Contributed by TOUCH The Black Breast Cancer Alliance
ANNAPOLIS, MD – TOUCH, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance (TOUCHBBCA), launches TOUCH Talks Wellness, the first-ever Black Health Hub on Martha’s Vineyard. This groundbreaking initiative aims to address critical health issues impacting Black families and empower the community with vital information and “edutainment” during the annual gathering of Black families, community leaders, and influencers in Oak Bluffs, MA, this August.
Martha’s Vineyard holds a rich history for the Black community, serving as a cherished gathering place for over a century. Mid-August has become a traditional time of respite for many Black families, attracting leaders from prominent organizations like the Divine 9 (sororities & fraternities), The Links Incorporated, the National Council of Negro Women, Jack & Jill of America, The Boule, and The Bow Collective. This unique convergence provides an unparalleled opportunity to disseminate health information that will resonate far beyond the event itself.
From August 10th to 22nd, a newly renovated home at 9 Tuckernuck, near the historic Inkwell Beach, will transform into a safe and educational haven for Black health discussions. TOUCH Talks Wellness will feature thoughtfully curated content, including panel discussions, roundtables, storytelling, and testimonials.
These sessions will bring together health thought leaders, healthcare professionals, patient advocacy organization leaders, health policy strategists, pharmaceutical company leaders, and community influencers. Celebrities including Tamika Mallory and Malik Yoba will join the conversations to share stories and discuss health policy. All of the events are FREE to the public. Tickets are available HERE.
“Better health starts with truly listening to communities and addressing their needs, and TOUCH Talks Wellness is doing just that,” says LaVanya Hardin-Wright, Head of Giving and Social Impact at Genentech, a member of the Roche group. “From demystifying clinical research to empowering Black families to take charge of their health, this initiative builds on our long-standing support of TOUCH and reflects our shared commitment to breaking barriers to equitable healthcare by meeting communities where they are.”
“Black Americans continue to face significant and deeply entrenched health disparities, leading to worse health outcomes across most diseases,” says Ricki Fairley, CEO and CoFounder of TOUCH, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance. “Oak Bluffs in August is a perfect gathering place to discuss the state of health in our Black community. This year, we’re expanding beyond Black breast cancer to address many illnesses that disproportionately affect us. We’re blessed to have brilliant speakers from our advocacy, pharma, and health professional communities bringing the latest data, research, and insights. We’ve curated TOUCH Talks Wellness to deliver critical information, productive roundtable conversations, provocative panel discussions, and some parties with a purpose. Join us to get educated, edutained, and engaged to be the CEO of Your Health.”
Key Topics and Events at TOUCH Talks Wellness:
- Mental Health Day: Addressing the crucial need for open conversations about seeking and maintaining mental health support within the Black community.
- Clinical Trials: Demystifying clinical trials, emphasizing their importance for advancing science for Black people, and guiding participation and retention.
- It’s a Family Affair: Shifting focus from “sick care” to proactive “healthcare,” discussing how families can take charge of their health and normalize household health conversations.
- Family Movie Night: A fun evening celebrating Black family love with a special movie screening.
- Black Cancer Day: Highlighting the disproportionate rates of prostate, pancreatic, lung, and breast cancers in the Black community, exploring causes and actionable solutions.
- It’s a Matter of the Heart: Featuring the Yoba family’s personal story and insights on overcoming hereditary cardiovascular health concerns.
- Let’s Talk Black Policy! (Policy Brunch): A crucial discussion on health policy, emphasizing the importance of local and national voting, screening guidelines, and how politics impact Black health outcomes.
- The Whitmore Project Movie Screening: A deeply personal documentary chronicling Lisa Whitmore’s victorious battle with breast cancer.
- TOUCH Talent Show: A celebration of family and community talent.
- Booby Trap Party: TOUCH’s “For the Love of My Gurls” campaign hosts its first annual party with a purpose, supporting Black breast health advocacy.
Tiara Neal, Executive Director, Bexa Equity Alliance and 6 year breast cancer survivor states, “For the second year in a row, Bexa Equity Alliance is proud to partner with TOUCH, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance to bring radiation-free, painless early detection Bexa breast exams directly into the heart of Oak Bluffs — a historic safe haven and gathering place for generations of Black families. This isn’t just outreach; it’s a movement that’s critical to our communities. Over the course of two powerful weeks, we will more than triple our impact, reaching numerous Black women with life-saving care in a safe space. By eliminating fear and bringing trusted resources directly into culturally significant spaces, we’re rewriting the narrative around early detection — and saving lives like never before in a place that feels like home to all of us!”
To learn more, please email: ricki@touchbbca.org and source tickets HERE.
For more information, visit touchbbca.org.