Yolanda R. Hill- Ashford, M.S.W.  is a project manager for  the Detroit Department of Health and Wellness Promotions’  community health program called the Village Health Worker Partnership.  She has an extensive background in  community based participatory  research, outreach, education and training.  She has worked diligently building collaboratives,  for the empowerment, employment and training of community health workers (CHW’s) in the city of Detroit . Yolanda has facilitated the development of  a certificate program at  Wayne County Community College. Working collectively with educational institutions, the community,  public and private business sectors. The goal of this certificate program is to provide a standard skill set  for CHW’s as determined by employers,  and  to also provide an educational ladder for those who wish to further their education. Yolanda has participated in numerous  research initiatives that have focused on the  social determinants of health, asthma,  diabetes, cardiovascular disease, health promotion, access to healthy foods  and access to health care.  All of these initiatives have had a very strong training component to which she was instrumental in developing.  Yolanda’s goals as a public health social worker are grounded in her desire to ensure a healthy life for all those who live work visit or play in the city of Detroit.