Leila D. Lewis is a nationally recognized strategist, creative entrepreneur, and maternal health advocate whose work bridges public health, community organizing, and family wellness. With nearly two decades of experience advancing community-rooted solutions, Leila specializes in building cross-sector coalitions, cultivating inclusive partnerships, and designing innovative frameworks that center equity and lived experience.
Leila has spearheaded the development of statewide community engagement curricula, facilitated strategic planning efforts for government and nonprofit partners, and expanded cross-sector stakeholder networks by over 35%. Her leadership in statewide convenings, learning collaboratives, and collective impact initiatives has significantly influenced the approach and framing of community engagement work for state-level public health agencies.
In addition to her consulting work, Leila has collaborated with national organizations like the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) and NIH’s Community Engagement Alliance, contributing to equity-centered research. She is also a co-author of a forthcoming community case study in Frontiers in Health Services exploring the role of patient action groups in addressing hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.
Leila is the progenitor of Village Mapping™, a groundbreaking framework that reimagines how families and professionals identify and mobilize support systems during the perinatal period. She leads The Toolshed: Workshopping Parenthood Together™, a signature program offering workshops and coaching cohorts that address the real-life challenges of caregiving through a strengths-based, community-driven lens.
As Founder and Creative Director of Thriving Birthworkers of North Carolina, she cultivates professional development opportunities for birthworkers committed to improving maternal health outcomes statewide.
A cherished wife and determined homeschooling mother of four boys, Leila embodies the creativity, leadership and community care needed to ensure that families, providers, and systems are aligned in our collective pursuit of community wholeness.
