Meet the 2025 REACH Fellows!
The REACH Fellowship is a 6-month program involving four teams, each with a grower or nutrition educator and a clinical partner, to culturally tailor produce prescription programs for Black and Latino/a/e individuals in Cuyahoga County. Each team will co-develop a program to pitch at the REACH Fellowship Ceremony in June 2025, aiming for implementation at a clinical site soon thereafter. The fellowship seeks to expand and sustain produce prescription programs that enhance food freedom, agency, and dignity in food traditions, promote wealth building among Black/African American and Hispanic/Latino/a/e communities as program implementers, and achieve healthcare savings for providers and insurers.
First Workshop: February 4, 2025
Graduation Ceremony: June 24, 2025
Interested in connecting with the fellows? Email Linea at lxw684@case.edu.
Holly Davenport
Owner/Creator of That Brown Girl Spice
With over 30 years as a managing cosmetologist, Holly Davenport has embraced
the culinary arts and community enhancement through healthy cuisine. Since
2018, she has honed her skills at Edwin's Leadership and Restaurant, creating
nutritious dishes for diverse communities. Holly is a proud graduate of the
Neighborhood Leadership Institute and has served four years as an AmeriCorps
Vista Member at the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, managing resource centers
and developing recipes for their Medically Tailored Meals pilot program. As the
founder of Dear Brown Girl, Holly mentors girls ages 7-14 of color with resources
and support. She also coordinates and voluntarily provides meals for the
Collinwood Cobras, serving over 5,000 meals since 2018, fostering community
among families. Owner of That Brown Girl Spice, Holly's catering company
embodies "Where food and community meet to redefine culture." She has
catered for various organizations, uplifting community gatherings. Holly's next
project is participating in the REACH Fellowship to launch a "Produce for
Prescription" program within an African-American community, promoting healthy
choices and equitable food access. Holly exemplifies service and resilience,
continuing to inspire through her culinary work and dedication to social causes.
- Website
- Instagram: @Thatbrowngirl_spice
Dr. Kelli Littlejohn, DNP, CNP
CEO of Dove Legacy Health & Co-Founder of The Camryn Averie Foundation
Meet 2025 REACH Fellowship member, Dr. Kelli Littlejohn, DNP, CNP. Dr. Kelli
seeks to develop her idea for a produce prescription program by offering produce
prescriptions through her mobile and in-office clinic to patients who are
underprivileged. She is the co-founder of the Camryn Averie Foundation, which
offers support to families dealing with grief and mental health concerns. Dr. Kelli
is a Certified Nurse Practitioner who has been in the medical field for 15 years.
She worked as a Registered Nurse in long-term care, with rehab and hospice
patients, a long-term acute care hospital, and the Float Pool at Cleveland VA
Medical Center, where she worked in several specialties such as Medical
Surgical, Medical ICU, Surgical ICU, Progressive Care Unit, Skilled Rehab, and
Long-term Care. Dr. Kelli was then promoted to Assistant Nurse Manager of the
Float Pool at the VA medical center. She received the "Excellence in Scholarship
and Service Award" for demonstrating exceptional ability in academic studies and
clinical practicum while active in community service and leadership while
obtaining her doctorate degree. Dr. Kelli worked at Hillcrest and Euclid Hospitals
in Internal Medicine and Slovene Home in Geriatrics as a provider. She is now
the CEO and Medical Director of Dove Legacy Health and teaches for Cleveland
State University's Master's Program. Dr. Kelli prides herself in providing quality
care to help patients reach their full health potential. Her goal is to help decrease
healthcare disparities and provide culturally competent care. The REACH
fellowship produce prescription program will help her to attain this goal.
- Website
- Instagram: @dove.legacy.health
- Facebook: Dove Legacy Health, LLC
BreJona Whitlock
Food Justice Coordinator at Collinwood Friends Garden
BreJona Whitlock is an emerging gardener dedicated to fostering sustainability
and equity in her community as a food justice facilitator, reproductive justice
advocate, and full-spectrum doula. She is deeply committed to trauma reduction,
pleasure activism, and education. Her professional experience spans addiction
recovery support, project management, and spearheading community
engagement initiatives. As part of her personal and professional evolution,
BreJona aspires to become an herbalist and own a grocery store.
