- An emotional wellness summit in partnership with the Mayor’s Office of the City of Atlanta
- The launch of our Tech2Equity initiative, which will leverage innovation and technology to produce solutions for health disparities
- The release of our digital CYL² platform which will expand the reach of our lifestyle program
- The launch of our #BlackAndWell campaign, which will celebrate our culture while educating women about various health issues
#WEDIDTHAT
2019 IMPACT REPORT
In 2019, the Black Women’s Health Imperative continued on its quest to positively impact the lives of this Black women across this nation by developing and implementing programs, policy positions and educational resources to address pressing health issues. The work of the organization was made possible in part by the generous donations of corporate partners, foundations and donors who believe in our mission, and for that we are grateful. Enclosed are some highlights that demonstrate our mission in action and the impact that the support of our donors has had in communities across the country.
Thank you to our corporate sponsors and private donors for helping create a Movement of Healthy and Well Black Women and Girls, which will be our signature campaign theme in 2020.
THANKS TO YOUR SUPPORT:
15 million has been invested in BWHI’s mission and programs toward improving health and wellness of Black women in the past five years.
Our health information reaches more than 1 million Black women each year.
In 2019, BWHI worked hard to build awareness about menstrual product insecurities through our Positive Period! Campaign. The campaign aimed to address this challenge among marginalized women and low-income school girls, who are unable to buy menstrual supplies. The generous support of our donors and a partnership with Freedom Cup will help us donate more than 2,000 menstrual cups to women and girls in Kigali, Rwanda and in select cities in the United States.
BWHI Founder & Board Member Byllye Avery educates attendees at a Conference in Rwanda about reusable menstrual cups.
HIV / AIDS
Policy Agenda
for
In 2019, the Black Women’s Health Imperative (BWHI) released its national HIV/AIDS policy agenda on Black Women’s Health titled The HIV/AIDS Policy Agenda for Black Women. The agenda also features contributions from other leading women’s health organizations, which include the Positive Women’s Network, AIDS United, SisterLove, Inc., and Women Organized to Respond to Life-Threatening Diseases (WORLD), and was developed with the generous support of Gilead Sciences.
In September, BWHI’s On Our Own Terms (OOOT) program hosted a summit titled “Ending the Epidemic, For Whom?” as the pre-conference session for the US Conference on AIDS annual meeting with support from Gilead and Merck. Over 150 attendees participated in panel discussions that addressed a broad pectrum of HIV and prevention among Black cis- and transgender women, youth, policy and research.
The Black Women’s Health Imperative, through its My Sister’s Keeper signature leadership development program and partnership with In Our Own Voice hosted the MSK chapter leaders of Morgan State University and University of Maryland Eastern Shore to engage with policy experts and members of Congress on the issue of reproductive justice. MSK was also excited to welcome 30 new members into the Morgan State University chapter of MSK this Fall.
ON THE ROAD WITH BWHI
BWHI at a meet & greet hosted in partnership with Alston & Bird where they each shared their vision for Black Women’s Health.
BWHI President & CEO Linda Goler Blount pictured with Stacey Stewart, CEO of March of Dimes at the National Maternal & Infant Health Summit sponsored by Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser.
Board Members Dr. Nancy Lee and Dr. Angela Marshall with Congresswoman Lauren Underwood after Dr. Marshall spoke on Rep. Underwood’s panel titled “Healthy Mothers, Healthy Communities” at the CBC Annual Legislative Weekend.
SISTERS INSPIRING SISTERS
Introduced as a pilot program in Atlanta in 2019, SIS Circles made major strides in its inaugural year, forging partnerships with prominent school districts to accomplish its goal of reaching young women. It is empowing a total of 80 teen girls of color through the program, and in April, SIS Circles hosted a career and mentorship Conference to expose teen girls of color to opportunities in skilled trades to empower them to become tomorrow’s resilient, health-conscious, professional female leaders! SIS Circles was also selected as a service project by the Leadership Atlanta program to develop a three-year marketing/business development strategy.
In CYL2, lifestyle coaches teach women — and men — across the country how to eat differently and move more. CYL. leads the way in helping people not only shed pounds, but also avoid diabetes, heart disease and many other chronic conditions. CYL. is part of the National Diabetes Prevention Program, led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
NEW FUNDED PARTNERSHIPS
REACHING BLACK WOMEN
In 2019, BWHI was featured in media over 63 times in publications that include The New York Times, USA Today, Huff Post, Yahoo News and others.
The organization’s online impressions grew by 187%, resulting in reaching over 1.8 million people, and achieving increases in online engagement.
Help us make more
#BlackGirlMagic in 2020!
Your tremendous support allowed us to achieve major success last year, and we are excited about new partnerships and initiatives that will expand our reach and ability to positively impact the health of Black women and girls everywhere.
Some of our current 2020 highlights include:
Help us increase our impact in 2020
Support BWHI Today
Help us continue to lead the effort to solve the most pressing health issues that affect Black women and girls in the U.S.
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