Our MEMBERS

Cindy Widuck is an associate lecturer at Kent State University College of Public Health.  She was instrumental in developing the Community Based Public Health Concentration in the college and teaches various classes through experiential learning practices.  She was also instrumental to the development of the first Community Health Worker program in Portage County, training CHW’s to address the Social Determinants of Health in the community.  She helped develop the Let’s Grow Together Coalition to implement Farm to School initiatives and gardens and nutrition in Portage county.  She is passionate about public health: environment, sustainability, food insecurity, housing insecurity, and fair wages. She loves the outdoors and gardening and sharing with the community.  Her repurposing and art projects contribute funds to help run programs in the community.  

Annette Kratcoski, Ph.D., is Director of Kent State University’s Research Center for Educational Technology (RCET), where she leads teacher training, research and outreach projects focused on the study of innovative technologies in formal and informal learning settings. Prior to joining RCET in Fall 2000, she worked as a speech-language pathologist in clinical and school settings and also in special education and curriculum coordination in the public schools. With over thirty years of experience in curriculum and STEM, she works closely with K-12 schools and partners to promote the use of pedagogical strategies and tools for teaching and learning.

 Mindy Gusz, RN, is a Community Outreach Nurse at UH Portage Medical Center where she is passionate and engaged in community health while trying to ensure equitable access to health resources. Throughout her career across multiple states, Mindy has worked to connect and enhance health care services for individuals to improve patient outcomes. She does this by building relationships and bringing a sense of wellness to communities that may not have equal access to care. She was part of the founding team that created and developed the AMETEK Food Forest Gardens at the Windham Renaissance Center and is now delighted to be part of the Let’s Grow Together team. She is a third generation Ohioan who loves to garden, cook, and be active outside, no matter the weather!