My Sister’s Keeper

Empower. Advocate. Lead.

Empowering Young Black Women to Advocate for Their Health and Well-being

My Sister’s Keeper is a Black Women’s Health Imperative (BWHI) signature program created to empower young Black women ages 18-30 to be powerful advocates and leaders.

Core Components

Understanding and applying the tenets of reproductive rights and reproductive justice;
Sharing lived experiences through authentic storytelling;
Training and engaging women in policy basics, advocacy, base-building and mobilization;
Understanding and employing strategies for emotional wellness/self-care; and
Creating anti-racism/sexism strategies to fight for reproductive justice.

Focus Areas

Sexual and reproductive health, rights, and justice
Mental and emotional health
Menstrual insecurity and stigma
Gender discrimination and violence
Anti-racism and allyship
Anti-tobacco, smoking, and vaping

BWHI: My Sisters Keeper in Wasthington DC

Develop Your Knowledge and Skills With MSK Academy

My Sister’s Keeper Academy (MSK Academy) is a learning hub that provides training, skills, and strategies to advocate for wellness, education, and policy related to Black women. MSK Academy members can expect:

Advanced discussion and shared experiences around My Sister’s Keeper core components and focus areas
Development of advocacy and leadership skills through proven engagement methods
Education on how these components and focus areas directly impact you
Training on how to apply these strategies to your personal life
A certificate of MSK Academy completion
An opportunity to apply skills learned in real-world projects in focus areas of interest

Learn the skills you need to make a difference in your daily life and the lives of other Black women.

Engage With MSK in the Black Women’s Health Imperative App

The Black Women’s Health Imperative (BWHI) has developed an app to help make optimal health and well-being a reality for all Black women and girls. The app features multiple communities where discussions on a range of topics occur. Join the My Sister’s Keeper community to engage with others in much-needed discussions about advocating for Black women in our key focus areas.

Get Started

My Sister’s Keeper Chapters

Historically, My Sister’s Keeper was a program strictly for Black women on college campuses, especially historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Now, we have expanded to welcome anyone identifying as a Black woman between the ages of 18-30.

My Sister’s Keeper chapters on college campuses are led by students and are open to any registered undergraduate student, including allies. Membership in the organization shall not be denied to any person because of their:

Race
Color
National or ethnic origin
Ancestry
Age
Religion or religious creed
Disability or handicap status
Sex, gender or gender identity
Sexual orientation
Marital status or family/parental status
Political beliefs

The Black Women’s Health Imperative does not tolerate discrimination of any kind

Get Involved

Existing MSK Chapters

Fayetteville State University – Fayetteville, NC
Howard University – Washington, DC
Morgan State University – Baltimore, MD
Southern University and A&M College – Baton Rouge, LA
Spelman College – Atlanta, GA
Tuskegee University – Tuskegee, AL
University of Texas at San Antonio – San Antonio, TX*

*Not an HBCU.

BWHI and The Heart Truth®: Empowering Black Women to Manage Stress With Self-Care for Heart Health

What does “self-care” mean to you? A day of pampering that, as nice as it sounds, you do not have time for? Or maybe it’s devoting a lot of energy to getting in shape or doing yoga?

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s (NHLBI) The Heart Truth^® program wants you to know that self-care can mean doing something as simple—and vital—as taking a few minutes daily to de-stress. That helps you manage your blood pressure and protects your heart.Heart disease is largely preventable, and small acts of self-care can go a long way to keep your heart healthy.

“Black women are experiencing unimaginable stress that makes it even more vital for us to do what we need to do for our heart health,” said Zsanai Epps, the Director of My Sister’s Keeper and Positive Period at Black Women’s Health Imperative (BWHI). “We face acute and chronic stress from racism, COVID-19, unequal pay, unemployment, school, and parenting. Learning how to deal with stress and cope with problems will help our overall emotional and physical health.”