Dr. Wanda Boone CEO and Founder of Pinnacle Community Development Center Dba Together for Resilient Youth (TRY) 501(c)(3). TRY is a coalition of coalitions formed for the purpose of preventing challenges that occur as a result of trauma such as substance use (prevention through recovery) using a grassroots framework. The foundation of our work includes the strategic prevention framework, 7 strategies for community change and environmental strategy tools delivered through: education, mobilization and collective impact. TRY’s 48-member coalition includes youth, parents, community members from faith community’s health professionals, 550 plus business representatives, youth serving organizations, schools, higher education and almost all formal and informal leaders in the target areas served. In 2012 the NC Governor’s Community Outreach Department included Dr. Boone on a NC Mayor’s public health tour to implement the TRY Coalition initiative across NC.

TRY has worked with underserved populations in Durham since 1992, statewide since 2012 as well as in several states and internationally in Kenya. Our work which includes the social determinants of health, although not a term used in earlier years, linked persons of color to resources. There continues to be an over-representation of African-American and Latinx people affected by the many challenges associated with safety, health and wellness. 

The pandemic exposed these same disparities among black and brown families, especially in the healthcare arena. The COVID-19 pandemic unfortunately created another opportunity for TRY to use the systems, infrastructure and relationships already in place to address the acute needs of African American and Latinx communities affected by the pandemic. TRY mobilized and moved into action to create systems designed to stem the rates of infection, hospitalization, case mortality and economic impact far in excess of their proportion of the population. TRY’s COVID related activities: provide training, direction and leadership to 22 Task leads (Community Health Workers) that address COVID19, vaccination efforts and the social Determinants of Health (food insecurity, jobs, healthcare navigation, transportation and more) that lead to health inequities in 11 NC counties. TRY has reached 24,000 persons with COVID19 related education and vaccine related events. These activities reached 78% people of color (59% Black and 19% Hispanic). TRY continues to generate authentic messaging reaching 20,000 residents/month on social media and through Community Health Workers. Dr. Wanda Boone along with Fred Johnson, Duke University Medical Center created the CHW Certification program used today.

TRY addresses the social determinants of health and peripheral challenges associated with racism and disparities including COVID19, substance use, suicide and mental health and chronic health challenges. TRY addresses the outcomes of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Behavioral Health Disparities, as they disproportionately impact vulnerable communities. Additionally, TRY provides training and technical assistance to 15 coalitions around the state, 20 in the US and 1 in Kenya. Dr. Boone served as Co-Chair the NC Institutes of Medicine Healthy 2030 Task Force Social and Economic/Healthy Behaviors Subcommittee and continues to work collaboratively locally, around the State of NC and nationally to address health disparities and associated challenges embedded in the social determinants of health, trauma and Adverse Experiences. Through her work she has helped to ensure the engagement of culturally representative key stakeholders within TRY and in the organizations where she has influence. Dr. Boone works closely with the NC Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities. The NC OMHHD offers support to TRY by providing subject-matter expertise and connections to statewide programs and networks such as to assist the needs of minority, under-served, and historically marginalized populations and communities. Mission: To promote and advocate for the elimination of health disparities among all racial and ethnic minorities and other underserved populations in North Carolina. Vision: All North Carolinians will enjoy good health regardless of their race and ethnicity, disability or socioeconomic status. Dr. Boone works closely with the North Carolina Institute of Medicine’s Healthy North Carolina 2030 (HNC 2030). HNC 2030 process incorporated a framework of health factors (Social and Economic Factors, Health Behaviors, Environmental Factors, and Health Behaviors) that impact health outcomes. Work groups for each of these topic areas selected a specified number of health indicators, which were then finalized by a task force body. The HNC 2030 process has moved from the documentation to the action phase. Dr. Wanda Boone is a member of the action team and will help inform how communities are included at every stage. North Carolina Institute of Medicine’s Healthy North Carolina 2030 (HNC 2030) will support the application by providing data and expertise, access and influence among health departments and medical communities.

 Dr. Boone has built decades to establish a credible reputation with Historically Marginalized Populations while building bridges to all populations through our delivery of culturally competent services and through several published prevention methods and presentations including Transformative Prevention, The Whole Health Ambassador Guide, The Resilience Toolkit and most recently COVID19 in Color for All. 

She is a Co-founder of the East Durham Children's Initiative and Durham Children’s Initiative Board Member, Member of the Governor's Task Force on Substance Use, Member Safety and Wellness Task Force, Member African American Covid Response Team, Safety and Health Chair, Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People, Member of the City-Wide PAC, Vice Chair, Northeast Central Durham Leadership Council, Member of the Duke Population Health Improvement Leadership Advisory Board; Member School Advisory Group for the Duke Integrated Pediatric Mental Health Collaborative; Member Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America and NC Health Disparities Workgroup.