, and Scots-Irish roots. Don is a third-generation native-born Chicagoan, Southsider, and lifelong White Sox fan. He is a retired professional in Higher Education Administration/Student Affairs; certified in HIV/AIDS counseling, health education, and outreach; and a former IDCFS Social Worker. Now at the end of a long hiatus, he plans to re-enter the work field in the area of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. He has become a recognized resource in the area of aging, in general, and LGBT+ aging in particular. He often presents on these and related intersectional social justice issues.

Dr. Keith R. Green Community Leader Inductee

Dr. Mario Pierce is a transformational leader who has educated and positively impacted systems for 24 years. He has strong knowledge of individual and community health due to tackling disparities in underrepresented communities, and his work helps to reduce stigma regarding STI/HIV transmission in the Chicago area. Through the years, Mario taught elementary, middle, and high school, and in higher education institutions. In 2012, he came to the University of Chicago Medicine as an Education Outreach Coordinator, where his gift for transforming lives, mentoring, providing HIV testing and counseling, and founding a phenomenal men’s support group developed youth and young adults into mighty change agents. In 2014, Mario joined the Chicago Center for HIV Elimination, where he prioritized Black, Latine, and LGBTQ+ communities disproportionately impacted by HIV. He promoted and cultivated positive relationships and expanded programs and partners in that role. Dr. Pierce has earned multiple sexual health certifications, a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English, a Master of Arts Degree in Speech Communication, and a Doctor of Education Degree in Educational Leadership. Between 2019 and 2023, Dr. Pierce was a Director of Academic Excellence and Assistant Dean of Student Affairs at a private two-year college in Chicago. In May 2023, he became Sr. Director of Programs at Brave Space Alliance and is a Visiting Professor of English and Communication in both onsite and online platforms.

Joel Hall Creative Visionary Inductee

Chicago native, Peter Gaona, is a dancer-turned-designer and creator/owner of lifestyle brand, ReformedSchool. Peter founded ReformedSchool after transitioning from performing while completing his degree at Columbia College Chicago in Arts Entertainment Media Management. ReformedSchool’s Mission is to use Fashion as a lens through which people can learn about history, politics, culture, and the world. His designs celebrate Black and LatinX history by using fashion accessories to educate. Peter is also passionate about creating cultural engagement surrounding the arts and entrepreneurship in Chicago.

Lori Branch Community Ally Inductee

Mildred Williamson, PhD, MSW, has spent her career in public service with human rights/social justice as her passion. She has more than 30 years of experience in developing and leading public health safety net programs for vulnerable populations. She has held a number of positions over the years within the Cook County Health (CCH) system. She was the first administrator of the Women & Children HIV Program, which today, is part of the Ruth M. Rothstein CORE Center, where she recently retired as Executive Director. Since 2013, she continues as an adjunct assistant professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health (UIC-SPH).