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About The Initiative

Launched in 2019, a group of committed community residents and leaders spent more than two years working with JBRF to design innovative solutions that address the lack of career opportunities and less-than-ideal health outcomes among Black women living East of the River. This initiative centers the voices of those most directly affected by these issues, then amplifies, champions, and funds the grassroots, equity-focused solutions that emerge from collaborative design discussions. Participants or community members explore the current state of play, review best-practice recommendations, and incorporate lived experience into the development of racially just solutions. The goal is a future in which Black women living East of the River thrive with equitable access to opportunities, more health care services, and the economic mobility they deserve.

Community at the heart of change

Hear the story of how we launched an inclusive model to dismantle inequitable systems by convening the individuals most impacted by these systems to create actionable interventions.

Initiative Partners

Caterers

Michelle Branch, Open Arms Catering
Lamont Mitchell, Chef Imani Catering

Communications

Frisby & Associates
Brandire
Tonee Lawson, The Be. Org

Consultants

Aridai Management Consulting
Ruth LaToison Ifill
Viviana Angel-Cruz
Dymand Mitchell
Program Design Consultants
Institute for Public Health Innovation
Rodia Research
Stai Inc.

Evaluation Partner

Mirror Group LLC
Mindelyn Anderson, Ph.D.
Michaela Anang
Danielle Gilmore, MPP
Kayla Johnson
LaShaune Johnson, Ph.D.
Malikia Johnson
Corron Sanders, Ph.D.
Kamilah Thurmon, gen2gen Media, Videographer
Jordan Sanders, MPS
Keiyitho Omonuwa, MPH
RODIA Research
Joelle Robinson
Haile Eshe Cole
Rebecca Harnik

Facilitators

Two Brown Girls
Nicole Newman
Aja Taylor

Fiscal Intermediaries

Institute for Public Health Innovation (July 2020–Ongoing)
TIS Foundation (June 2019–April 2020)

Website Designer

Marigold Creative LLC
Ayana Jones
Angelica Walker
Defy Communications
Omar Hussain

Graphic Design

Sagetopia
Camilla Brinton
Sung Hee Kim
Photographer
Ayanah George Photography

Visual Notetaker

Nora Rasman

Intern

Ramona Plummer, Master of Public Health Candidate, Howard University

Project Manager

Christine Stewart, Institute for Public Health Innovation
Laurin Stamps, Battle Plan Strategic Consulting, LLC

Report Writer and Editor

Dana Hiniker
Michael Frisby
Asra Nomani

Venues

Anacostia Community Museum
Building Bridges Across the River
Martha’s Table
R.I.S.E. Demonstration Center
Marshall Heights Community Development Organization