- Instagram: @sistahsxnshine
Kedon Newton MD, MBA
Addiction Medicine & Psychiatry Fellow - MetroHealth, Case Western Reserve University
Meet 2025 REACH Fellowship member, Kedon Newton. Kedon is an Addiction Medicine & Psychiatry Fellow at MetroHealth Case Western Reserve University. Kedon seeks to develop his idea for a produce prescription program by leveraging partnership with healthcare organizations, food justice leaders, community organizations and local food hub networks.
Beverly Cody (Codi)
Urban Grower and Naturopathic Healer at Wholistic Alchemy, specializing in tinctures, tonics, & ointments (Molbena Buddah) by way of phytomedicines.
Meet 2025 REACH Fellowship member, Beverly Cody. Beverly a.k.a "Codi,"
seeks to develop her idea for a produce prescription program. It is Codi's objective
to improve health outcomes in at-risk populations by providing access to plant-
based produce through a prescription model covered by medical insurance. At-
risk individuals: this may include low-income families, individuals with chronic
diseases (e.g., diabetes, hypertension), and communities with limited access to
fresh produce. Codi's vision is inclusive to but not limited to collaboration with
healthcare providers to issue "prescription" for fresh produce to eligible patients,
utilize local farmers and markets; including her own farm, to supply fresh,
seasonal, and nutrient rich fruits and vegetables. This component will have a
strong agenda to provide options to include plant-based tinctures, tonics, and
other natural remedies that can ultimately offer alternatives to pharmaceuticals if
preferred.
Asya "Azzy" Aretskin-Hariton
Clinical Coordinator at the MetroHealth Food as Medicine Clinic
Azzy is the Clinical Coordinator for the main campus Food as Medicine Clinic at
MetroHealth. Azzy comes to this Fellowship with a decade of experience expanding
culturally relevant food choices at local food banks, pantries, and nonprofits
throughout greater Cleveland. As a graduate student in the Public Health
department at Baldwin Wallace, she spent the last two and a half years working on
food security research and programs to help improve nutritional security in
Cuyahoga County. As part of this work, Azzy served as an AmeriCorps member with
CHANGE INC, working with clients experiencing service gaps in our existing food
security networks and promoting their needs to our state legislators through
ServeOH's Legislative Action. She have worked with several local food justice
nonprofits, including Food Strong and Food for All, on projects to improve
nutritional literacy and nutritional security for adults, children, and families in
greater Cleveland.
Timothy Lewis
Outreach Director at Rid-All Green Partnership
Timothy Lewis is an experienced professional with over a decade of expertise in
agriculture and marketing. As the Outreach Director at Rid-All Green Partnership
and Director of Outreach & Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Reverb Wellness
Hemp Cultivation & Processing, he leverages content creation and events to
educate the community on green practices. His work bridges the worlds of
agriculture, hemp, and cannabis, offering a well-rounded perspective on health
and wellness. Timothy is excited to contribute his knowledge and passion to the
Reach program.
- Website
- Social Media:
- @ridallgreenpartnership
- @reverbwellness
Veronica Walton, RDH
Executive Director for Food Depot to Health
Meet 2025 REACH Fellowship member, Veronica Walton, RDH, Executive
Director for Food Depot to Health, a 501c3 not for profit organization. Veronica,
seeks to develop her idea for a produce prescription program in both private and
clinic setting dental practices. Using the food stands and farmers’ markets of
local food producers and growers to impact families with one or more diagnosed
chronic disease including mental health illnesses. Veronica, has been a
Registered Dental Hygienist for more than 40 years. In addition to serving the
dental community her experiences include; Urban farming with a focus on
homestead hub development, farmers’ market management, environmental
health and safety consulting, City of Cleveland Climate ambassador for Glenville,
Youth Mental Health first aid, Adolescent Health Advocate (CWRU, Cuyahoga
County Youth Work Institute), Master rain-gardener, and Certified backyard
habitat steward (NWF). Veronica is a multifaceted hobbyist, she takes pleasure
in praying, reading, and preparing food items, sewing, hiking while bird watching
and seeking out flora and fauna. Veronica resides in Cleveland, Ohio with her
Husband Michael, 2 grown children and lovely grandchildren.