With a distinguished career spanning over two decades, William Buster is considered a leader in the field of philanthropy, known for his transformative influence on community development public health, and health equity across the United States. Through his work he has sought to help the field of philanthropy deepen its impact and improve its partnerships with the communities and organizations in which they invest and partner.

Buster has held several roles during his career. Buster was the founding CEO & president of the New Hanover Community Endowment. At its founding it was the largest place-based health conversation foundation per capita in the United States. Prior to NHCE he held two successful appointments as the senior vice president at the Dogwood Health Trust in Asheville, NC and the Executive Vice President at the St. David’s Foundation in Austin TX. For both appointments he led the impact teams and had oversight of all grantmaking and program-related investment strategies. Over his career, Buster has directed over $600 million in grants, program-related investments, and mission-related investments towards improving lives and communities across this country but especially across the American South. He has dedicated his life’s work to improving the social determinants of health and quality of life particularly for children, youth, families and seniors.

Buster has received several accolades and achievements during his career. To name a few: He worked closely with the Obama White House in the development of the My Brother’s Keeper Initiative, advised the Ferguson/St. Louis Commission on its Racial Equity and Reconciliation Community Call to Action Plan, both during his time as a Program Director at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. He was also an appointee by U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to the Minority Farmer Advisory Committee and served on several nonprofit boards. He is a proud founding member of the Wilmington 1898 Museum for Healing, Education, and Democracy. He is also a founding board member of the Whitney Plantation. He currently serves as the chair of the National Advisory Committee for the Forward Promise Initiative of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Buster earned his bachelor’s degree from North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University, his Master of Arts Degree in policy and practice of development from the University of New Hampshire, and an executive education certificate in mastering negotiation from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

Yolonda Lavender is a native of Kalamazoo, MI. She serves as the Grant Program & Partnerships Director at the Stryker Johnston Foundation. As a change agent and thought leader, Yolonda embodies the principles of trust based grant making. This is a part of her daily work and is present in her community advocacy. Yolonda earned her undergraduate degree in Sociology with a focus in Nonprofit Leadership and a Masters in Public Administration from Western Michigan University. Reimagining philanthropy has been a focus for Yolonda educationally and professionally. She works to continuously improve the sector and beyond. Yolonda believes “to eliminate philanthropy’s inherent power dynamics, we have to name and claim the power in the room”.

Lindsey Hemmerlein is from Kalamazoo, MI. She serves as the Operations Director at the Stryker Johnston Foundation. She earned both of her graduate degrees in Organizational Change Leadership and Education from Western Michigan University. Lindsey has been working in the nonprofit sector for over 10 years. She has experience in grant writing, organizational design, and youth development. Lindsey believes in the power of collaboration that is centered on the people impacted. She believes in telling the whole truth. Lindsey reminds us of Ayanna Pressley’s words “those closest to the pain, should be closest to the power.”

Leatrice Fullerton was born and raised in Kalamazoo, MI. She serves as a Resource & Relationship Partner at the Stryker Johnston Foundation. She earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees in Social Work from Western Michigan University. Leatrice has spent over a decade serving the Kalamazoo community in the nonprofit sector as a volunteer and employee. She believes that everyone should be given the opportunity to thrive in accessible and inclusive communities where diversity is embraced, valued, and respected. Leatrice says, “I proudly reside at the intersection of several different marginalized groups; my race, my disability, and my gender.” She has made it her goal to positively represent and advocate for these communities in all that she does.

Jennifer is from Gary, Indiana and serves as Stryker Johnston Foundation’s Resource and Relationship Partner. Jennifer earned her degree from Western Michigan University in Sociology and Race and Ethnic Relations, and completed WMU’s signature program in Diversity and Inclusion. She began her career in the nonprofit sector, working for ERACCE (Eliminating Racism & Creating/Celebrating Equity). In her tenure, Jennifer served as an anti-racist facilitator and organizer to work alongside institutions to address how eliminate systemic racism. Jennifer brings experience in grant writing, creation of organizational processes and understanding how intersectionality is essential for sustainable, systemic change. Jennifer is excited to bring her learnings, in order to be a part of generating access, for people doing the work to serve their communities. Jennifer believes that access to resources, accountability, and an abundant worldview are keys to think of as we dream of what a sustainable, equitable society with power to the people.

Laura Winther serves as the Grants Manager at the Stryker Johnston Foundation. She earned an undergraduate degree from Western Michigan University and a Masters from Sarah Lawrence College, both in Writing, and is currently pursuing a graduate certificate in Program Evaluation at Michigan State University. Laura spent the past 15 years teaching in higher education and working in the nonprofit sector, the last five as the director of a community scholarship program. She is passionate about working behind the scenes to remove barriers in processes and systems that have historically served to  exclude communities from philanthropy. Laura believes "systems tied to wealth often come with an invisible set of rules and requirements that maintain the status quo. Explicitly stating or eliminating these can connect powerful work to necessary funding.