CHAIRWOMAN
Peggy Martin, a Miami native, has dedicated over 20 years to Higher Education and civic improvement. Inspired by her parents and Tuskegee University, she values active community involvement and the principle of "less talk, more work." Peggy is the Clinical Liaison for the Miami Dade College Physician Assistant Program and participates in campus committees such as the annual Health Fair and Black History Month. An active member of New Birth Baptist Church, she volunteers for community service events, recruits for Tuskegee, and serves on the NAACP Membership and Civic Engagement committees. Her focus remains on providing exemplary community service.

PRESIDENT
Claudia Rodriguez is a marketing professional with a passion for nonprofits. As the Founder and Digital Marketing Strategist at The Social C, she creates effective marketing strategies for diverse clients. Claudia holds a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Florida International University and a Master of Public Administration and Policy from American University. Her early roles include Marketing and Media Intern at Miami-Dade County Animal Services, Marketing and Events Intern at the Little Lighthouse Foundation, and leadership in the American Marketing Association at FIU. Claudia's skills in audience engagement and campaign success make her a valuable asset in addressing challenges in the nonprofit sector.

CEO & FOUNDER
Dr. Armando Martinez is dedicated to improving healthcare delivery and promoting community health. He holds a Medical Degree from Trujillo University Medical School in Peru, a Master of Science in Occupational Medicine from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and an MBA in Healthcare Administration and Policy from the University of Miami. Dr. Martinez’s areas of expertise include healthcare management, education, community health promotion, and capacity building. His leadership at The LEAP Center embodies his commitment to fostering innovation and collaboration in healthcare, with a special emphasis on community empowerment and sustainable health practices.

TREASURER Fabio Nascimento, MHA, is the Chairperson of the School of Health Sciences in Miami. With a background in biology and health administration, he develops curricula for healthcare students, working with universities and colleges to overcome administrative barriers. His research involvement has deepened his commitment to evaluating coursework to ensure graduates are well-prepared for the workforce. As an immigrant, Fabio understands the cultural barriers in Miami's community and strives to provide access to healthcare education. He oversees training activities and experiential work, empowering students to serve effectively in challenging healthcare settings and make a meaningful difference.

DIRECTOR
Cheri Petersen holds a BS from Purdue and an MS from Colorado State University. She excels in building community-based teams that communicate, collaborate, and innovate. Cheri creates partnerships to bridge cultural and language gaps within indigenous and marginalized communities. She advocates for social justice and trauma-informed approaches. Cheri is proud of her work improving healthcare equity in rural Washington State and South America. Using design-thinking and systems-thinking, she develops solutions for social determinants of health. Cheri champions health equity, individual empowerment, and rural health improvement through holistic, patient-centered strategies.

DIRECTOR
Dr. Ochoa is an assistant professor in the Department of Child and Family Development at San Diego State University and an educational researcher committed to promoting the wellbeing of ethno-racially marginalized young children from low-income households, particularly those identified as Latine. Dr. Ochoa earned her Ph.D. in Education with a focus on Human Development in Context from the University of California, Irvine, and received postdoctoral training at the Human Development and Child Study Department of Tufts University. Her research employs a strengths-based, culturally informed framework to understand how parents’ background characteristics relate to their experiences raising children in the U.S. She also examines factors related to bilingual language development and classroom engagement of Dual Language Learners (DLLs), driving improved understanding of learning dynamics.