Yvonka M. Hall

Yvonka Hall
Yvonka Hall is a nationally recognized expert in health disparities and has spoken on topics including environmental issues, systemic racism, cardiovascular disease, domestic violence, mental illness, and juvenile justice, among numerous others. She is a former candidate for Ohio State Representative. She has worked in senior positions at organizations such as the American Heart Association, the Neighborhood Leadership Development Program, and the NAACP. Hall was honored as a Robert Wood Johnson Fellow Ladder to Leadership Developing the Next Generation of Community Health Leaders. Further, she is recognized by the Ohio Legislature and U.S. Congress for her tireless work in the African-American community. In her personal life, she is a proud mother and grandmother.
Yvonka Marie Hall grew up in Ohio and remains a prominent leader in her community. When she was young, her mother, Yvonne Boston Hall, was murdered, dramatically influencing her life and career. This profound event led her to dedicate her life to helping others. She is a proud graduate of John Marshall High School in Ohio. She holds a B.A. in Political Science and History from Notre Dame College and a Master of Public Administration with a focus on Public Policy Analysis from Texas Southern University. At Notre Dame, she was the Vice President of Black Scholars and participated in Model United Nations.
Hall hosts various experiences contributing to her expertise and extensive knowledge of social justice and related issues. She has worked for organizations, including The Free Medical Clinic of Greater Cleveland as their Director of Harm Reduction (1995-1997), the NAACP as their Director of Health Education (1999-2000), and MetroHealth Medical Center as the Health Education Coordinator (1994-2004). She previously worked for the American Heart Association from 2004 to 2008 as the Northeast Ohio Director of Cultural Health Initiatives, where she created cutting-edge programs with an emphasis on the African American community. Her work with the Association earned her many accolades, including the Diversity Impact Award from her peers and the Sister Saving Hearts Award from General Mills for her "100 Sisters in Red" initiative that raised awareness of African American women's risk of heart disease and stroke. This program was adopted at Affiliates across the country, highlighting the importance of her work. It also led to national recognition from the late Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs-Jones.
Her expertise and nationally acclaimed work led her to become Director of the Cleveland Department of Public Health in 2008. With the institution, she helped to educate and empower at-risk communities. After serving for four years, she joined the Neighborhood Leadership Development Program as Director of Alumni Relations in 2012, where she was responsible for planning and implementing programs and projects that engage alumni. Hall represented the organization and liaised between alums and organizational leadership. During Bernie Sanders's presidential campaign, she served as a field organizer.
In 2011, Hall joined the Northeast Ohio Black Health Coalition as Executive Director, where she presently works. In her role, she leads the coalition's mission to address issues that impact communities of color, emphasizing health disparities. In addition to this role, she serves on numerous boards and committees in Cleveland as a prominent community member and leader. Hall was also elected to represent Cleveland Ward 1 Precinct N for the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party. Her previous and continuous work has saved and impacted thousands of people's lives in and outside of her community. For her relentless dedication to social justice, she was named a Black Woman Green Future Honoree for her work in environmental justice, Region 3 Community Member of the Year by the National Association of Social Workers Ohio Chapter, HomeGrown Hero by the Cleveland Plain Dealer for her work in food justice, and was inducted into the Alumni Hall of Fame at John Marshall High School. Furthermore, she was named 100 Women to Know in America in 2021, highlighting her extensive expertise and work in justice and health.
About. Northeast Ohio Black Health Coalition. (n.d.). Retrieved December 2023 from https://www.neoblackhealthcoalition.org/about
Yvonka M. Hall, MPA. LinkedIn. (n.d.). Retrieved December 2023 from https://www.linkedin.com/in/yvonkamhall/
Yvonka M. Hall, MPA [Photo]. LinkedIn. (n.d.). Retrieved December 2023 from https://www.linkedin.com/in/yvonkamhall/
Yvonka M. Hall, MPA [Photo]. LinkedIn. (n.d.). Retrieved December 2023 from https://www.linkedin.com/in/yvonkamhall/