Say hey to our BWHI intern London Johnson 👋🏾💜
She’s leading a 5-week series on cervical cancer + HPV, dropping knowledge we all need.
Quick fact: Cervical cancer used to be one of the deadliest cancers for women, until the Pap test (1940s) and the discovery of HPV (1980s) changed everything.
London is bringing the facts, the history, and the urgency. Because awareness + regular screening save lives—especially for Black women, who continue to face disproportionate risks.
Stay tuned… class is in session! @nationalmsk
#HPVHistoryWeek #CervicalHealthAwareness #KnowYourHealth #BlackWomensHealth #TheImperative
Type 2 diabetes is taking a devastating toll on our community. Too many of us are left without answers, care, or support. But that ends now!
You have the power to prevent or manage diabetes, and we’re here to help. 💜
Our CYL² Lifestyle Management Program is designed for us, by us, and is culturally tailored for Black women to take charge of their health and change the narrative around diabetes.
If you’re at risk of Type 2 diabetes, CYL² helps you:
👉🏾Monitor blood glucose
👉🏾Build a team of support
👉🏾Manage medications
👉🏾Prevent complications
👉🏾Make lasting lifestyle shifts
Already managing diabetes? Our Diabetes Self-Management Support Program (DSMSP) helps you reduce stress, manage weight, and stay supported every step of the way.
🫶🏾 Sis, your health is worth fighting for. The links are in our bio!
#BlackWomensHealth #DiabetesAwareness #HealthEquity #CYL2 #BWHI #TheImperative
That’s right @drkameelahsays ‼️What happened in Texas, a Black other ignored while in active labor is devastating, infuriating, and far too familiar. No one should ever have to beg to be seen while their body is fighting to bring life into this world.
Black women deserve dignity. We deserve to be listened to. We deserve care that doesn’t question our pain or our humanity.
This should never happen. Not in Texas. Not anywhere.
Our lives, our babies matter. 💜
#BlackMaternalHealth #ListenToBlackWomen #RespectBlackMothers
It’s World Diabetes Day, and we’re centering Black women, because the numbers demand it:
👉🏾 Black women are nearly twice as likely to develop diabetes.
👉🏾 We’re more likely to experience complications like heart disease.
👉🏾 Many of us don’t know we’re at risk.
But we have the power to change the story.
That’s why we created CYL², our culturally grounded lifestyle management program that helps prevent or manage Type 2 diabetes with real support, real tools, and real community.
Take the risk test today: bit.ly/CYL2RISKTEST (Link in our bio)
Knowledge is power. Prevention is possible. Support is here.
#WorldDiabetesDay #NationalDiabetesAwarenessMonth #BWHI #TheImperative
New Jersey… WOW. 💜🔥
You filled the room with power, honesty, and love. Our conversations were deep, the questions were real, and the energy? Unmatched.
Now we’re packing that same sisterhood up and heading to Montgomery, Alabama, this weekend!
Alabama, get ready. We’re about to talk, learn, laugh, heal, and reclaim this season together. Seats are limited, grab your spot now! 👉🏾 bwhi.org/powerinthepause-al
(Link in our Bio)
#PowerInThePause #BlackWomensHealth #BWHI
The government shutdown may be ending, but healthcare remains at the center of the fight for our communities.
For Black women and families, rising premiums, unstable coverage, and widening gaps in care are daily, personal, and deeply felt.
As BWHI continues to push for equity in every corner of the system, we’re clear on this: Access to affordable, quality care is non-negotiable. Our communities deserve healthcare that doesn’t break the bank, ignore our needs, or leave us behind.
Our National Health Policy Agenda 2025–2026 is more urgent than ever. At the heart of this agenda is Access to Quality and Affordable Health Care, because our ability to live healthy, whole lives depends on systems that actually work for us.
Read the 2025-2026 Health Policy Agenda: (Link in our Bio)
Let’s talk facts. According to the preliminary results from our menopause survey, 54% of women said they don’t have enough information to manage their menopause symptoms effectively. That’s more than half of us navigating brain fog, fatigue, night sweats and more without the tools or trusted care we deserve.
So when the FDA announced it’s removing the black box safety warning from hormone replacement therapy, that matters. For years, this warning scared women, especially Black women, away from a treatment that could ease symptoms and improve quality of life. Now, the science has caught up with what many doctors have known: when guided by informed, culturally competent care, HRT can be a safe and effective option.
But access and understanding still aren’t equal. Too many of us are still dismissed, misinformed, or left out of the conversation altogether.
