EXECUTIVE AND ADVISORY BOARDS

Meeting

The C-PAC executive board has broad responsibility to govern the organization. Together and with input from all members, they make policy to govern C-PAC, determine C-PAC’s official position on matters of public policy, set priorities and develop strategic plans to guide organizational development.

Press Release: January 2022 -- The Caribbean-Political Action Committee (C-PAC) is pleased to announce the results of its recent Board elections for the term beginning January 1, 2022 – December 31, 2023. This Board heralds the newly updated bylaws which replaces the three-year term with a two year one instead. It also now includes a president-elect position to support seamless organizational transition and the immediate past-president who will chair the Board of Advisors.

Read more About Our Board below and "In their Own Words" here.

C-PAC is also bolstered by a strong Advisory Board.

C-PAC Executive Board

Member

Donna Christensen, MD

2024-2026
President

RESIDENCE: Washington, DC/St. Croix
CURRENT MEMBER SINCE: 2018
C-PAC LEADERSHIP POSITIONS: 2019-2021 Advisory Board  
OTHER ORGANIZATIONAL AFFILIATIONS (Professional/Social):

President Christensen Institute for Community  Health & Empowerment;  Member of HBCU Emergency Management Consortium; American Kidney Fund
Black AIDS Institute; AIDS Advocacy Assn; Frederiksted Health Care,Inc ( a VI FQHC); Virgin Islands Architectural Center; National Health Information Technology Consortium for the Underserved 
Chair, scientific, Academic & Medical Advisory council of Institute for Gene Therapies 
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN/ANCESTRY: U.S. Virgin Islands

Member

Marvena Simmonds

2022-2024
Executive Secretary

RESIDENCE: Prince Georges County, MD
C-PAC CURRENT MEMBER SERVICE: 2010
OCCUPATION: Retired - Volunteer 
C-PAC LEADERSHIP POSITION: Executive Board Secretary
OTHER ORGANIZATIONAL AFFILIATIONS: Girl Scouts of the Nation's Capital, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Maryland Association of Prevention Professionals and Advocates (MAPPA) and Holistic Pastoral Counseling.
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN/ANCESTRY:  
Trinidad/Barbados 

Member

Mark Beckford

2022-2024
Communication

RESIDENCE: Washington, DC
CURRENT MEMBER SINCE: 2019
C-PAC LEADERSHIP POSITIONS: 2018-1219 Newsletter Committee; 2019 – 2021 Vice Chair Communications
OTHER ORGANIZATIONAL AFFILIATIONS: National Association of Black Journalists, Online News Association, Give.Gain.Grow Collaborative (3GC)
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN/ANCESTRY: Jamaica

Member

Yasmin Bingham

2022-2024
Treasurer

RESIDENCE: Prince Georges County, MD
CURRENT MEMBER SINCE: 2019
OCCUPATION: Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow
C-PAC LEADERSHIP POSITIONS: 2019-2021 Founding Patrons’ Luncheon Committee
ORIGIN/ANCESTRY: Jamaica

Member

Goulda Downer, PhD

2024-2026
Advisory Board Chair

RESIDENCE: Washington, DC
CURRENT MEMBER SINCE: 2005, Founding Patron OCCUPATION: Public Health Professional
C-PAC LEADERSHIP POSITIONS: 2015-2017, Chair, C-PAC Executive Board;  2008-2013, Chair Luncheon Committee; 2009-2013: Chair, Advisory Board; 2013-2014 Vice Chair Communications; 2013-2014 Editor Newsletter
OTHER ORGANIZATIONAL AFFILIATIONS (Professional/Social): Fellow, Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics; Greater Leadership Washington; DC Statewide Health Coordinating Council; District of Columbia Developmental Center for AIDS Research (DC D-CFAR); University of the District of Columbia, Nutrition and Food Science Advisory Board; Community Hospice; Plan Management Committee DC Health Bene t (Obamacare) Exchange Authority;  DC Medical Reserve Corps.
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN/ANCESTRY: Jamaica