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

Our connection to the California Black Health Network is rooted in alignment more than timeline. We were drawn to CBHN because of its unwavering commitment to advancing health equity for Black communities across California. As co-founders of BlackFULLness, our mission centers on supporting mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being, so finding a network that is actively shaping policy, advocacy, and community health outcomes felt like coming into community with people doing the work at every level. CBHN represents both action and accountability, and we wanted to be part of that ecosystem.

What is your current profession?

We are co-founders of BlackFULLness, a digital wellness platform designed to support the holistic well-being of Black communities.

Rev. Sonia brings a faith-centered and community-rooted approach to healing, grounded in spiritual leadership, care, and advocacy.

King David Walker approaches this work through the lens of behavioral science, storytelling, and what it means to model a non-toxic, emotionally aware version of Black masculinity.

Together, we bridge technology, spirituality, and culture to create spaces where Black people can access care, reflection, and restoration.

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

One of the biggest barriers is that care is often not designed with Black lived experiences at the center. There are systemic inequities in access, affordability, and representation, but there is also a deeper issue of trust. Many Black individuals have learned to navigate systems that have historically overlooked or harmed them, particularly in mental and emotional health spaces.

There is also a cultural gap—spaces that don’t always reflect our language, our rhythms, our spirituality, or our ways of processing stress and healing. Without culturally grounded approaches, even available resources can feel out of reach.

Health equity requires not just access, but relevance, dignity, and belonging.

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

Through BlackFULLness, we prioritize accessibility and cultural resonance. We create tools, content, and experiences that speak directly to the realities Black people face—especially around stress, identity, and navigating high-pressure environments.

We also emphasize preventative care—helping people build awareness, reflection, and emotional regulation before crisis points.

In alignment with CBHN’s broader advocacy, we see our role as both complementary and connective: supporting individuals at the personal level while contributing to a larger ecosystem that is pushing for systemic change.

Our goal is to make wellness feel both attainable and affirming.

What inspires you to keep doing the work you do?

We are inspired by the people we serve—the messages, the stories, the quiet confirmations that what we’re building is making a difference.

Rev. Sonia is deeply inspired by the calling to care for people’s spirits and to create spaces where healing is possible, even in the midst of life’s challenges.

King David is inspired by the vision of expanding what it means to be well, especially for Black men, and by the possibility of creating tools that help people move from survival into alignment.

At the core, we are both driven by a shared belief: that Black people deserve to feel whole, supported, and at peace.

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

The bravest thing we’ve done is choosing to build something that didn’t already exist in the way we knew it needed to.

Starting BlackFULLness required stepping into uncertainty, trusting our vision, and committing to a path without guarantees. It also required vulnerability—sharing our perspectives on wellness, identity, and healing in ways that challenge norms.

For both of us, bravery has meant saying yes to purpose, even when the outcome wasn’t clear.

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

 “Take care of yourself so you can take care of others.”

That guidance has shaped both how we live and how we build. It reminds us that sustainability matters—that we cannot pour into community from a place of depletion.

It also reinforces the foundation of BlackFULLness: that wellness is not a luxury, but a necessity. When we prioritize our own mental, emotional, and spiritual health, we strengthen not just ourselves, but our families and our communities.