Learn more about our survey and get resources for your perimenopause and menopause journey
🔗 Full survey results: powerinthepause.bwhi.org
(Link in our bio)
#PowerInPause #BWHI #BlackWomensHealth #TheImperative
Alabama, we’re coming to YOU!
Join us Sunday, November 16th in Montgomery, AL for Power in the Pause, an unforgettable evening of real talk, real stories, and real solutions about perimenopause, menopause, and midlife wellness.
We’re bringing the energy, the education, and the sisterhood featuring:
@msmegee – Demetria McGee
@whentoritalks – Tori Dixon
@doctorshelia – Dr. Shelia Payton
Dr. Shakita B. Jones, MPA
And a special line dance break with @the_sherika_nicole
This isn’t your average health talk, it’s a celebration of women learning, connecting, and reclaiming this powerful chapter of life!
Seats are limited, so grab your girls and RSVP now ➡️ [Link In Our Bio]
#PowerInThePause #MenopauseAwareness #BWHI #BlackWomensHealth #HealthEquity #TheImperative #MontgomeryAL
Today, we honor the fierce and fearless women of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the only all-Black, all-woman battalion to serve overseas during World War II.
Known as the “Six Triple Eight,” these 855 women faced racism, sexism, and the unimaginable pressures of war, yet they delivered. Literally. They processed millions of pieces of backlogged mail to keep soldiers connected to their families and hope alive on the front lines.
They served with grace, grit, and excellence at a time when their country didn’t fully see them, but we see them now. We honor their courage, their sisterhood, and their legacy that continues to inspire generations of Black women leading and breaking barriers today.
“No mail, low morale” wasn’t just a slogan, it was their mission. And they carried it out with unmatched pride.
#VeteransDay #SixTripleEight #BlackWomenInService #BWHI #BlackHistory #TheImperative
🚨 Big news for women’s health!
The FDA will officially remove the black box safety warning from all hormone therapy products used to treat menopause and perimenopause symptoms.
For years, these bold warnings suggested hormone therapy could increase the risk of cancer, dementia, heart attacks, and strokes, fueling fear and stigma around treatment.
Now, after a robust scientific review, the FDA says it’s time to “stop the fear machine” and ensure women have access to safe, effective options to improve their quality of life.
This decision means greater access, less fear, and more choices for women navigating menopause, especially Black women, who are often dismissed, misdiagnosed, or under-treated when it comes to symptom management. 💜
#MenopauseAwareness #HealthEquity #BlackWomensHealth #TheImperative #BWHI
Many are now asking what was it all for. The Senate has passed a bill to keep the government open, and now it heads to the House of Representatives. What happens next will determine whether millions of people can continue to afford health care coverage. If key subsidies expire, premiums could rise sharply, putting coverage out of reach for self-employed people, freelancers, and anyone who does not get insurance through work.
As @symonedsanders reminded us, this moment connects back to the care economy plan that was originally part of the 2021 infrastructure package. That plan included investments in home care, child care, paid leave, and support for caregivers, but it was stripped out to get the bill passed. The same story is repeating now. When we sideline care, we put the health and stability of families, especially Black women and caregivers at risk.
Now is the time to speak up. The bill is in the hands of the House. Call your representative and tell them: Protect affordable health care. Keep families covered.
With potential increases in insurance premiums this year, it’s more important than ever to know how to navigate your options. CNBC’s Sharon Epperson shares key tips to help you make the best decisions for your health and budget for those who have health plans through the Healthcare Marketplace. #OpenEnrollment #BlackWomensHealth #HealthEquity #BWHI #TheImperative
Our bodies can’t heal from what we keep ignoring. Our health is not optional, it’s imperative.
To our Black women and men: this is your reminder to schedule that screening, check that blood pressure, get that lab work done, and talk to your doctor about what’s going on in your body.
Preventive care saves lives and we deserve every opportunity to live long, strong, and well. 🖤
@lastnamestokes
#TheImperative #BWHI #HealthEquity #BlackMensHealth #BlackWomensHealth #WellnessIsWealth
We know times are tough. The loss of SNAP benefits, paychecks on pause, rising costs, it’s heavy. But needing help doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It means you’re human.
There is no shame in asking for support.
There is no weakness in needing community.
💜 Reach out to your local food banks, churches, and community resource centers.
💜 Call 2-1-1 to find nearby aid.
💜 Ask a friend to go with you , sometimes showing up together makes it easier.
we are stronger together.
You are not alone. You are seen. You are worthy of care, compassion, and support.
