By Refilwe Queen M Introduction The Civil Rights Movement in the United States is often remembered for its push toward equality in voting rights, education, and public accommodations. Yet, beneath these struggles lay a quieter revolution: the fight to redefine health as a fundamental human right. Black communities, excluded from equitable healthcare and burdened by poverty, turned to nutrition […]
Reviving Roots: Indigenous Communities Leading the Fight for Food Sovereignty By: Brealynn Lee In a world that grapples with climate change, economic instability, and the erosion of cultural identities, Indigenous communities are reclaiming control over their food systems, championing a movement that sustains and revives their cultural heritage and environmental stewardship. Food sovereignty—the right for people to define their food […]
By: Olivia Whatley In recent years, people have been incorporating integrative and traditional food as medicine more and more. According to the World Health Organization, 88% of countries use indigenous and traditional medicines and practices for their health and wellness in addition to modern medicines. In the West, there has been a rising trend of treating health issues with […]
What if the US treated every birth in this country as if the success of the nation depended on it? What if Black mothers and birthing people knew what it felt like to be loved by the country, they spent over 400 hundred years nurturing and building? Tori Bowie, an Olympian athlete, would still be with us to win more […]
Bringing Mindfulness to Dinner Menus By Roger Anderson *Originally posted on NNLM Chef Alex Askew knew that food insecurity often meant fresh vegetables weren’t on the daily menu of those he was about to serve. “We decided to buy an air fryer and make okra,” he recalled. The problem was, I only got the chance to eat a single piece, […]
Mind-Body Empowerment: How Can Employers Help? By Marci Kenon Mind-body empowerment is the belief that we have the power to control our mental health and well-being through our lifestyle choices. This means eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, and managing stress in healthy ways. Employers can play a role in helping their employees achieve mind-body empowerment by providing resources […]
Breaking the Cycle: Addressing Food Deserts to Improve Equity and Mental Health By Kristina Serova In the heart of a bustling city lies a forgotten neighborhood, its streets lined with vibrant murals and the echoes of a vibrant past. But beneath the surface, the community is trapped in a food desert, where the absence of fresh, nourishing food has become a […]
You Need Black Joy: Journeys to Mental Wellness by Healing Environments and Practices By Lela M. Winston A 2019 study found that toxic stress ages black children causing negative developmental effects. That work was expanded in a 2023 Harvard University report revealing MRI evidence of psychological damage caused by racism. Dr. Frances Cress Welsing, a psychologist in the field of […]
Mind and Body Empowerment as a Tool for Change By Zuania Capó We often hear the importance of the mind and body connection from the perspective of individual well-being. However, little is said about how it provides individuals with more than just wellness; it also increases empowerment and, ultimately, change. Mind and body empowerment go beyond the process of developing […]