Black History Month

Erica Austin

Deputy Director, Community Care

SIU School of Medicine

Erica Austin is a native of Springfield, Illinois.  She currently works at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine (SIU-SOM) as the Deputy Director in the office of Community Care. She has been very instrumental in COVID-19 testing centers. She has planned, implemented, and leads a team of people to provide COVID-1 tests to anyone in the community free of charge.

Erica is committed to improving her community by decreasing the disparities specifically among persons of color by providing education, social support, policy development, and addressing social and environmental justice issues. She has over 10 years of experience in community, family, and youth engagement.  Her areas of expertise are youth development, community organizing, volunteer development, and diversity and inclusion.

She has received numerous awards of appreciation for her time and commitment in dedication to the youth and the Springfield community as a whole. Most recently she was the recipient of SIU School of Medicine’s Dr. Alonzo Kenniebrew award. The Dr. Kenniebrew Equity Award is an acknowledgment bestowed upon an individual or organization actively promoting inclusive excellence, contributes to and enhances the environment of Springfield through a sustained commitment to improving opportunities for the diverse communities we serve.

Erica is currently pursuing her doctoral degree at Illinois State University in the Higher Education Administration program.  She founded her own non-profit for youth The L.Y.N.C. (Leading Youth, Networking communities), serves on a host of boards, and is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Dr. Leslie McKnight

Community Care Director of Community Health Policy and Planning

Peoria City/County Health Department

Dr. Leslie L. McKnight is the Director of Community Health Policy and Planning at the Peoria City/County Health Department. She is responsible for the development and implementation of the Partnership for a Healthy Community Health Improvement Plan and health promotion and equity interventions throughout the Tri-County region. Dr. McKnight has over 20 years of experience in public policy and community development for local government agencies and has managed millions of dollars in grassroots and public-private partnership programs and activities related to housing, community, health, and economic development in Central IL. She holds a PhD in organization development from Benedictine University, Springfield IL and a Master of Science degree in Human Services Administration from Spertus College in Chicago, IL. She is published in many academic and leadership journals and is an adjunct professor in the Master of Business Administration program at Bradley University. Her research interests include organization strategy, adaptive leadership, and change management. Dr. McKnight’s most recent article, ‘Building Healthy Communities’, was recently featured in Peoria Magazines.  

Recent accomplishments. Secured 1.5M of funding for Lung Health Education and Programming for the Tri-County Region Partnership for Healthy Community through the Edwards Coal Plant environmental litigation settlement.

Coordinated the first Southside Farmers Market in Peoria's low-income community to address food insecurity and high obesity rates.  

Demetrius Willis, MS, RD

Assistant Coordinator of Nutrition Services

Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center

Demetrius Willis is an African American doing great work in public health! 

Demetrius Willis is the Assistant Coordinator of Nutrition Services at Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center (LCHD.) He has been with the Health Department for nine years.  Demetrius is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist with a Master’s degree in Health and Physical Education as well as a Master’s degree in Business Administration.  He has been practicing in the field of dietetics for 19 years.  Demetrius has worked in the public health sphere for 11 years and has successfully created and implemented nutrition education strategies and interventions that cater to the needs and culture of the population he serves.  Demetrius is recently featured in, and contributed content to, the 2021 seventh edition of “The Profession of Dietetics” by Deborah Canter and Rebecca DeYoung Daniels, a text for those who wish to begin a career in nutrition and dietetics.  Demetrius co-chaired the Lake County Diabetes Action Team which brought together community organizations to collaborate on diabetes education, management and prevention initiatives in the community. He currently is an active member of the LCHD Diabetes Work Group, an internal effort to improve diabetes programming at the Health Department.

In addition to Demetirus’ outstanding contributions to Health Department within his original job description, Demetrius is a past chair and a long-standing member of the Lake County Health Department’s Inclusion and Diversity Council.  This is a group that brings awareness and facilitates conversations about diversity and inclusion with those who serve the community.  By co-hosting monthly conversations with staff members, many who live in the community, he has opened up conversations about race, religion, prejudice and misunderstandings that plague our community and employment sectors.  By increasing the frequency of these conversations during the country’s civil unrest, political and COVID-19 confusion, he helped open the door to open discussion and better understanding.”  Demetrius sees that these honest conversations are what is missing in our public health sectors.  He feels that broken systems and complacency are major contributors to inequalities in understanding and supporting mental and physical health.  Demetrius also feels this is at the root of societies’ health and social disparities.

Most recently, Demetrius was tapped to take on additional responsibilities in leading a grass roots community group that aims to address COVID-19 in the Black Community as well as other health disparities that exist within this community.  In the 8 months since its inception, the African American Community Partnership Group (AACPG) has disseminated 23,000 PPE kits, adult and children’s masks, and hand sanitizer. Additionally, the group organized a free flu shot event. The AACPG has used several strategies to make public health knowledge accessible for Lake County’s African American community including using written, social media (Facebook, YouTube and Instagram), videos and radio media. Demetrius has used various platforms to have discussions with State Representatives, local community leaders and local community hospitals about COVID-19 and its impact on the Black community. He facilitated a townhall meeting in February 2021 in an effort to have an honest and transparent conversation about the COVID-19 vaccine with physical and mental health professionals.  He explains that “all these efforts are so that people can make an educated and informed decision about their own health.” 

Demetrius knows that athletics are a great tool to connect with youth and to open up mentorship opportunities.  Demetrius is a volunteer basketball coach at his local gyms.  He is also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and has helped lead efforts to establish a mentorship program for at risk black youth in Lake County.  Through “Project Alpha” he has helped collaborate with local schools to link them to this free program that is designed to provide education, motivation and skill-building and address issues of responsibility, relationships, teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases for young males ages 12-17 years old.  This program allows for a trusted and safe environment to discuss social, health and political topics with youth.  There are monthly meetings with young men to provide a structured environment for development on their path to manhood.