@thekarenpittman @victorblackwell @feedingamerica
#HealthEquity #CommunityCare #BlackWomensHealth #BWHI #TheImperative #MutualAid #WeAreTheVillage
We’re celebrating another huge win for Me Period!
We’re beyond proud to share that our very own @iamlisacunningham won Best Director of a Documentary Award at the @urbanworldff, presented by @nywift!
This milestone is a testament to the power of storytelling, community, and the brilliance of Black women behind and in front of the camera. 🌟
We’re so grateful to the courageous mothers and daughters who shared their stories and to the amazing @iamtabithabrown , @thesherylleeralph and their daughters for bringing their authenticity, grace, and power to this film.
💜 Me Period continues to open hearts and shift narratives around menstrual health and equity.
🎥 Learn more and find ways to watch : Link in our bio
#MePeriod #BWHI #BlackWomensHealth #HealthEquity #UrbanWorldFF #DocumentaryFilm #BlackGirlsRock #WomenInFilm #TheImperative
The Black Women’s Health Imperative just conducted the largest cross-sectional online survey of Black women’s experiences with menopause and the results are eye-opening.
➡️ Many of us are living with symptoms for 9+ years, far longer than anyone told us to expect.
➡️ Night sweats, brain fog, and fatigue were often described as more disruptive than hot flashes.
➡️ 55% of us struggle with weight gain.
➡️ 42% reported battling depression.
This is the reality and it’s time the world caught up. We deserve better research, better care, and better conversations about menopause that reflect our experiences.
Read the full report and join the movement to #PowerInThePause.
👉🏾 Link in our bio.
#MenopauseAwareness #BlackWomensHealth #TheImperative #BWHI
When you wear Breaking Cycles from the BWHI merch line, you’re not just making a statement — you’re joining a movement.
This collection is for every Black woman rewriting her health story, breaking generational patterns, and choosing healing. ✊🏾 Every purchase supports programs that advance Black women’s health, equity, and empowerment.
Grab your BWHI Merch and show the world what change looks like. 💜
👉🏾 Link in our bio
HISTORY MADE. LEGACY HONORED. 💜
We are so excited and so proud to see our founder Byllye Avery honored in this powerful way. For decades, she’s been the blueprint, centering Black women’s voices, building movements, and demanding justice for our bodies, our health, and our futures.
On Thursday, the @cunysph Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy officially launched the Byllye Avery Professorship in Sexual & Reproductive Justice, the first of its kind in the nation! 🙌🏾
Now, this professorship ensures that her legacy continues to shape generations of scholar-activists and public health leaders.
Congratulations, @iamByllyeAvery! You continue to inspire us all. And thank you to @mcgovt for being a tireless champion for this cause.
Pictured in the photos: @thejoyd_ @mcgovt @lorettajross
#ByllyeAvery #BWHI #ReproductiveJustice #HealthEquity #BlackWomensHealth #LegacyInAction
Sis, your peace is non-negotiable!
Black women are more likely to experience chronic stress due to systemic inequities, caregiving roles, and the constant pressure to “stay strong.” But here’s the truth: rest is not a reward. It’s required for survival. Chronic stress isn’t just mental, it’s physical. Over time, that stress hormone can impact everything from heart health and blood pressure to weight gain, blood sugar, and type 2 diabetes.
✨ Breathe, unclench your jaw, drop your shoulders.
✨ Step outside, stretch, and give yourself grace.
✨ Protect your energy like your life depends on it, because it does.
Today and every day, honor your peace. Protect it. Prioritize it. Because you are the heart that keeps communities alive.
Rp: @therealsahanaa
#NationalStressAwarenessDay #BlackWomensHealth #StressAwareness #TheImperative #BWHI #HealthEquity #SelfCare
Elections are happening across the country today. These races matter because health equity is built at every level of government, one policy at a time.
We know real change takes more than one election, it takes a strategy and a roadmap for the future.
💜 The Black Women’s Health Imperative’s 2025–2026 National Health Policy Agenda is that roadmap.
It’s not a wish list, it’s a plan. Grounded in five pillars of equity, justice, and over 40 years of advocacy for Black women’s health, this agenda transforms our vision for a healthier, more just world into policy, action, and impact.
Now we need you.
📢 Share the Agenda with your network, your elected officials, and your community.
📘 Download the digital toolkit.
💬 Use it to advocate, educate, and organize.
The world we imagine for Black women, rooted in dignity, access, and care starts with what we do next.
🔗 Read and download the full Policy Agenda at [link in bio]
#BWHI #TheImperative #HealthEquity #BlackWomensHealth #PolicyForChange #NationalHealthPolicyAgenda