MURIEL BOWSER
MAYOR
March 14, 2025
The
Honorable Phil Mendelson
Chairman
Co
uncil of the D istrict of Columbia
J
ohn A. Wilson Building
135
0 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 504
Washington, DC 20004
Dear Chairman M ende
lson:
In accordance
with section 2 of the Confirmation Act of 1978, effective March 3, 1979 (D.C. Law 2-
142;
D.C. Official Code § 1-523.01), and pursuant to section 4 of the Maternal Mortality Review
C
ommittee Establishment Act of 2018, effective June 5, 2018 (D.C. Law 22-111; D.C. Official Code
§
7-671.03), I am pleased to nominate the following individual:
Ms. Aza Nedhari
Duke Street
College Park, MD 20740
(Maryland)
f
or reappointment as a representative of a c ommunity organization specializing in women's health, teen
pregnancy, or public health member of
the Maternal Mortality Review Committee, for a t to end
January 10, 2028.
Enclosed, you will find biographical information detailing the experience of the above-m entioned
nominee, together with a proposed resolution to assist the Council during the confirmation process.
I would appreciate the Council’s earliest consideration of this nomination for confirmation. Please
do not hesitate to contact me, or Steven Walker, Director, Mayor’s Office of Talent and
Appointments, should the Council require additional information.
Sincerely,
Muriel B owser
Mayor 1
2
3 at the request
of the Mayor
4
5
6 A PROPOSED RESOLUTION
7
8
9
10 IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
11
12
13
14
15 To confirm the reappointment of Aza Nedhari to the Maternal Mortality Review Committee.
16
17
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, that this
18 resolution may be cited as the "Maternal Mortality Review Committee Aza Nedhari
19 Confirmation Resolution of 2025".
20 Sec.
2. The Council of the District of Columbia confirms the reappointment of:
21
22 Aza N edhari
23 Duke Street
24 College Park, MD 207
40
25 (Maryland)
26
27
as a representative of a community organization specializing in women's health, teen pregnancy,
28 or public health member of the Maternal Mortality Review Committee, established by section 3
29
of the Maternal Mortality Review Committee Establishment Act of 2018, effective June 5, 2018
30 (D.C. Law 22-111; D.C. Official Code§ 7-671.02), for a term to end January 10, 2028.
31 Sec. 3. The Council of the District of Columbia shall transmit a copy of this resolution,
32 upon its adoption, to the nominee and to the Office of the Mayor.
33 Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately. AZANEDHARI
BIO
‘Azabringsmorethan15yearsofexperienceinyouthdevelopment,reproductiveand
sexualhealtheducation,programmanagementanddevelopment,andcurriculum
design.SheistheFoundingExecutiveDirectorofMamatotoVillage,aperinatalfamily
supportorganizationinWashingtonDCthathasbeensuccessfulinsecuringMedicaid
ManagedCarereimbursementfornon-clinicalperinatalsupportservices.Azahasalso
designedacomprehensivecurriculumfortrainingPerinatalHealthWorkersthrougha
twoyearworkforcedevelopmentprogramthatbuildsuponcommunityhealthworker
model.Azaisfiercelydedicatedwomanwhobelievesthatbypromotinghealthequity,
thereductionofbarriersinmaternalandchildhealthbegintodissipate;givingriseto
healthyindividuals,healthyfamiliesandhealthycommunities.Azaiscurrentlypursing
herDoctorateinHumanServiceswithaconcentrationinOrganizationalLeadershipand
Managementwithaneyetowardscultivatinginnovativemodelsofperinatalcare
deliveryinhighneedscommunities.
EDUCATION
CAPELLAUNIVERSITY,DOCTORALSTUDENT,2021
ORGANIZATIONALLEADERSHIP&MANAGEMENT
CAPELLAUNIVERSITY,M.S.2015
MARRIAGE,COUPLE&FAMILYTHERAPY
SACREDMOUNTAINMIDWIFERYSCHOOL,2012
DIDACTICMIDWIFERYTRAININGPROGRAM
TEMPLEUNIVERSITY,B.A.2007
AFRICAN-AMERICANSTUDIES&CRIMINALJUSTICE
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
CO-FOUNDEREXECUTIVEDIRECTOR,2013-PRESENT
MAMATOTOVILLAGEINC.,WASHINGTONDC
+Ensureongoinglocalprogrammaticexcellence,rigorousprogramevaluation,
andconsistentqualityoffinanceandadministration,fundraising,
communications,andsystems;recommendtimelinesandresourcesneeded
toachievethestrategicgoals.
«Manageanorganizationalbudgetofs800K
+SecureandoverseecontractswithMedicaidManageCareOrganizations
AZANEDHARI
+Advocateandorganizeinitiativesrelatedtoimprovingmaternitycare,
decreasinginfantmortalityandpretermbirthsinminoritypopulations.
+FacilitatePerinatalHealthWorkertrainingandoverseethedirectionof
organizationexpansionandprogramreplication.
+Establishworkingrelationshipsandcooperativearrangementswith
communitybasedorganizations,communitystakeholdersandother
maternal-childhealthproviders.
+Encouragestaffdevelopmentandeducation,assistprogramstaffinrelating
theirspecializedworktothetotalprogramoftheorganization.
EDUCATOR/DOULA,2010-2014.
