Photo Credit: Vitalii Abakumov
Black Business Month began in 2004 to promote Black entrepreneurship. Today, not only is it an opportunity to uplift Black businesses, but it also serves as the chance for all of us to examine ways to make our businesses more equitable and create a foundation for present and future Black leaders. We would like to take it a step even further, by elevating Black-founded businesses that use their standing to advance Black women’s health, and encourage other businesses to follow their example in advancing Black women’s health equity through charitable giving and workplace policy.
Black-Founded Businesses Leading the Way
Honey Pot
Co-founded by Bea Dixon, Honey Pot is a business that sells plant-derived vaginal and other health care products. They have used their reach, platform, and resources for good by demonstrating a commitment to improving Black maternal health outcomes through product donations, educational content creation, and partnerships with relevant organizations.
lemlem
Model and lemlem founder Liya Kebede created this sustainable fashion label with products made from female artisans in Ethiopia and Kenya. The lemlem foundation uses a portion of their proceeds to create more job opportunities and advance maternal health for women in Africa.
Poppy Seed Health
CEO Simmone Taitt created Poppy Seed Health, a maternal telehealth app that connects people at all stages of pregnancy, pregnancy loss, or postpartum, with doulas, midwives, nurses, and other support systems. In each subscription, a portion of the proceeds goes towards providing the service for free for someone on Medicaid.
All of the businesses above serve as remarkable examples of how a business can profit while benefiting the world around them. Below are some ways that non-Black founded businesses can also do the work to champion Black women’s health.
How Businesses Can Champion Black Women’s Health
Donate to Relevant Organizations or Consider Matched Giving
The most straightforward way to use your business to advance Black women’s health is to donate directly to organizations (in or outside of your community) that specialize in that area. If you’re looking for some organizations to donate to, here are our recommendations:
–Black Mama’s Matter Alliance: “The Black Mamas Matter Alliance (BMMA) is a Black women-led cross-sectoral alliance that centers Black mamas and birthing people to advocate, drive research, build power, and shift culture for Black maternal health, rights, and justice.”
–Black Women’s Health Imperative: “The Black Women’s Health Imperative is the first nonprofit organization created by Black women to help protect and advance the health and wellness of Black women and girls. BWHI strives to in decrease health disparities for Black Women across their lifespan.”
–Holding Space Foundation: “Holding Space Foundation was developed to provide group healing spaces for Black women and girls, training for mental health professionals, and community education with a focus on prevention. We hope is that through these initiatives, Black women and girls have the space, knowledge, and resources to tend to their mental health.”
–Okra Project: “The Okra Project is a mutual aid collective is focused on supporting Black Trans people and alleviating the barriers that our community faces. We envision a safe, abundant, and equitable life for Black Trans people across the United States, and our service pillars reflect this vision.”
Ensure Reproductive Care is Covered in Your Workplace Healthcare Policy
As reproductive care has become increasingly under threat post-Dobbs, it is up to employers to step up to ensure that their pregnant, seeking to get pregnant, or postpartum employees are able to meet their healthcare needs. These can range from fertility treatments to contraceptive care and more. Also, allow for flexible work schedules so that these employees can go to all doctor’s appointments.
Check in with Employees to Make Sure Their Workplace Doesn’t Harm Their Mental Health
Jobs can be one of the biggest stressors in a person’s life, and this stress is only compounded for Black women who endure microaggressions, harassment, and barriers to career advancement due to prejudice against their race and gender identity. Checking in with all employees to make sure their workplace environment, or the demands of their job, aren’t negatively impacting their mental health. If any employee, particularly Black women employees, divulge any struggles, listen, believe them, provide reasonable accommodations and, in the event of workplace harassment, investigate those incidents accordingly.
Black Business Month is a time of the year where we can uplift Black-founded, Black-owned, and Black-run businesses in our communities and across the nation. We love seeing Black businesses succeed, especially when they make charitable giving and partnerships a part of their story. We look forward to seeing all businesses continue to amplify Black businesses, support Black entrepreneurs, and help create positive outcomes for Black women’s health so that Black women may thrive in the present and have brighter futures.
RALIANCE is a trusted adviser for organizations committed to building cultures that are safe, equitable, and respectful. RALIANCE offers unparalleled expertise in serving survivors of sexual harassment, misconduct, and abuse which drives our mission to help organizations across sectors create inclusive environments for all. For more information, please visit www.RALIANCE.org.