Katia Powell

I am a PhD Student at the University Of Massachusetts Boston McCormack Graduate School Of Policy Studies and Global Studies. As a Zumba Instructor, Health Policy Educator & Motivational Speaker with over a decade of experience in healthcare my expertise involves the areas of obesity prevention, healthy eating, food deserts, food access, racial and ethnic health disparities, and non-profits serving marginalized communities.

While working in healthcare for over a decade, I focus primarily on working with marginalized populations of African-American, Latino populations of children, and women. Ms. Powell’s dissertation will focus on the food environment and how it impacts’ neighborhood level health outcomes. 

My passion is to touch the lives’ the individuals who are affected the most by obesity because she has lost over 125 lbs (http://publichealth.blog.state.ma.us/2011/02/practicing-what-we-preach-katias-journey-to-health.html ) Ms. Powell is also the Founder/President of STRIVE 2020, Inc., a non-profit that focuses on obesity prevention, ending health disparities, and mental health stigma. I became a Zumba Instructor to motivate people to adopt healthy lifestyles by a living example.
I pride myself on providing quality service, dedication and commitment to bring about positive health change in their lives of Americans. She is a health policy advocate who is transforming health and health care for all populations with a special focus on marginalized populations. I have a true passion and eternal fire to assist, organize, educate, and advocate for those cannot fight for themselves or have an. equal voice in society.