The Momentum
Our Services
Our Momentum thru the Years
The Mission
Where we come from
At Momentum Health Development, we believe in people. Our mission is to develop innovative, equity-driven health programs that address the most pressing challenges faced by young adults: hunger, homelessness, mental health, and HIV prevention. We are committed to meeting youth where they are with culturally responsive, low-barrier innovative technology services that promote healing, empowerment, and long-term wellbeing.
Momentum! Health was founded in 2016 after a prayer rooted in faith, service, and a deep commitment to improving community health outcomes. After a moment of prayer and reflection, our founder, Sammi Nesbit, set out to build an organization guided by principles of integrity, growth, and collective empowerment. Those founding values continue to shape the direction and impact of our work today.
From the beginning, Momentum! Health focuses on community-driven research and education to address urgent public health disparities. Our early initiatives centered on expanding awareness and adoption of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) medications in economically disadvantaged communities of color, helping bridge critical gaps in HIV prevention, health literacy, and access to care.
As the organization evolved, so did the energy and leadership of the communities we serve. Momentum! Health cultivated a growing network of young adult leaders dedicated to community service and social impact. Through innovative partnerships and community engagement efforts, our teams have supported fundraising and operational initiatives at major venues, including NRG Stadium, Minute Maid Park, and AT&T Stadium, as well as community-centered events such as the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.
When the COVID-19 pandemic reshaped communities across the nation, Momentum! Health responded with resilience and innovation. Recognizing the need for new models of sustainability, the organization expanded into social enterprise and food service initiatives, strengthening both community engagement and financial resilience.
In Washington, DC, this vision materialized through the development of Mike & Lois’s Late Night Grill, a cloud kitchen restaurant concept designed to blend entrepreneurship, workforce engagement, and community-centered service.
Today, Momentum! Health operates at the intersection of public health innovation, community empowerment, and social enterprise development. Our work continues to center the belief that communities thrive when individuals are equipped with knowledge, opportunity, and compassionate support.
As we move forward, Momentum! Health remains committed to building sustainable solutions that improve health outcomes, strengthen communities, and empower the next generation of leaders, creating a sense of connection and trust.
We are The Momentum!
The Vision for 2030
By 2030, our vision is to become the nation’s leading Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), delivering virtual healthcare services that expand access to care for underserved communities. Through innovative technology, including our mobile wellness platform, Tribe!. We aim to support healthier lifestyles by connecting clients with virtual care, wellness resources, and even nutritious meal support delivered directly to them.
As part of our long-term commitment to the communities we serve, we also plan to invest in the next generation of leaders. Through scholarships and educational support, we seek to help cultivate at least 1,000 future professionals, including lawyers, public health scholars, police and public service officers, and food innovation leaders, who come from communities that have historically faced the greatest barriers to opportunity. By empowering these individuals, we hope to strengthen the very communities that inspire and guide our mission.
Giving Roses to those who we hold dear to our heart
Previous Board Members, Scholars, and Fellows:
Ms. Renika Atkins, LMSW, Ph.D. (C)
Mr. Jonathan Ramirez, BS
Hon. Brandon J. Vance
Ruban (Raven) Patlan, MSW
Steven G. Richmond
Mr. Ryan McElhouse, JD
Mr. Joel Mandujauno, MS
Mr. Robert Williams, MS
Mr. Jon Hawthorne, RN
Mr. John David Williams, MA
Mr. Patrick Ingram, MHA, Ph.D. (C)
Dr. T. Anansi Wilson, Ph.D., JD
Mr. Brandon Dykes, MBA
Mr. M. Jai Makokha, MPA
Mr. Thomas Davis, MFA
Scholars trained under the Chairman/CEO S.N. Nesbit:
Henry Haley Goldman - University of Maryland
Alphonso Beverly - Trade/Professional School
Timothy Burch- Trade/Professional School
Michael Allen- Trade/Professional School
Joshua Kelly - Trade/ Professional School
Walter Contreras - Prince Georges County College
Benjamin Greenangel - New York University
Jayla Siler - George Mason University
Moraud Elfarnani - Vanderbilt University
Ryan Sullivan - University of Maryland
Shadi Saber - George Mason University
Xinyi Li- Rice University
Executive Director Fellow:
Dr. Jade Wiles Jr., Ph.D. (Research Papers)
Previous Donors, Supporters, and Funders :
Ms. Betty J. Wallace- In Memory of her son Avery J. Wallace
Dr. J. Nathaniel Watkins, MD
Gilead Sciences- Compass Initiative
AIDS Healthcare Foundation
AIDS United
Aramark Corporation
Tastemakers
Scoops2U
Mr. A. Nimmer
The S. N. Nesbit Family Trust
Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Dalley
Ms. Deborah Van Bushkirk
Mr. Darius Baxter
Mr. Marquell Webb
Ms. Raya Sasson
Mr. Jonathan White
UBER EATS
Ms. Breezy Landman
Ms. Jacqueline Coleman, M.Ed.
