Dana Harvey, Executive Director of Mandela Marketplace and a participant in Cultural of Health Leaders’ 2017 cohort, passed away in March, after a battle with cancer. She is remembered by colleagues and peers as a truly visionary leader and a kind and generous teacher.

Through Mandela MarketPlace, Dana developed and promoted new models for investment, growth, and shared wealth that sustained and elevated community power, opportunity, and health. Using food as an entry point, she drove investment into neighborhoods to create thriving communities that are shaped by the people who live there, thus increasing access to local, healthy food, supporting small business owners, and assisting communities in leveraging their assets to sustain and elevate community power, opportunity, and health.

Dana will be missed by her fellow Culture of Health Leaders, Culture of Health Leaders program staff, and by the entire Robert Wood Johnson Foundation family.

“Dana and I shared several significant exchanges in our short time together in Cohort 2. I always walked away from our conversations with new resources and different methodologies or approaches to the work. I hold tremendous respect for her immense knowledge, her impactful work, and her generosity as a teacher and leader.”

-Michael L Hoyt, Creative Community Liaison, Pillsbury House + Theatre and Culture of Health Leader in the 2017 cohort.

“As one of our Cohort 2 Leaders, Dana was never afraid to speak up, speak out, and speak about the things that were important and even confusing to her. She was never intimidated by what others thought. She was funny and provided a down-to-earth viewpoint to our cohort. Her spirit is missed but still felt by all of us. Dana thank you for setting the example and blessing us with your presence. Much love and peace to you!”

-Daniel Gibson, Regional Vice President, Miami-Dade, Allegany Franciscan Ministries and Culture of Health Leader in the 2017 cohort.

Read more about Dana’s work and impact from her community at Mandela Partners.

[Top image created by Michael L Hoyt, Creative Community Liaison, Pillsbury House + Theatre, Minneapolis, Minnesota]