Advisory Board

Annemarie Colbin, PhD

Founder, CEO – The Natural Gourmet Institute

Dr Annemarie Colbin, an award-winner teacher, lecturer, writer, and consultant, is a pioneer in the field of natural health.  In 1977 she founded the Natural Gourmet Institute in New York City.  The NGI for Health and Culinary Arts offers a Chef’s Training Program for careers in the health-supportive culinary arts.  It’s associated Natural Gourmet Institute for Food and Health offers short classes for the general public.

Dr Colbin has authored four books:  The Book of Whole Meals (Ballentine, 1983), The Natural Gourmet (Ballentine, 1991), and Food and Healing (Ballentine, 1986, 1996), (published also in Spanish, Italian, Chinese, Polish, Bulgarian, and Czech).  All three books are still in print, and have sold more than 350,000 copies.  Her latest book is The Whole-Food Guide to Strong Bones:  A Holistic Approach (New Harbinger, 2009). Many of the classes at NGI are based on her published works.

In addition, she writes a regular column for Free Spirit Magazine on “Food and Your Health”, and has written numerous other articles on the subject of healing with food.  Many of those articles have been published in Spain and the UK.  She produced an instructional videotape (now DVD), “Basics of Healthy Cooking,” (1986), which the New York Times called “encyclopedic – a must for every health conscious kitchen.” 

A popular speaker, Dr Colbin has appeared on countless radio and television programs.  She leads workshops in such well-known institutions as The New York Open Center and the Institute for Integrative Nutrition.  She was adjunct professor of nutrition at Empire State College where she taught a course in Wholistic Nutrition every spring for 7 years.  At the Natural Gourmet, Dr Colbin continues to teach a number of classes, including her ever-popular “Principles of Balance” course.  Her 100-hour course on “Food Therapy,” one weekend a month for 9 months, for has been offered to health professionals since 2006.  She offers nutritional and wellness consultations to the general public through the NGI.

Dr Colbin earned her 2002 Ph.D. in Wholistic Nutrition through the Union Institute and University in Cincinnati.  The recipient of the 1986 Maharishi Award, the 1987 Pacesetter award in Education from the Roundtable for Women in Foodservice, and the 1993 Women of Enterprise Award from Avon and the Small Business Administration, Dr Colbin is widely known and well regarded both in the US and abroad for her ongoing efforts to elucidate the relationship between food and our individual health.

David Holtgrave, PhD

Professor and Chair, Department of Health, Behavior & Society
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Since 2005, Dr. David Holtgrave has been Professor and Chair of the Department of Health, Behavior and Society at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. From 2001 to 2005, Dr. Holtgrave was Professor of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education at the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University.  There he served as Director of the Behavioral & Social Science Core of the Center for AIDS Research (CFAR).

From 1997 to 2001, Dr. Holtgrave was Director of the Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention: Intervention Research and Support in the National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  The Division has major responsibilities in funding HIV prevention programs, providing technical assistance to HIV prevention service delivery organizations, conducting program evaluation studies, and performing HIV prevention intervention research.  He also worked on HIV prevention at CDC in other capacities from 1991-1995.

Dr. Holtgrave has worked in the field of HIV prevention since 1991.  His long-standing program of research focuses on the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a variety of HIV prevention interventions, and the relation of the findings of these studies to HIV prevention policy making. More recently, Dr. Holtgrave has included in his work a focus on tobacco use prevention and smoking cessation; in particular, understanding the linkages between HIV and tobacco use. He has authored or co-authored over 220 professional publications, and has edited The Handbook of Economic Evaluation for HIV Prevention Programs. 

Shanti Norris

Co-Founder and Executive Director – Smith Farm Center

Ms. Norris serves as Executive Director of Smith Farm Center. She initiated the Smith Farm Center hospital Artist-in-Residence program and Healing Arts Gallery. She runs the weeklong retreats for people with cancer, and oversees new initiatives, including the Faith-based Community Navigation project at Smith Farm Center. Former Vice President of Kent Homeopathic Associates, she has an extensive background in complementary medicine and mind-body approaches to healing. She has taught meditation, yoga philosophy and stress reduction for over 35 years and underwent a formal ten-year mentorship with a renowned yoga master. She is a three-term member of CARRA, the patient advocacy program at the National Cancer Institute and a graduate of Project LEAD from the National Breast Cancer Coalition. She is a graduate of the Georgetown University Non-profit Leadership certificate course and the James P. Shannon Leadership Institute in Minneapolis/St Paul. She is a former board member of the Society for the Arts in Healthcare and Chaired their Annual Conference in 2004. She is a founding board member of The Art Connection in the Capital Region and a founding member of Arts in Healthcare Advocates (AHA.) She is a frequent speaker on the healing power of the arts. Her formal art training began at New York University and The Cooper Union in New York City and includes running the fine art studio of artist Peter Max. She is a member of ArtTable, the mother of three adult children, and is a painter and sculptor.

