Since 1983, the Black Women’s Health Imperative has been the only national organization dedicated solely to improving the health and wellness of the nation’s 21 million Black women and girls– physically, emotionally and financially. Here’s a snapshot of what BWHI accomplished in 2017 to help more Black women stay healthy.
Our Strategic Priorities
We SPEAK TO Black Women
BWHI President & CEO, Linda Goler Blount participated in an interactive forum during the Black Women’s Agenda Anniversary Symposium that encouraged nearly 700 participants to broaden horizons, welcome challenges and agitate norms about their health and wellness.
“The best thing we can do for ourselves, is take care of ourselves”
-Linda Goler Blount
We KNOW Black Women
Researchers spent decades studying what makes Black women unhealthy, however, no one took the time to amplify this information. We did.
With the launch of IndexUS: What Healthy Black Women Can Teach Us About Health in 2016, we used 2017 to coordinate with organizations such as the Life Balance and Wellness Institute, Inc., to develop the IndexUs Listening Tour.
We’re WORKING ON BEHALF OF Black Women
In 2017 our policy and advocacy team served as your voice, speaking boldly to federal and state elected officials and policy makers on legislation and policies from breast and cervical cancers, diabetes, HIV/AIDS to intimate partner violence and sexual assault, maternal and reproductive health to help you maintain and achieve your best health.
We welcomed the following two policy fellows:
Rebecca Berry, Esq
Stephanie Croney, Esq
We’re WORKING ON BEHALF OF Black Women
BWHI brought national and state attention to the needs of Black women’s health through numerous advocacy campaigns.
BWHI’s My Sister’s Keeper program partnered with the “Know No” movement to inform students on what consent is and what it isn’t. This campaign happens annually and is designed to show society that there is no grey area when sexual assault victims are intoxicated or unconscious.
We’re WORKING ON BEHALF OF Black Women
In 2017 during BWHI’s inaugural MSK Policy Summit in Washington, D.C., BWHI brought together 42 female students and faculty members with more than 26 congressional officers. Student participants met with members of congress and their staff including 15 US senate offices to discuss discuss the importance of preventive health services and reproductive health. Students also received federal and state advocacy training during the summit.
BWHI’s Change Your Lifestyle. Change Your Life. (CYL²) program is part of the National Diabetes Prevention Program, led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). We continue to help people in underserved communities avoid and manage type 2 diabetes.
Participants
Classes
Cities
In 2017 the new agreement launched to reach underserved rural counties in the CDC designated “Diabetes Belt” (Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi). CYL² continues to lead the way in helping people not only shed pounds, but also avoid type 2 diabetes, heart disease and many other chronic conditions.
Digital & Traditional ENGAGEMENT
BWHI leveraged traditional and social media to keep the public, our key partners and stakeholders and most of all Black women aware and involved in their health.
Instagram Likes Received
Total Facebook Impressions
Total Twitter Impressions
Campaigns and Events that HELPED US REACH Black women:
CYL²’s Lose Weight Feel Great Campaign
Impressions
views (18+)
views (35+)
BWHI launched a 4 month Lose Weight. Feel Great. campaign in both
English and Spanish to expand the reach of our CYL2 programming.
Campaigns and Events that HELPED US REACH Black women:
ACA #EnrollHer
Uses of #EnrollHer Hashtag
Total users reached and impressions during campaign
Byllye Avery Awards Winner’s Conversation Series
We believe in the power of Black women’s stories and in 2017 we were able to engage in an intimate series of conversations with entrepreneur and author, Miko Branch, co-founder of Miss Jessie’s hair care products and award-winning journalist Tamron Hall to tackle topics such as mental health, domestic violence and self care.
BWHI helped elevate the
importance of GOOD HEALTH OPTIONS for Black women; and
told the stories that MATTER MOST, with features in:
Anniversaries
Linda Goler Blount
4th year
Angela F. Ford
7th year
Carol Winston
5th year
New Hires
Lydia Sermons
Zsanai Epps
Antonice Jackson
Elyse Reamer
Money Raised
Fundraising
Investments
Amount invested into HIV prevention
Amount invested into reproductive justice
