Our Team
Ariel Childs
Executive Director
Ariel is driven by the belief that access to health is a human right, and is dedicated to building a new liberated model of community health that is designed from the margins and rooted in relationships. After over a decade of directing maternal and child health equity programs at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Ariel joined Vital CxNs to lead the organizations strategic development and catalyze activities advancing Vital CxNs ambitious goals. In addition to radically reimagining health equity, Ariel can be found immersed in her own 'vital connections' with those she loves, including adventuring around Boston with her partner Jesse and their two kiddos Hazel and Simone.
Mariana Cohen
Co-Founder & Deputy Director
Mariana is a first generation Venezuelan immigrant committed to rebuilding inefficient and ineffective systems to create an ecosystem of health that is accessible to all. With a background in public health and social work, she has spent time both providing direct clinical services, and developing and delivering programs. At Vital CxNs, Mariana spends her time designing processes that enable the team to catalyze, convene, and connect, in addition to overseeing our food systems initiatives. When she is not deep in strategic conversations with Ariel, you can find her painting with watercolors, cooking for loved ones, or on a walking trail with her husband, Ben and their dog, Archie.
Mary Ulseth
Project Manager
Mary believes in the power of community to drive health equity. She is dedicated to building meaningful relationships, creating inclusive environments, and bridging the gap between diverse stakeholders. Her background in macro social work, community-engaged research, and experiential learning uniquely shapes her approach to working alongside community members to create positive systems change. At Vital CxNs, Mary leads our mental health and maternal health initiatives. In her free time, Mary loves running with Pioneers and TrailblazHers run crews, being in nature, traveling, dancing with her partner Abeo, and loving on their dog, Orzo.
Briana Acosta
Project Manager
Briana is an indigenous Boricua and Mexican woman from a low-income background who is dedicated to partnering with equity-deserving communities to create the conditions for holistic wellbeing. Her lived experience, passion for storytelling, and background in multisectoral collaboration through research, direct service, and policy roles inform her approach to equity-driven systems change. At Vital CxNs, Briana leads our food access initiative and clinical community-partnerships. When she is not co-creating a more just world with communities, she is nurturing her mind-body-spirit connection through dance, painting, and other creative arts, learning about different cultures through food and travel, and baking for her loved ones.
Rosie Docanto
Community Engagement Specialist
Rosie is a holistic healer and advocate passionate about building healthier communities through various wellness modalities. As a certified trauma-informed yoga teacher and holistic wellness educator, she enjoys curating brave spaces for people to connect, learn, and practice self-care. She believes that community engagement is vital for people to thrive—mind, body, and spirit. At Vital CxNs, Rosie works across the organization to ensure our initiatives are engaging and responsive to community members in meaningful and impactful ways. In her free time, you can find her on the yoga mat, working out, traveling, gardening, and immersing herself in nature.
Rebecca Riley Greene
Community Leader
Rebecca is dedicated to her community and helping others. She believes collaboration and community voices are key to solving food insecurity and providing essential care and resources to those in need. As a Community Leader at Vital CxNs, Rebecca leads food access initiatives, empowering others to advocate for their needs and participate in decision making in their communities. In her community, Rebecca helps run the Hyde Park Food Pop Up which serves fresh produce to over 200 families per week. Rebecca loves spending quality time with her children, grandchildren, and pups and whenever she gets the chance, traveling to great beaches around the world!
Kimberlee Cortes
Community Leader
Kimberlee is a Community Health Worker and advocate for food security. Growing up in a low-income household in South Boston, she experienced food insecurity firsthand, fueling her passion for serving underserved communities. As a Community Leader at Vital CxNs, she helps ensure that our Community Health Hubs remain responsive to the needs, assets, and voices of local residents. Kimberlee also serves as a Peer Advocate at Vital CxNs, providing education on SNAP benefits, food resources, and local food pantries to neighbors in need. Kimberlee is led by the belief that communities know best what they need. In her free time, she enjoys designing on Canva, staying active, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.
Ric Henry
Community Leader
Ric brings decades of grassroots experience to his community work, leading major advocacy efforts including raising the minimum wage, advancing prison reform, and fighting for housing justice as Board President at City Life Vida Urbana. He holds certificates in Labor Leadership and Leadership from UMass Boston and Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health, respectively, and is a licensed Community Health Worker. Currently, Ric serves as a Community Leader for the Neighborhood Food Action Collaborative with Vital CxNs, where he uplifts challenges to explore innovative, community-driven solutions. In his downtime, Ric enjoys cooking, trying different cuisines, swimming and doing water sports at the beach.
Gerardo Rodriguez
Scholar*
Gerardo embraces a lens of health equity and social justice in his effort to become a better public health practitioner. He is currently pursuing a Master in Public Health at Boston University School of Public Health with a dual focus on epidemiology/biostatistics and global health monitoring and evaluation. Gerardo hopes to build collaborative community partnerships to address systemic racism and improve health outcomes. His background includes public health research, with an emphasis on community engagement. At Vital CxNs, Gerardo will be supporting various projects with a focus on food access and peer advocacy. Outside of work, Gerardo enjoys running, playing tennis, and traveling.
Haya Nazir
Scholar*
Haya is passionate about advancing health equity through both scientific research and community-driven action, with a particular interest in mental health equity. As a biology and health major at Brandeis University, she explores how both biology and the social determinants of health shape health outcomes. Her background includes research at Boston Children’s Hospital, regulatory and global health exposure through Cadoret Global, and community engagement as part of the Muslim Student Association. At Vital CxNs, Haya will support our Community Convos, maternal health, and mental health initiatives. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, reading, and exploring Boston by trying unique coffee flavors and teas!
Rich Joseph
Founding Director, Board of Directors Co-chair
Rich’s mission is to create the ideas that inspire, conditions that enable, and initiatives and systems that empower individuals and communities to achieve optimal health and well-being. As the Founding Director and Chair of the Board of Directors at Vital CxNs, he works to forge cross-sector partnerships, engage stakeholders, and ensure the sustainability of Vital CxNs. Rich received his medical training at Brigham and Women's Hospital where he currently practices in Obesity Medicine and serves on faculty at Harvard Medical School. Rich’s life is enriched (and at times overflowing) by his three wonderful young children and his wife, Sarah, who keep him grounded, active, laughing, and on his toes!
Health Equity Internship Program*
Our Health Equity Internship Program was created to fill a gap we identified in public health education and workforce development for those who are eager to work in a variety of sectors with a shared goal of redesigning community health infrastructure. This program provides budding health equity champions with an opportunity to develop the skills and knowledge base necessary to leverage authentic community partnerships in strategic upstream interventions. Scholars learn from and contribute to systems change community health strategies and solutions across all projects at Vital CxNs, while also participating in the dynamic internal processes of a start-up non-profit.