Benjamin Perkins

Benjamin Perkins is the CEO of Wholesome Wave, a national nonprofit organization that aims to increase affordable access to healthy fruits and vegetables for underserved communities.12 He was appointed to this role in December 2020.1

Perkins has over two decades of experience in public health, initially focusing on HIV prevention and research education.2 He later shifted his focus to addressing health disparities and inequities in cardiovascular disease and stroke rates among communities of color and other underserved populations.2 Prior to joining Wholesome Wave, he served as Vice President of Multicultural Initiatives & Health Equity and Vice President of Health Strategies for the Greater Boston Area at the American Heart Association.2

Perkins holds a Master of Divinity degree from Harvard Divinity School, a Master of Arts in clinical psychology from Antioch University, Los Angeles, and a Bachelor of Arts in geography from the University of California at Los Angeles.2 He is also an ordained pastor serving at Hope Central Congregational Church in Boston.2

In addition to his role at Wholesome Wave, Perkins is the founder and CEO of Upstream Impact Solutions Consulting, LLC, which focuses on developing holistic, equity-centered approaches to systems change initiatives.2 He is also a certified program leader with the Impactive Solutions/Groundwater Institute, facilitating racial equity workshops nationally.2