About CWI
Mission
We work to advance health equity in underrepresented communities by reducing barriers to wellness and creating pathways into fitness and health careers.
Vision
Thriving Communities
We envision communities where people have equitable access to the knowledge, resources, opportunities, and support they need to live healthier lives—and where community members have meaningful opportunities to become part of the health and wellness workforce serving those communities.
Helping to Build Thriving Communities
Message from Our Executive Director
The Community Wellness Initiative of Pittsburgh (CWI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to advancing health equity through accessible, community-centered wellness programming, education, resources, and workforce development.
Our work begins by listening. We believe meaningful and sustainable community wellness cannot simply be delivered to a community—it must be developed with the community. Through ongoing engagement, partnerships, feedback, and demonstrated need, CWI develops programs that respond to the priorities of the people and communities we serve.
Our approach to wellness recognizes that health is influenced by more than exercise alone. CWI provides programming and educational opportunities across areas including physical activity, nutrition, financial wellness, sleep, and other emerging community health priorities. We bring together health professionals, educators, community organizations, universities, and other partners to make practical, evidence-informed wellness information more accessible and relevant to everyday life.
But our mission extends beyond providing programs.
CWI is also committed to creating pathways into fitness and health careers, particularly for individuals who have historically been underrepresented in these fields. Through internships, experiential learning, professional development, certification support, mentorship, and community-based opportunities, we are working to help develop the next generation of health and wellness professionals.
At the heart of CWI is a simple belief: healthy communities are stronger when the people who live in them have both access to wellness and opportunities to help lead it.
We invite you to participate in a class or workshop, share your ideas, volunteer, partner with us, or support our work. Building healthier communities requires all of us.
Thank you for visiting the Community Wellness Initiative of Pittsburgh and for joining us in our vision of Thriving Communities.
Christopher E. Howard
Founder & Executive Director
Community Wellness Initiative of Pittsburgh
Founder & Executive Director
Christopher E. Howard is the Founder and Executive Director of the Community Wellness Initiative of Pittsburgh (CWI), where he leads the organization's efforts to advance health equity, expand access to community-based wellness resources, and create pathways into fitness and health careers.
Christopher brings more than two decades of experience in health, fitness, wellness education, and community-based programming. His own nontraditional pathway into the health and wellness field has shaped his commitment to creating opportunities for others—particularly individuals and communities that have historically been underrepresented in health and fitness professions.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from the University of Pittsburgh and a Master of Science in Exercise Science with a concentration in Health Promotion, Wellness, and Fitness from California University of Pennsylvania. He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education (EdD) in Health and Physical Activity at the University of Pittsburgh, where his work focuses on organizational leadership, community engagement, capacity building, and the long-term sustainability of community-based organizations.
Christopher is nationally certified by the American College of Sports Medicine as an Exercise Physiologist. He is also the founder of C. Howard Fitness, established in 2012, where he has spent more than a decade translating evidence-based health and exercise science into practical strategies that help individuals improve their health and quality of life.
Before founding CWI, Christopher served in a leadership role with the University of Pittsburgh's Center for Minority Health through the Healthy Black Family Project, an experience that helped shape his understanding of community-engaged health promotion, health disparities, and the importance of building trusted relationships between institutions and the communities they serve.
Today, his leadership of CWI brings those experiences together—health and wellness, community engagement, workforce development, education, and organizational leadership—with a commitment to developing sustainable partnerships and community-centered solutions that contribute to Thriving Communities.
Board of Directors
Drew L. Carter
President
Drew is a 2021 retiree from Allegheny Technologies, Incorporated where he honed his skills in effective production and teamwork. During his 33-year career at ATI, Drew held various positions while also earning his business degree from the Community College of Allegheny County.
He is currently the owner of WorldWide Custom T-Shirt, a custom t-shirt printing business specializing in the heat transfer vinyl process for applying logos and designs to apparel.
Carol M. Greco, PhD
Secretary
Carol is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of Pittsburgh. She is a licensed psychologist and researcher specializing in pain and chronic illness, and has more than 25 years of clinical, teaching, and research experience with cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness meditation, and related approaches.
Dr. Greco is a Co-Investigator and trainer on several research trials designed to reduce the burden of back pain by teaching physical therapists, chiropractors, and other professionals how to help people use mind-body methods such as meditation, relaxation techniques, and stress management to reduce pain. On these trials, Dr. Greco serves on the intervention team, training clinicians of various backgrounds about how to use psychologically informed methods when working with patients who experience pain and suffering. As a pain psychologist and trainer, Dr. Greco particularly enjoys witnessing the “Ah-ha!” moments when trainees and patients realize the personal and clinical value of the skills they are learning.