Regina Quattrochi

CEO, Bailey House

Regina Quattrochi is a renowned AIDS activist with particular expertise in the area of supportive housing. Prior to joining Bailey House in 1991, she served on its Board of Directors for five years and held several positions within the legal and healthcare fields. As CEO, Ms. Quattrochi oversees daily operations and works strategically to ensure that Bailey House continues to grow and diversify in step with the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

In addition to her work with Bailey House, Ms. Quattrochi is a founding member of several organizations dedicated to establishing a continuum of housing options for homeless people living with HIV/AIDS. In 1993 she helped form the National AIDS Housing Coalition (NAHC) and served as its President for three years. She was a founder of the NYC AIDS Housing Network, New York City’s leading peer-led housing advocacy group. Ms. Quattrochi has served as a key member of the organizing committee of the National HIV/AIDS Housing and Healthcare Research Summits sponsored by NAHC and Johns Hopkins. She was also an advisory panel member for the HUD HOPWA National Evaluation, AIDS Housing Washington/Vanderbilt University National AIDS Housing Cost Study and the NYC AIDS Housing Needs Assessment.

A recognized authority in her field, Ms Quattrochi is frequently called upon for media commentary. She has appeared on CBS’s “Hometown Heroes,” NBC’s “Today in NY” and UPN 9’s “Viewpoint.” She has been interviewed by NBC Channel 4, WB Channel 11, NY 1 and ABC Channel 7, WFAN, CD101 FM, JACK FM, ABC radio and WINS. Ms. Quattrochi has been quoted in both print and electronic media including the New York Times, New York Daily News, Crain’s New York Business, Associated Press, Amsterdam News, Reuters, The New York Blade, A&U Magazine, Real Estate Weekly, New York Living, The Cooperator and Kaiser Daily Report. She has testified before numerous Congressional, NYS and New York City Council committees on the housing needs of persons living with HIV/AIDS.

Ms. Quattrochi received her law degree from Union University – Albany Law School. She served as an adjunct faculty member at New York University’s Wagner School of Public Service for ten years. She is the mother of two children and received a black belt in Kenshikaikan karate under the guidance of Shuseki-Shihan William Oliver.

Jorge Valencia

Executive Director & CEO, Point Foundation

Jorge Valencia began his tenure as the Point Foundation’s Executive Director in January 2007. He brings to Point a wealth of experience in managing and growing nonprofit organizations, a proven ability to design and manage the infrastructure of expanding organizations and extensive experience with and sensitivity to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth issues.

Most recently, Jorge served as President and Executive Director of The Trevor Project from 2001 – 2006. The Trevor Project is a nationwide non-profit organization established to promote acceptance of gay and questioning teenagers and to aid in suicide prevention among that group by operating the nation’s first round-the-clock toll-free suicide prevention helpline aimed at LGBT youth. Under Jorge’s guidance, The Trevor Project increased its operational budget by 800% and its foundation-based grant funds by 900%. He created and managed its major donor program and expanded its volunteer pool to more than 500. Jorge’s leadership contributed to Trevor’s growth as a nationally recognized youth service organization.

Jorge gained his operational, administrative and management experience among a range of non-profit, corporate and governmental enterprises. Before working at The Trevor Project, Jorge directed the Corporate Communications division at Pueblo Corporation, a marketing firm located in Los Angeles. Some of his clients included Ford Motor Company, DirecTV, Food 4 Less and Sprint PCS. From 1996 – 1999, Jorge was Director of Communications at Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY), an organization that conducts leadership seminars for promising youth. At HOBY, Jorge directed all public relations activities, as well as the production and implementation of organizational public relations for the non-profit organization comprised of four regions, 5,000 volunteers and over 14,000 annual participants. From 1993-1996, Jorge served as the Director of External Affairs for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), a political appointment in the Clinton Administration. While at the SBA, Jorge represented the Administration and SBA interests at numerous speaking engagements, conferences and media interviews – articulating those interests in English, Spanish and Portuguese. He also worked in the Office of Public Liaison for the Presidential Inaugural Committee from 1992-1993 for the incoming Clinton Administration. Prior to his political management endeavors, Jorge served as Director of Public Relations and Marketing at Power Productions International, where he was responsible for creating and negotiating contracts with LA Gear, Reebok International and City of Hope.

As an openly gay man who grew up in a Mormon Latino family in Texas, Jorge brings with him a keen personal awareness of many of the issues of rejection and marginalization faced by many LGBT youth, including the Point Scholars. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Brigham Young University in 1989. Jorge’s diversity of life experience includes extensive travel abroad and within the United States. In addition, Jorge is fluent English, Spanish and Portuguese and is a talented and accomplished public speaker. Jorge has a passion for helping LGBT youth and an ability to communicate that interest and passion effectively to both LGBT youth and the general public.

Friends of Palette

In addition to our Advisory Board members we also would like to acknowledge the organizations that have played an important role in shaping The Palette Fund. We are very grateful for their time, energy and invaluable input and look forward to working together for many years to come.

Organizations Include:

Arcus Foundation
Bailey House
Commonweal
GLSEN
Gill Foundation
Johnson Family Foundation
Natural Gourmet Institute
Point Foundation
Smith Farm Center for Art & Healing
Urban Zen Foundation