Ms. Kristen Barden
Mr. Brian Barrie
Mr. Peter Mallios
Ms. Ariel Bly
NMAC
ANC 1C
Mr. Ernest Hopkins
Dr. Susan Kegeles , Ph.D.
Dr. Susan Cruise Ph. D.
Dr. Kimberly Parker
Mr. Ian Haddock
Mrs. Robbyn Kistler
Mrs. Susan Wolfson
Mrs. Dianna Lyons
Dr. Felicia Burleson
Mrs. Delores Nesbit
Mrs. Kiantia Wonzer
Mrs. Seketha Wonzer
Michael S.- ADMO Fun Run
María D.- ADMO Fun Run
Suzannah S.- ADMO Fun Run
Cedric E.- ADMO Fun Run
Ismenia R.- ADMO Fun Run
Taylor D.- ADMO Fun Run
Kendall D.- ADMO Fun Run
Courtney T.- ADMO Fun Run
Annemarie M.- ADMO Fun Run
Jim D.- ADMO Fun Run
Anne K.- ADMO Fun Run
Leonardo D. -ADMO Fun Run
Symone H.- ADMO Fun Run
Stephanie G.- ADMO Fun Run
David V.- ADMO Fun Run
Apoorva S.- ADMO Fun Run
Family of Mr. Raymond N. Williams
Our Visionary Brands & Concepts
Leading the Momentum
The Chairman &
The Board of Directors & Managers of the Momentum Health Development Corporation
A IRS 501-C(3) Chartered and Recognized Not for Profit Corporation
Board of Directors Statement:
Our Board of Directors is a diverse and dynamic team led by a visionary Chair. Our Leadership includes women, individuals with disabilities, long-term survivors of chronic conditions such as HIV, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and members of the majority of the United States. All are welcome with our love.
Our board brings together a wide range of professional expertise, including law, public health, marketing, community development, research, academia, religion, and arts. We are proud of the inclusive Leadership and broad perspectives guiding our organization to be the Momentum against HIV, Hunger, and Mental Health. We are the Momentum!
S.N. Nesbit,
Chairman of the Board/ CEO
As Chairman/CEO, I lead the strategy, vision, operations, and defense of the Corporation. I chair the Board of Directors and Manager Meetings, while guiding the compliance, finance, management of corporation assets and its interest.
Min. Christian S. Watkins, M.Div
Board Treasurer, Chief Compliance Officer
As Board Treasurer, I help ensure that all compliance measures are achieved, and finance strategy aligns with Board Strategy.
Vanessa Onyekwere, BA
Board Communications Officer
As Board Secretary, I advise the Board of Directors on Communications, and facilitate corporate communications.
Mr. Darion Banister, MBA Executive Vice President/ Managing Partner
In the absence of the Chairman, I serve as the de facto leader of the corporation, acting as the leading officer for meetings of the Board of Directors and the Board of Managers.
Min. Trevor O. Reaves, JD.
Independent Trustee, Board of Directors & Managers Endowment Fund
As Board of Directors appointed Trustee, I protect the assets and interest of the Board of Directors and Managers Endowment Fund, independent of the Chairman and the Corporation.
Haley Davis, MA
Board of Managers Member
As a member of the Board of Managers, I serve as the de facto representative for the corporation’s management of for-profit subsidiaries.
Christopher Walker, MPH
Board Member at Large
As Board Member at Large, I lead the representation of the Corporation and the Board of Directors across the nation. I also serve as the Dean of the Board, as the longest serving member outside of the Chairman.
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