Meet the Policy Team
What keeps me up at night: In my role at BWHI, I serve as the EVP for Policy Advocacy and Science, which works to integrate what we know from scientific knowledge and facts about what works for Black Women’s Health into programs. I believe that facts should shape policy and the political will to DO something about closing the health disparities gaps in women’s health outcomes. What keeps me up at night is knowing that the repercussions of the current state of affairs in our country will have greater implications down the road/in the future for the state of Black Women’s health. That accessto health infrastructures- from hospitals and clinics, to our insurance options, to care providers, will be even harder than they are now. That disparities will widen, and that my daughter’s educational access and her body autonomy could be reshaped not by her own brilliant mind, but by a world that seeks to keep women “in their place”. I worry for the next generation and what world we are shaping for them.
What gives me hope: Being able to work in collaboration and coalition building with fearless and brilliant community and policy partners who stay true to their mission to protect and defend our health care rights and access; my own local community support team at home which my child and I have cultivated deep “chose family” relationships where we can support across our households; and finally, what gives me hope is that I have faith in humanity, and in our ability to lead with love.
What keeps me up at night: The ever present threat of no longer having free and fair elections in the United States.
What gives me hope: I am finding so much joy in spending quality time with my kiddos. Even as we are in the midst of a constitutional crisis, I still am making snacks, playing with train sets, and reading bedtime stories with them about daring to dream. Reading inspiring children’s books to my own kids reminds me that I have to continue to dream for them, and myself.
What keeps me up at night: What keeps me up at night is the realization that we are all just one decision or policy away from an unfathomable crisis. This is not just a distant concern, but a personal one. Policies shape our lives in ways both seen and unseen, and history has shown us how swiftly rights can be stripped away, access can be denied, and entire communities can be placed in jeopardy with the stroke of a pen. Whether it’s the erosion of reproductive freedoms, the dismantling of social safety nets, or the rollback of hard-fought civil rights, the consequences are always felt first and hardest by those who are already marginalized. It’s the weight of that reality, of knowing that a single vote, ruling, or legislation can alter the trajectory of millions of lives.
What gives me hope: So many of us are still willing to do the work despite our relentless challenges. That work is not just professional; it is deeply personal. For those of us committed to justice and equity, there is no clear division between our careers and communities, between policy and lived experience. We carry this responsibility in every space we occupy, whether we are shaping policy, mentoring the next generation, or standing in solidarity with those fighting for their fundamental rights. The resilience, determination, and unwavering commitment of those who refuse to accept injustice as the status quo remind me that progress is always possible, especially when we act collectively, even in the most challenging moments.
What keeps me up at night: As an epidemiologist by training and former contractor with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it’s incredibly disheartening to see dedicated civil servants who lead incredible research on health inequities targeted and fired from their positions. It’s also disturbing to think about the significant impact that reductions in funding (in part due to limitations on indirect costs) for student scholarships will have on all scientists in training, including Black scholars committed to addressing Black perinatal and reproductive health inequities. Families are forced to make really difficult decisions that impact their livelihoods.
What gives me hope: In this time when reproductive justice is being threatened, US Representative Jasmine Crockett, political commentator Joy Reid, and Dr. Jamila Taylor (President of the Institute for Women’s Policy Research) – all just in the last week demonstrated compassionate and strategic leadership that is inspiring. Led by what they know to be rightand just, they are leveraging their platforms to not only call out the implications of threats to our civil liberties but also highlight the collective power and agency that remains when we move in unison.