Community Advisory Board

A proud Brooklyn native and longtime East New York resident, Evelyn D. Pugh is a devoted community leader and a passionate advocate for those who rely on NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, East New York. In her role as Community Advisory Board (CAB) Chair, she serves as a bridge between the health center and the community it serves, by ensuring local voices inform patient-centered care.

Drawing from her personal experience as a mother and grandmother, Evelyn has spent more than 30 years uplifting children, youth, and families. Her leadership journey began as a dedicated school volunteer and grew into influential parent leadership roles, including PTA leader, Title I Chair, and President of both the District 19 President’s Council and Community Education Council (CEC) District 19. Currently, Evelyn also serves as the CEC’s Treasurer and is a Brooklyn Borough President Appointee.

Evelyn’s extensive civic engagement spans across East New York and greater Brooklyn. She chairs Neighborhood Advisory Board 5 and lends her expertise to Community Board 5’s Education and Youth Committee, the Friends of New Lots Library board, and the East New York Lions Club. In addition, she actively advocates for educational equity through partnerships with the Alliance for Quality Education and the Educational Rights Transparency Coalition.

Guided by her core belief that strong communities are built by uplifting children and families, Evelyn actively organizes resource fairs, workshops, and family-focused events designed to keep East New Yorkers informed, connected, and empowered.

Crystal Matthews, a registered nurse with 16 years of experience, has dedicated her career to advocating for health and wellness in both local and global communities. Her passion lies in addressing healthcare disparities, especially in marginalized populations. She has participated in medical missions across several African countries, working to ensure that everyone receives the care they need and deserve.

Crystal views her role on the Community Advisory Board (CAB) as a way to extend her advocacy beyond the bedside by using her clinical insights to bridge gaps between healthcare systems and the communities they serve. Having witnessed the challenges many patients face, she uses her expertise to educate and empower others to take charge of their health.

One of her most memorable CAB experiences was attending a luncheon for middle school girls focused on self-care and self-love. Seeing these young women embrace their health and become advocates in their schools was a powerful reminder of the impact of community engagement.

Crystal’s motivation to continue her work with the CAB stems from watching people’s perspective on health shift from hopelessness to empowerment. She believes this work can spark generational change and is committed to helping build a healthier, stronger community—one voice, one family, one moment at a time.