ANGIE B. ANKOMA

Angela Bannerman Ankoma is the Vice President, Executive Director of Equity Leadership at the Rhode Island Foundation which she oversees the professional development of leaders of color in RI and other strategic investments. She previously served as the Executive Vice President, Director of Community Investment at United Way of Rhode Island (UWRI). Angela directed UWRI’s grant-making, public policy, government relations, research and evaluation and 2-1-1/The Point. Prior to her role at UWRI, Angela worked at RI Department of Health (RIDOH) as the founding Co-Director of the Health Equity Institute where she oversaw the implementation of RIDOH’s leading priorities on health equity.

 

Angela has Masters Degrees in both Public Health and Social Work from Columbia University and has varied experience in developing innovative programs and building strategic cross-sector partnerships. She is a Doctoral student at University of North Carolina, Gillings School of Public Health. Angela is actively engaged in local community investment efforts. Angela serves on the board of West Elmwood Housing Development Corporation (WEHDC) in Providence’s West End neighborhood; a community she has lived in for over 40 years. Angela is one of the founding members of WEHDC’s nationally recognized Sankofa Initiative. The Sankofa Initiative is a multimillion dollar project that combines housing, a world market and farm to improve health outcomes among Providences’ growing immigrant community. Angela also serves on the Advisory Board of the Latino Policy Institute and Amos House.

 

Angela’s service to the community has garnered both local and national recognition. Awards of note include: MUSE Foundation “Michael S. Van Leesten Leave a Legacy Award (2022); Junior Achievement of Rhode Island (2022); Women of Achievement (2022), YWCA, Woman of Achievement (2019); Providence Business News, C-Suite Awards (2019);  Rhode Island Black Business Association, Emerging Leader Award (2019); Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: Health Equity Award (2018); NeighborWorks America, Dorothy Richardson Award for Outstanding Resident Leadership (2015); NAACP Providence Branch awarded Angela the Rosa Parks award (2016).

 

Angela enjoys spending time with her family, especially her 4 children, Aniah, Naseem, Zahara and Ezekiel. She and her husband are the owners of Copa Menswear and Copa Xclusive Cuts in Providence, RI.