VILLAGEBIRTHCO-OP,LLC,WASHINGTONDC
+Conductedclassesthatsupportwomenandtheirfamiliesduringthe
transitiontoparenthoodtoincludeearlypregnancy,laborandbirth,
postpartum,effectiveparenting,andlactation.
+Providedconsultationsregardinginfertility,pregnancyrelatedissues,
nutrition,diseasepreventionandelimination,mealplanning,maintaininga
healthyrelationship,andlifestylechanges.
+Providedlaborandpostpartumsupporttoexpectantfamilies;assistingwith
lactation,comfortmeasures,relaxationtechniques,physicalandemotional
support.
PROJECTSPECIALIST,ADOLESCENTWELLNESSINITIATIVE,2008-2009
DCPRIMARYCAREASSOCIATION,WASHINGTOND.C
ResponsiblefortheoverallcoordinationandmanagementofAWIprogram.
Developedandimplementeda30weeksocialjusticecurriculumcenteredon
personaldevelopment,wellness,andhealthliteracyforyouth.
FacilitatedweeklySaturdayInstitutewith25youthages14-21
Leadeffectivelargeandsmallgroupdiscussionsonhealthandwellness,
socialjustice,andleadership/personaldevelopmenttopics.
Conductedone-to-onecounselingandBiopsychosocialAssessmentwith
participantstounderstandneedsandprobableresourcesandreferrals.
Maintainedconfidentialup-to-datefilesonAWIprogramandeachAWI
participantandcoordinatedregularcommunicationwithparents.
ManagedAWIstaffthroughweeklystaffmeetings,delegationoftasks,and
effectivewrittenandoralcommunication.
Recruited,trained,coordinated,andmanaged16AWIvolunteermentors.
PREVENTIONSPECIALIST/PREVENTIONCASEMANAGER,2007-2008
B.E.B.A.S.H.I.,PHILADELPHIA,PA AZANEDHARI
+Conductedshort-termpreandpost-counselingsessionswithvarious
populationsthroughriskassessment,preventioncounselingandreferralsas
needed
+Conductedresearch,workshopsandpresentationsrelatedtosexualand
physicalhealthtopics.
+CollectedBiologicalSamplesdesignedtotestforHIVorotherSTDs.
+FacilitatedGroupLevelInterventionProgramwithvariousDrugandAlcohol
TreatmentCenters,acurriculumdesignedtoprovidedriskreduction
educationtopersons“atrisks”forcontractingHIVorpersonsallreadyliving
+FacilitatedIndividualLevelintervention,aprogramdesignedtoprovided
‘one-on-onecounseling/casemanagementtopersonsstrugglingwithAlcohol
orSubstanceAbuseRecovery,personslivingwithHIV,orpersonswhoneed
generalcounselingforsocial,personal,orothermentalhealthissues.
+DevelopedandfacilitatedaYouthPreventionInitiativeProgram,a
curriculumdesignedtoprovideriskreductioneducationto“atriskyouth”
includingbutnotlimitedtocondomdemonstrations,HIV101,STDs,self
image,sexualidentity,familydynamics,teenparenting,etc,andintensive
short-termindividuallevelcounseling.
+Designpublications,brochures,andoutreachcardsforvariousprograms
withinthedepartment.
+Establishandmaintaincontactswithawidevarietyofcommunity,
government,andeducationagencies.
CERTIFICATIONS
NationalCertifiedCounselor
CertifiedHolisticHealthConsultant,
Executive Office of the Mayor – Mayor’s Office of Talent and Appointments
John A. Wilson Building | 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 600 | Washington, DC 20004
Aza Nedhari
Ms. Aza Nedhari currently serves as the Founding Executive Director
of Mamatoto Village, a perinatal family support organization in
Washington, DC, that has been successful in securing Medicaid
Managed Care reimbursement for non- clinical perinatal support
services. She brings more than 18 years of experience in youth
development, reproductive and sexual health education, program
management and development, and curriculum design.
Ms. Nedhari has also designed a comprehensive curriculum for training
perinatal health workers through a two-year workforce development
program that builds upon the community health worker model.
Ms. Nedhari is a fiercely dedicated woman who believes that by promoting health equity the
reduction of barriers in maternal and child health begin to dissipate, giving rise to healthy
individuals, families, and communities. She is currently a doctoral student at Capella University,
studying organizational leadership and management, with an eye towards cultivating innovative
models of perinatal care delivery in high needs communities.
A Maryland resident, Ms. Nedhari earned her Bachelor of Arts in African American Studies and
Criminal Justice from Temple University and her Master of Science in Marriage, Couple, and
Family Therapy from Capella University.
GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Executive Office of Mayor Muriel Bowser
Office of the General Counsel to the Mayor
______________________________________________________________________________
The John A. Wilson Building • 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW • Suite 300 • Washington, D.C. 20004 • Office (202) 724-7681
To: Kimberly A. Bassett, Steve Walker
From: Betsy Cavendish
Date: October 24, 2024
Subject: Legal sufficiency review of a resolution reappointing Aza Nedhari as a member of
the Maternal Mortality Review Committee
This is to Certify that this office has reviewed the above-referenced Order and found
it to be legally unobjectionable. If you have any questions in this regard, please do not hesitate
to call Michael Porcello, Deputy General Counsel, Executive Office of the Mayor, at 202-727-
0872, or me at 202-724-7681.
______________________________
Elizabeth Cavendish