Vanessa Estelle Williams Hosts First Ladies Health Initiative Free Black Maternal Health Panel to Address Public Health Concerns
In Spring 2026, Vanessa stars alongside Omarion in the highly anticipated drama series “Wild Rose” on AMC/ ALLBLK. Also, this spring, she appears as a love interest opposite Tracy Morgan in “Crutch,” the new comedy spin-off of “The Neighborhood,” debuting on CBS/Paramount.
Brooklyn-born powerhouse Vanessa Estelle Williams lit up the screen in her film debut as Keisha—the fierce, gun-toting “around-the-way girl” and head of security for the Cash Money Brothers—in the iconic urban classic New Jack City, directed by Mario Van Peebles and starring Wesley Snipes.
Her other film credits include Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story, Imagine That, Like Mike, Punks, Mother, and Candyman—both the 1992 original and its 2021 sequel directed by Nia DaCosta, produced by Jordan Peele/Monkey Paw productions and television credits include 9-1-1 (Fox) The L Word Generation Q (Showtime) American Horror Stories( FX) A Luv Tale (BET) NBC’s long-running Days of Our Lives, Freeform’s Famous in Love, The Flash, The Bay, Lincoln Heights, Everybody Hates Chris, and 5 seasons on Soul Food.
Nominated for an Emmy for her acclaimed role in Showtime’s Our America, she went on to earn six consecutive NAACP Image Award nominations, winning in 2003 for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series for her portrayal of Maxine Chadway in Soul Food.
Williams is the author of SHINE, a book of poetry and prose excerpted in Essence magazine. It inspired her solo show Feet on the Ceiling!, a coming-of-age story that premiered at the National Black Theatre Festival in 2011 and continues to captivate audiences across the U.S. and Caribbean.
An activist and proud mother of two creative artists, Omar and Haile Wiseman, Vanessa Estelle Williams radiates authenticity, timeless beauty, a magnetic energy, and charm that deeply resonates with audiences worldwide.
MEET THE PANELIST
Dr. Dwinita Mosby Tyler (First Lady) specializes in developing and delivering training programs and strategies on equity, leadership, diversity, cultural responsiveness, and inclusiveness. Dr. Mosby Tyler is the former Senior Vice President and Chief Inclusion Officer for Children’s Hospital Colorado—the first Black woman to hold that position in the organization’s 100+ year history. She is also the former Executive Director of the Office of Human Resources for the City and County of Denver—the first Black woman to hold that position in the agency’s 63+-year history.
Dr. Crawford – Dr. Shalonda “Sunshine” Crawford is a licensed psychologist, community leader, and nationally recognized mental health advocate who brings light, compassion, and truth to every space she enters. She serves as Co-Chair of the First Ladies Health Initiative’s Los Angeles Chapter, where she helps lead efforts to bring free, culturally responsive health services and education to churches across Southern California.
She is also the proud First Lady of The Experience Christian Ministries, where she and her husband, Pastor Anthony “Shep” Crawford, lead a vibrant, faith-filled community grounded in love, healing, and
service. Known as Dr. Sunshine on the airwaves, she hosts The Dr. Sunshine Show on KBLA Talk 1580 AM, using her platform to break down stigma and provide spirit-centered conversations about mental health and wellness. She is the author of Employ Your Pain: Putting the Hurt to Work for You, and has been featured on ABC7, KTLA, Fox Soul, VH1, and other national media outlets.
Dr. Melissa R. Franklin, EdD, MBA, is Director of Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health in the Health Promotion Bureau at the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. In this role, she oversees programs that promote the health and well-being of pregnant people, infants, children, and youth across Los Angeles County, with a focus on advancing birth equity and addressing racial disparities in maternal and infant health, including the Los Angeles County African American Infant and Maternal Mortality Prevention Initiative, which she helped establish. Dr. Franklin brings almost 30 years of experience in public health, organizational leadership, and cross-sector collaboration across health and education systems.
She holds a Doctor of Education in Organizational Change and Leadership from the University of Southern California, where her research focused on collaborative approaches to advancing equity, as well as an MBA and a BA in Business from Loyola Marymount University.
For more information on the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health’s Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health Division, visit: http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/mch/
advance knowledge in reproductive health equity using a variety of quantitative and qualitative methods.
Priya Batra, MD, MS, is Deputy Director of the Health Promotion Bureau at the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. As Deputy Director, she oversees the Department’s seven Offices and Divisions that work alongside the community to promote optimal health and well-being for the 10 million residents of Los Angeles County. She is a physician leader with a decade of experience as a health care executive, in roles across health care delivery, managed care, and public health systems. She is an accomplished health services researcher; as an Adjunct Physician Policy Research at the RAND Corporation, she continues to
Dr. Batra is a Board-certified Obstetrician-Gynecologist and continues to provide high-quality and compassionate care to patients in the County’s safety net system.
About the First Ladies Health Initiative
The First Ladies Health Initiative is a faith-based 501(c)(3) organization committed to closing the health equity gap in underserved communities through innovative partnerships with churches and First Ladies nationwide.
FLHI’s mission is to provide essential health services, educational support, and advocacy to those who need it most. Since our founding, we have impacted thousands of lives by offering free health screenings, vaccines, mental health resources, and educational outreach that empower individuals and families to take charge of their health.
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