Shemecka McNeil expands SLICE 325’s health partnerships and digital reach

Shemecka McNeil, founder of SLICE 325, is being featured for building cross-sector health programs that connect healthcare, food education, agriculture and technology. Her work in North Carolina has reached more than 25,000 people and is aimed at preventing chronic disease before it starts.

Why it matters: - SLICE 325 is targeting chronic disease prevention by connecting health education with food access, agriculture and community partnerships. - The model is designed to make healthier choices easier for people facing barriers such as limited transportation, cost and access to services. - McNeil’s approach matters for health systems and community groups trying to move from awareness campaigns to sustained behavior change.

What happened: - Influential Women featured Shemecka McNeil, founder and executive director of SLICE 325, for her work in community health leadership. - SLICE 325 was established in 2017 in North Carolina. - McNeil says the organization has touched more than 25,000 lives through health education, food resources and community programming.

The details: - SLICE 325 stands for Serving Locations Inviting Culinary Education. - The organization delivers programming on diabetes, hypertension, healthy aging, nutrition literacy, food safety and preventive wellness. - Programs combine culinary instruction, community gardening, food access initiatives and interactive learning. - McNeil’s background includes healthcare lab experience, culinary arts, biology, health and wellness, agriculture, authorship and entrepreneurship. - She earned an associate degree in culinary arts and chef training from Harrison College, a bachelor’s degree in health and wellness from Walden University and a bachelor’s degree in biology from Coastal Carolina University. - SLICE 325 has worked with healthcare systems, universities, nonprofits, farmers, educators, businesses and local leaders. - Collaborations have included Duke Health and other community partners. - McNeil has led efforts in urban, rural and underserved communities across North Carolina. - The organization has launched SLICE LIFE, a mobile lifestyle and preventive wellness app currently available on Google Play for Android, with an Apple App Store version coming soon. - SLICE 325 also operates a digital wellness portal at Digital wellness portal. - The organization’s main site is SLICE 325. - McNeil’s Influential Women profile is available here.

Between the lines: - McNeil’s work reflects a broader shift in public health toward prevention, nutrition, social determinants of health and community-based intervention. - The feature positions cross-sector collaboration as the operational answer to health gaps that no single institution can solve alone. - The emphasis on technology suggests SLICE 325 is trying to extend engagement beyond in-person workshops and into daily life. - McNeil’s focus on sustainability also signals a push to diversify support beyond traditional grant funding.

What's next: - SLICE 325 plans to keep expanding preventive wellness education, healthcare partnerships, food-as-medicine initiatives and digital engagement. - McNeil is expected to pursue more collaborations with healthcare organizations, foundations, universities, corporations and policymakers. - The Apple App Store release of SLICE LIFE appears to be one near-term step in that expansion.

The bottom line: - McNeil is building a community health model that blends education, partnerships and technology to reach people before chronic disease takes hold.