Valerie Patterson, RN
President and CEO
Ms. Patterson is a Registered Nurse with over 30 years experience and has graduate degrees in both Nursing and Human Services. She has worked as a resident manager and clinical coordinator-servicing individuals with HIV/AIDS, mental illness, and substance abuse. Ms. Patterson is a co-founder and Executive Director of Casa Esperanza para Mujeres y Ninos. Her current experience includes Nursing Coordinator/Nutritionist for Congregate Supportive Housing and Women/Children Facility servicing HIV+ clients.
Gina Cuneo-Ramos, RN
Deputy Director and Board Vice President
Ms. Cuneo-Ramos is a graduate of Rockland Community College and Dominican College Schools of Nursing; she has been a Registered Nurse for over 10 years. She has extensive experience working with HIV+ women, children, and their families as a visiting nurse in Harlem, for a private, not-for-profit Lombardi Program since 2000. She is a lifetime member of Manchesters Who’s Who of Executives and Professionals in Health Care, a member of ANAC (Association of Nurses in AIDS care), and a former member of the NYC PPG. Ms. Cuneo-Ramos is a co-founder and Deputy Director of Casa Esperanza para Mujeres y Ninos.
Julius Powell
Board Chairperson
Julius Powell, Jr. BSc., MA, received his BSc from the University of the West Indies (Mona), and his Masters from the School for International Training in Vermont. He is a community activist, currently volunteers on the Board of Management of Parkchester North Condominiums, and chairperson of the Finance Committee. During 2006 he served as the Chair of the Policy External Relations/Liaison Committee for the NYC DOHMH HIV PPG. He is also Faculty Consultant for Cicatelli Ass. In Streamlined HIV Testing and does community based work in Capacity Building Assistance. Julius is co-author of Other voices, Other Worlds the Global Church Speaks Out on Homosexuality Darton, Longman & Todd, and Compilation 2006 Terry Brown. He is currently the Program Director of the Comprehensive Drug Alcohol Mental Health Treatment Systems Research in Motivational Interviewing at the St. Vincent Catholic Medical Center of New York.
Enock Mensah
Board Secretary
Mr. Mensah obtained his bachelor’s degree in honors in Psychology and Philosophy for the University of Ghana. He immigrated to the United States in the early 1990s and obtained his Masters Degree in Social Work from Columbia University, specializing in Practice, Programming and Supervision. He has worked for the NYC HRA/APS where he serviced mentally and physically impaired adults. He later served as acting Director of the mobile crisis unit at Harlem Hospital. Since 1998, he continues to work with special needs children and HIV+ women for a private not-for-profit Lombardi Program in NYC. Mr. Mensah is a psychotherapist and in the process of opening his own practice.
Ken DeJesus
Board Member
Mr. DeJesus has worked in the field of HIV/AIDS for over 12 years. Currently he is the Director of Prevention at Iris House INC. He has overseen many prevention programs and understands the needs of numerous affected populations; women, youth, MSM, substance abusers, homeless, mentally ill, and immigrants. Mr. DeJesus is a member of the NYC PPG and the East Harlem Care Network Steering Committee. He is also the co-chair of the the Community Awareness Group of the Care Network.
