Community Advisory Board

Born in the city by the Bay, San Francisco, Asoniti Foster, grew up in Bayview Hunters Point which was a predominately Black community. After graduating from San Francisco State University, majoring in Mass Communications with an emphasis on writing for television & film, she relocated to Los Angeles and began climbing the industry ladder.  Success was indeed the reward until she was abruptly met with a responsibility that cultivated into a passion with a purpose. Alzheimer’s took both Asoniti’s grandmothers in 2017. Shortly thereafter, she found herself providing care for a great aunt living with it. Questioning the likelihood of personally developing the disease, she began educating herself about Alzheimer’s and what she discovered was shocking. It was when she learned about proven methods which can reduce risk factors of Alzheimer’s, that transformed the trajectory of her life. She and her daughter manufacture mental wellness support products with meditation music that are designed to help reduce stress, depression, and anxiety, increase neuroplasticity, improve memory, and boost overall mental wellness. With knowledge from participating in support groups, attending trainings and wellness conferences she was able to creatively and effectively be proactive to an ignored class of people.  As a mental health and Alzheimer’s awareness advocate and sandwich caregiver to her grandfather, she has successfully merged her industry skills, caregiving experience and mental wellness knowledge to develop a documentary titled, “Puzzled”. The goal of the documentary is to educate, entertain and inform people that a “check-up from the neck-up” is essential as a person in their 30’s can be on an Alzheimer’s track and not recognize it.

I was born and educated in Detroit, Michigan. As I prepared to enter college out of the state, my family learned of my mother’s life-threatening illness. I revised my college plans and attended college in Michigan. I graduated with a Master’s Degree in Education. My first teaching assignment was a middle school assignment with seventh and eight graders. During my thirty plus years in education I held numerous positions ranging from Assistant Principal at an elementary school; Principal at a local high school, Assistant Superintendent and Program Coordinator at the college level. At the request of our two adult sones, my husband and I relocated to San Diego, California in 2010. We arrived just two weeks prior to the birth of our first grandson. I am now the proud grandmother of six grandchildren, three girls and three boys. Both my mother and most recently my husband died with cancer and dementia. 

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Looking over my life I realized I have spent the last thirteen years of my life caring for my loved ones. Even though both of them are no longer with me physically but I am left with questions about the care I provided and the things I’ve learned. My involvement with this project may allow me to share my experiences, insights and thoughts in a meaningful way that has not been offered before now. I am also grateful to engage with others who have had similar experiences. Thank you for this wonderful opportunity. 

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Born in Boston, MA, Tia currently holds a master’s degree in nursing with an emphasis in education and is a certified clinical case manager. With almost 30 years in the healthcare industry, Tia has overseen the various facets required to deliver quality and competent clinical care to thousands of home health, palliative, hospice, and hospital-based clients. Her direct observation of the healthcare inequities, social determinants of health, and lack of clinician diversity within the Los Angeles population that she continues to serve, has led her to collaborate with various organizations to design policies, procedures, regulations, and resources, to improve the health-related outcomes of the marginalized, underrepresented, and vulnerable members of our community. As Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the Alzheimer’s Association, Tia oversees the organization’s mission of creating and maintaining a culture of inclusivity to its diverse constituents. Her goals are to cultivate relationships with diverse communities which includes sharing time, talent, resources, and exchanging ideas to ensure neutrally fair access to opportunities, resources, and fiscal support. Additionally, she manages the DEI partnerships to ensure the partner’s interests and needs are welcomed and fully considered within the multiple communication platforms, mission activities, and business practices of the Alzheimer Association. As a commitment to paying it forward, Tia volunteers her time providing education and resources to empower her community on topics such as chronic disease management, preventative care, and holistic-health awareness.

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Dr. Cozzette Lyons-Jones is a nationally-recognized champion of public health and influencer impacting the public health landscape. She is a member of the Alzheimer’s Congressional Team (ACT) with the Alzheimer’s Association and is affiliated with Maria Shriver’s Women's Alzheimer's Movement and the Alzheimer's Los Angeles’ Dementia Care Network. She also previously served as a Brain Trust Member for Governor Gavin Newsom's California Alzheimer's Task Force. Dr. Lyons-Jones’ work focuses on improving care and outcomes in the area of Alzheimer's dementia. Her journey as a physician alongside numerous patients living with the disease and their caregivers informs and inspires her advocacy. She also brings a lived authentic experience with her own family history of Alzheimer’s dementia in her maternal grandmother and as a caregiver for her mother, who manifested symptoms of dementia at a young age.

A native of Buffalo, NY, Dr. Lyons-Jones obtained an undergraduate degree in Science Communication from Cornell University and her medical doctorate from the State University of New York School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences. She also holds an Executive Master of Public Health from UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, where she also received a prestigious Ann G. Quealy Memorial Fellowship Endowment Award. In 2022, Physicians for a Healthy California honored Dr. Lyons-Jones with the Frank E. Staggers MD Award for her efforts to improve health and reduce health disparities in California of communities of color during her tenure as President for the Association of Black Women Physicians and as Chief of Adult Medicine at Watts Healthcare Corporation. At the 2023 NAACP Image Awards, the program also highlighted Dr. Lyons-Jones and her outstanding service to the community. She and her husband also co-host the radio show UnControlled Substance with Dr. Cozzette on The Real Urban Radio Network.

Thelma Harris is a registered nurse who has worked as a lobbyist for more than 20 years with an emphasis on healthcare. Her experiences include working in pharmaceutical and healthcare organizations, managing lobbying teams, and community activism. She has dynamically testified before the legislature to raise awareness and educate communities awareness regarding sensitive patient care matters such as HIV/AIDS and other healthcare issues. Consequently, these encounters have allowed her to develop strong affiliations with legislators, their staff, labor groups, and other State agencies. She was the first Chief of Legislation for the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) establishing and developing this critical office. She brings extensive understanding and acquaintance with various aspects of the legislative process and nursing practice. Her diverse experiences demonstrate her ability to influence policies, actions, and decisions of the legislature and members of other governing organizations (including large non-profit and for-profit corporations). Ms. Harris also has an extensive leadership history with program operations, budget management, preparing extensive reports, and forming robust partnerships with many political caucuses.

A trusted leader in nonprofit and for-profit business, Wendy McKinney has mastered how to prioritize work, family and a life of service. As the former Chief Development Officer for the American Red Cross and the San Diego History Center, and former Development Director for the Neighborhood House Association, she raised millions to benefit the San Diego region. As a former Financial Services Executive for AIG, she successfully led the sales and marketing team. For over 30 years, she has trained hundreds in leadership through conferences, retreats and motivational speaking. McKinney earned a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from UCLA and a Non-Profit Executive Leadership Certification from the University of Michigan.

In Progress