Patti Scuilli
Patti recently retired after 25 years with the Jewish Community Center where she was Group Exercise and Wellness Director. In this role, she developed fitness and wellness programs for JCC members and staff. In addition, from 2016 to 2021, she created employee wellness programming across the Jewish community, including local synagogues, schools, the Jewish Federation, and Jewish Children and Family Services.
Britnai Nunley, J.D., ACC
Britnai is a talent development and leadership coaching professional with deep experience in recruitment strategy, program design, and empowering emerging leaders. She currently serves as Director of Recruitment and Programming for the Carnegie Mellon University Rales Fellows Program, where she builds national pipelines for high-potential STEM graduate students and leads data-driven enrollment initiatives that significantly increase access for underrepresented learners.
With a background spanning higher education, civic leadership, and organizational development, Britnai has designed and facilitated leadership programs for business professionals, supported diverse adult learners through career transitions, and coached executives across nonprofit, corporate, and public sectors. Her work consistently strengthens equity, emotional intelligence, and effective communication within the communities she serves.
Britnai holds a J.D. from Wake Forest University and a B.A. from Davidson College. She completed the Professional Coach Certification Program at Duquesne University and is a EQ-i 2.0/EQ 360 certified emotional intelligence practitioner.
Mario C. Browne, MPH, CHES, CDP
Vice President
Mario Browne is the Inaugural Associate Dean for Equity, Engagement, and Justice in the School of Pharmacy at the University of Pittsburgh. He is the immediate past Director of the Office of Health Sciences Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences. Mario holds a BS in Biology and a BS in Medical Technology from Salem International University and an MPH from the University of Pittsburgh’s Graduate School of Public Health, and is currently pursuing his Doctor of Education in Administrative and Policy Studies at Pitt’s School of Education
He is a member of the Delta Omega Honors Society for Public Health Excellence, an alumnus of the Emerging Leaders in Public Health Scholars program at UNC Chapel Hill and the Minority Training Program in Cancer Control Research at UCLA. He served as Public Health Administrator for the Allegheny County Health Department’s Bureau of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, responsible for managing county-wide public health promotion/disease prevention programs. Prior to that Mario served as Project Director and Community Health Coordinator for the University of Pittsburgh Center for Minority Health (CMH), now known as the Center for Health Equity.
He is a trained Intergroup Dialogue Facilitator and Certified Emotional Emancipation Circle Facilitator. Mr. Browne serves on various community and professional Boards and Committees including the Pennsylvania Department of Health COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force and is the Co-Chair of the Community Research Advisory Board (CRAB) at Pitt’s School of Public Health.
James Shealey, MBA
Treasurer
James Shealey is the Managing Partner for OMNI Associates (OMNI) in Pittsburgh, PA. OMNI is a marketing company that provides graphic design, web design & development, printing, advertising specialties, custom apparel, office supplies, furniture & equipment, and video & photography services.
Prior to joining OMNI, Mr. Shealey held senior level positions in Municipal Budgeting, Non-profit Accounting, Government Contracting, Corporate Sourcing, and Executive Management. Mr. Shealey has also been an adjunct professor, teaching Introduction to Accounting and Financial Accounting courses.
Mr. Shealey earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of North Carolina and his Master of Business Administration from the University of Pittsburgh..
Michele J. Howard, MS
Michele earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Spanish from Millersville University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania. Her Pennsylvania Juvenile Justice career spans 38 years and includes serving in both Dauphin County and Allegheny County Juvenile Probation Departments in various capacities including Probation Officer, Supervisor,
and currently JJSES/Intake Coordinator. She has served on several statewide committees through the Pennsylvania Juvenile Court Judge’s Commission and internal Juvenile Justice Committees over the years within the Juvenile Probation Departments where she has been employed.
She is a member of Mt. Ararat Baptist Church and a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc
Nicole Kelly
Nicole is a former Principal and Communications Practice Leader in the Pittsburgh office of Buck Consultants. Previously she was Communication Practice Leader for William M. Mercer’s Pittsburgh office, manager of public relations for Allegheny International, and in Community Relations at Allegheny General Hospital. She also has taught introduction to professional and technical writing, writing for digital media, and the capstone class in the Chatham College Masters in Professional Writing program.
For 40 years, she was a member of the American Chronic Pain Association board of directors, serving as board president and program director, where she developed educational materials, videos, and the organization’s web site.
A Pittsburgh native, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Carnegie Mellon University.