How long have you been a member of the Black Health Network, and what drew you to CBHN?

I started my membership in 2023 when my dear friend Antoinette Manuel did a workshop with CBHN. It was my first time of hearing about the organization and I really felt motivated to be a part of the change.

What is your current profession? 

I work for a company called Enriching Lives. We are local non-profit Family Home Agency that helps individuals with disabilities find, not just a living option, but a place they can call home. You can look at it like foster care but for adults with disabilities. I am the Social Work Supervisor for our Sacramento Office. We are always looking for people in the community who would like to help support an individual in their home. We pay a tax-free monthly stipend to the provider. It’s a wonderful way to work from home, help others, and make extra income. This August will be my 8^th year with the company. It is truly a blessing to have found a work environment that aligns with my personal values and morals. I feel there is no better way to spend the majority of my time to service those who are in need of a family environment.

From your perspective, what barriers exist in achieving health equity for Black Californians? 

When I was younger, I had no knowledge of the barriers that I would face in the health care system. I thought what I was experiencing was normal, and our health care system was just really flawed for everyone. I joined a Facebook group for black women dealing with cycle challenges and starting realizing it was not just the system that was flawed but there is evidence-based studies that showed the lack of care black women receive from the medical field. I started educating myself on how to be a self-advocate, how to identify implicit bias of others through words and action, and how to gain the confidence to drop that doctor and research for a new one. Once I gained this knowledge, I was able to act on it, and my experience with the medical field greatly changed. I think for our community to have better health equity, they need to be armed with the education and resources to advocate for themselves. Knowing is half the battle for our younger generation. Equipping them with the tools to navigate the medical field should be a priority of our community.

Both in your work and with CBHN, how have you been able to prioritize the health of Black Californians? 

My goal as a supervisor is to make sure all individuals are receiving quality health care and their health goals are being achieved. Communication is key to arming our individuals with the tools they need to express how they are feeling and what they would like done. I do volunteer work for a non-profit called Sisterbees, working with black and brown girls ages 12-24. We have made self-care and health a main focus for the young ladies to better educate them on the importance of their health.

What inspires you to keep doing the work you do?

Seeing our individuals thriving and succeeding in life.

What's the bravest thing you've ever done?

Taking on the journey of IVF. I have been in this journey since 2021 and have come across several women who have stopped or never even started because of how treacherous the journey can be. I know God has placed it in my heart to be a mom, it’s in scripture to be fruitful and multiply, and I know this journey was laid out for me to be a testimony. As long as I have the funds to keep going, trust and believe I will keep going, leaning on God’s promise!

What's the best advice you've ever received?

What they vandalize HE (God) will testify. Do not worry about what others are saying and doing. Not everyone will be able to be around you and your energy, especially if you vibrate high. You keep going, staying true to who you are and God will remove those who are against you. You never have to come out of character, stay true to yourself and all the rest will align. Secondly, Take up space, Sis!! Many times, people say “black women are so extra” so we may feel the need to shrink ourselves down around other people outside our culture. Lightening our voice tone, being delicate with our words, and many more. If you were invited into the space, join it as your authentic self.

If people want to become a family home provider with Enriching Lives, how do they get started:

Please go on our website at enrichinglives.net and find the office closest to you; ask to speak to the certification specialist or someone who can help you become certified.