NWIAA MARYLAND CHAIRLEADERS
Chef Nekisha empowers people through positivity, love and GREAT FOOD! She is also the daughter of Jamaican parents who provided her with a deep cultural heritage and vibrant island traditions that inspired the creation of her debut cookbook, From My Mudda’s Kitchen ~ A Jamaican Cookbook.
Nekisha is passionate about preserving her authentic Jamaican heritage through the rich tastes and flavors of Jamaica, a legacy she hopes to pass on to her own children. Chef Nekisha is also a featured Chef on Good Morning Washington and has appeared on Great Day Washington where she shares her love for family, food and FUN! Nekisha has a passion for planning and coordinating corporate and social engagements which led her to start her own event planning company in 2008. In January 2020 Chef Nekisha took a huge leap of faith and launched into full time ministry and entrepreneurship to include rebranding her business to Royal Ackee LLC, A Jamaican Catering Company that creates Food That Inspires!
Prior to owning her own company, Nekisha was an active member of the United States Air Force. Following her military service, she worked as an Executive Assistant for the Chief Financial Officer of the Department of Homeland Security, and as a Special Assistant with U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Her career with the Air Force also afforded her the opportunity to experience the unique cultures of Japan, Uzbekistan, and Turkey. Nekisha serves as Worship Presider of the 4th Friday Worship Service at Central Union Mission in Washington, DC where she and her family enjoys volunteering. Nekisha resides in the Metropolitan Washington, DC area with her three beautiful children.

Nekisha Roache
Contact Info: Nekisha.Roache@gmail.com (301-) 310-8802

Ray Parker
Contact Info: rpdulie@yahoo.com (202) 421-4804
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Dr. Maxine Bennett-Marsh is very passionate about the importance of food sustainability and preventing heart attacks and strokes through educating individuals to make lifestyle changes that includes, eating healthy organic foods as far as possible. She has have been Women's Ministry leader since 2014 at various churches in Baltimore County Maryland, and Charles County Maryland. Dr. Marsh has received State commendation by a Maryland Senator for Preventative Health Strategies and health fairs in 2017 in Baltimore County MD.
The World Health Organization (WHO) Defines health as not merely the absence of disease but a complete state of physical mental and social well-being. Every 37 seconds someone dies of a heart attack. Heart attacks kill more people worldwide than any and all other diseases combined. Health is Wealth and what we eat matters.
Dr. Marsh is passionate about minority farmers and increasing awareness about the importance of providing education about best practices regarding food sustainability. Some of her goals include the following: promote minority women owned farms, increase literacy and reading abilities among minorities, women and children and increase awareness of 4H, programs, healthy eating, and provide enhanced education and attention about the importance of Integrating heart health programs with farming education food sustainability products and services.
STEM camp education and affiliate programs are also important aspects to consider with respect to agriculture, farming and cardiovascular health. Dr. Marsh stands in agreement with NWIAA - National Women in Agriculture Association's objectives, missions and goals with respect to helping individuals achieve success in food sustainability pursuits.
Dr. Maxine Marsh
Contact Info: maxinebennettmarsh@gmail.com (202) 701-8732
Stephen Hardy

"On my life’s journey, I have developed a passion for health, wellness and nutrition and became a certified health coach, personal trainer and urban gardener. I want to advocate for and inspire others especially in the underserved communities to achieve their goals for attaining healthy lifestyles, exercise and good nutrition. Not necessarily in that order.
As a proud African American man, it's in this precarious time that we can find the opportunity to create a collective human center effort with others to bring these worthwhile aspirations to reality, in my opinion.
Historically speaking, since the typical African American diet involves large amounts of meat, fat and sugar, there is a large risk of health-related illnesses such as obesity, heart disease and stroke resulting from eating this type of diet. African Americans typically choose foods such as fried chicken, barbecued ribs, baked macaroni and cheese, sugary fruit drinks and sweets such as sweet potato pie, which are typical soul food meals. Many ethnic groups have higher incidences of diabetes, hypertension, cancer, and heart disease when compared to the White population. There is another study completed that found that 35 percent of all cancer deaths in the U.S. may be attributed to dietary factors.
The study also found that fewer than one quarter of adults consume the recommended five or more daily servings of fruits and vegetables, and minorities consume even less than that. This has contributed to unusually high rates of cancer in African Americans. A recent survey done by the U.S. Department of Agriculture found that 88 percent of African Americans ate no dark green leafy vegetables, and about 94 percent had no deep yellow vegetables on any given day of the survey. Most of us fall short of the recommended dietary allowances for vitamin E, Vitamin B-6, calcium, magnesium, and zinc. The report also suggested that 35 percent of their calories came from fat and 12 percent from saturated fat. Nutritionists recommend that 30 percent or less of calories come from fat and less than 10 percent from saturated fat. Also, African Americans have the highest obesity prevalence at 33.9 percent.
A holistic approach which includes exercise, good diet, lifestyle, financial freedom and spirituality among others critical factors will play a major role in the longevity of most African Americans, in my opinion. My certified training as a board-certified Health Coach includes a holistic approach to health and wellness which encompasses all of the above. It is my life’s mission to this with people who look like me and others who don’t. We are all in this together. "