Empowering California’s Black Women

By Sydney Williams

Natalie Champion, LaTiera Zachery, Carlene Davis, Sonya Young Aadam, MaeRetha Franklin-Coleman (l to r). California Black Women’s Health Project staff, intern, and Regional Representative. Photo by Champion Photography

Natalie Champion, LaTiera Zachery, Carlene Davis, Sonya Young Aadam, MaeRetha Franklin-Coleman (l to r). California Black Women’s Health Project staff, intern, and Regional Representative. Photo by Champion Photography

We stand on the shoulders of women and allies who came before us, fore-sisters who fought painstakingly for liberties we enjoy today: reproductive rights, our right to vote, our ability to pursue economic advancement. When women are empowered, we send seismic shockwaves throughout the world, effecting change. We anticipate the great changes that will come from the work of a statewide not-for-profit organization, the California Black Women’s Health Project (CABWHP). As said by their Chief Executive Officer Sonya Young Aadam, “Intentional investment in and collaboration with Black women-led organizations like ours is necessary to build capacity and resources to further our work to achieve better health and wellness for Black women and girls and for our families and community.” CABWHP refuses to accept imposed limits by our systemically racist institutions that have led women of color to move their own health to the bottom of their priority ladder. 

The CABWHP has a rich history of women working with the community to bring Black women together, encouraging them to prioritize their own health and advocate for their prosperity through policy. Founded in 1994, CABWHP is an affiliate of the Black Women's Health Imperative (formerly the National Black Women's Health Project), based in Washington, D.C. Their legacy continues to be built upon its foundation of hosting over a dozen annual policy conferences in Sacramento, convening a series of 15 town hall meetings, and serving on several boards, commissions, and coalitions to raise their voices. Today, they serve California’s 1.2 million Black women through their advocacy, education, outreach, and policy. 

The California Black Women’s Health Project

The CABWHP is steadfast in empowering black women to take the driver's seat in their health and wellness with five guiding values: equity, empowerment, a focus on Black women, change and collaboration. They emphasise the importance of equal access to opportunities and resources to ensure that Black women and girls are never overlooked in their endeavors. This organization celebrates the history and heritage of Black women and recognizes their intrinsic value rooted in their lived experiences. They empower their sisters to stand together in a collective engagement for effective prevention and early intervention of racial inequality in healthcare. To create real change in community conditions, CABWHP addresses health disparities, individual behavior and policies that burden the lives Black women. 

With a board packed tight with women of color, the California Black Women’s Health Project takes a systematic approach to racial disparity reform. Their Policy Advisory Group (PAG), consisting of grassroots leaders, health service providers, government representatives and policy advocates, serves as a platform for Californians to collaborate and find effective solutions for health policies that adversely affect Black women. PAG has a policy partner lineup of big names like Kaiser Permanente and UCLA Health, who even further perpetuate CABWHP’s sphere of influence. 

The California Black Women’s Health Project is not only devoted to healthcare policy reform, but is also committed to creating space for Black women to gather, learn, celebrate, and engage in their rich cultural history. Hosting events year round, the CABWHP has not let the pandemic slow it down. Although the warm embrace of sisters across California cannot be felt, their unity is experienced through virtual meetups. On February 28th, 2021 from 12pm-3pm the CABWHP will host Deep Roots: the journey of Black hair, its Resilience & Royalty. While this organization focuses its efforts on the betterment of healthcare for Black women specifically, they welcome the input and collaboration of all leaders who show a commitment to improving the health of African American women.