The Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness (FFBWW) has made a name for itself in Madison by making a huge impact by advocating for and directly addressing the health of Black women in disparities-ridden Wisconsin.
FFBWW is currently seeking community support as we expand and grow with additional office space. The journey to get here is a story worth telling over and over again.
Rooted in Black Women’s Health Justice
Black Women’s Wellness Foundation The conceptual roots date back several years before founder, CEO, and president Lisa Peyton Care returned to Madison in 2011. Peyton Care’s inspiration for her first Black Women’s Wellness Day in 2009 came from her mother, Roberta Peyton, who passed away in 2006. The sentiment behind the goal of Black women’s health comes from the impressions left by the spaces they shared.
“Growing up in my mother’s hair salon epitomized a safe space for Black women. A place where we could literally let our hair down and be ourselves, surrounded by unconditional love and acceptance. A place where we can be seen and heard, where we can talk while we talk, laugh while we laugh, listen to the music we like, eat what we want, and love one another in the spirit of sisterhood. It was a space that we felt comfortable in,” Peyton-Care told Madison365. She shared her story from her 3rd Annual Black Women’s Wellness Day in Madison to her founding of FFBWW in 2012.
“When we envisioned the creation of the Black Women’s Wellness Center and opening a space here, it was very important to us to create a space that is very rare and unprecedented in this community.”
The effort that began with Peyton-Care and the founding committee has energized a community in dire need of resources for Black women.and black maternal and child health There is no question as to why this effort is necessary, as there is an avoidable but permanent crisis looming over our communities. Gabe Doyle, FFBWW’s chief health initiatives officer, said how impactful it is when thinking about what can be done to avert a health crisis for Black women and their families.
“Putting Black women in a position to connect with more Black women and be inclusive of services that meet their unique needs is a little different than what we see in other organizations, large and small,” Doyle said. he said. “We are building enough wellness components to really provide comprehensive services, remove red tape, break down barriers, and connect Black women to quality of life and impactful resources every day. We are prepared.”
What Doyle points out and what is most evident from her time at the foundation is how special it is to have a space for Black women that is managed by Black women. The foundation of wellness is experience and understanding, not just service. Peyton Care and her team have shaped a space where women have what they need when they need it most.
“Women may come to us in a crisis, and we want to help them overcome that crisis,” Peyton-Care explained. “Whether that means providing emergency funding or referrals to other agencies, our staff guides women to all the resources and agencies they need to connect with. It also always includes us wrapping them up in the community to help them navigate and support those resources.”
Years of hard work have not been in vain, and the Foundation has the receipts to prove it.
Proven results that change lives and save lives.
FFBWW’s jump start to growth occurred in the years leading up to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak. A time before the world was about to change significantly, The Foundation was making its presence felt. And he has outgrown Peyton Care as the only team member. Chief Operating Officer Janine Stevens Hale has been with the Foundation for some time and became the Foundation’s first full-time employee in early 2020.
“We were able to launch the campaign in February 2020 at our headquarters location at 6601,” Hale said, referring to the physical location at 6601 Grand Teton Plaza. “Then, due to the pandemic, we had to pivot and close in March 2020. Our team continued to grow, which was the opposite of most organizations during the pandemic. We were able to leverage part of Teamwork hybrid in our headquarters space and the other half of Teamwork in the co-working space that was previously donated to us.”
The donation of space by Office Evolution has allowed FFBWW to continue its much-needed work during the pandemic. The need for more resources and support was identified, and the Foundation provided something special, resulting in an increase in staff. Even a pandemic couldn’t stop a Black woman from going to a place where she knows she’ll be welcomed with open arms.
“During the shutdown, we quickly pivoted and began offering programs and services in a virtual space. Although our doors were closed for a year and a half, we continued to expand our services to women. Continuing, we increased the number of women we serve in 2020-2021 in response to the deep need for Black women who need more, which the coronavirus has brought to our doorstep. It was better than what we were offering,” Peyton Kjaer said. Black Women’s Wellness Day and other programming.
“They needed more support to get through that crisis and what it meant for their homes, their families, and their health. To meet the growing needs of our community, we needed to expand its team and infrastructure.”
As our team continued to grow through the early years of the pandemic, it became clear that the damage caused by an already unacceptable situation needed to be addressed immediately. Gabe Doyle joined us in 2022 as part of our response to what we believe is an innovative and important approach to supporting Black women.
“Needs don’t just occur in isolation or at the beginning of life; they occur throughout the lifespan,” Doyle says. “We also have a team of community health workers who work to meet the unique needs of Black women and their families across the social determinants of health, including economic stability, We focus on our top four priorities: mental health, housing, and also manage a doula population to assist with additional support. save the baby As part of the Maternal and Child Health Partnership. What this means is that every day, Black women and their families reach out to the Foundation for creative solutions. ”
We support the effectiveness of these initiatives with numbers and voices. ConnectRXFFBWW provides services that change health outcomes and save Black women.
Growth where it’s needed most
Hale recalled finding the office space the foundation needed and calling Peyton-Care, excited that the perfect location happened to be nearby. The Foundation’s new building is located at 6525 Grand Teton Plaza, Suite B. It’s in the same complex as our current office, but across the street from the parking lot.It’s in the perfect location for teams to keep up close matches.
“We’re literally right behind our corporate office space, so we have both spaces available if we need to,” Hale said. “It was time. Our team needed to be in a space where they felt they could easily access each other. Rather than having to send Slack messages or make phone calls or video calls, we literally It’s about being able to knock on doors.”
As the need for more services grew and more women continued to come to FFBWW for care and support, the secret to success became clear. When you have great Black women leading the way, the services provided in turn create great Black women.
“There is a ripple effect from strong performance,” Doyle asserted. “There’s career development, there’s relationship building, and there’s the learning opportunities that come from being around each other. That’s why it really feels like home here, but it’s also great when we get out and about.” At the end of the day we are truly united and strategically planned as opposed to working individually. Now we can listen, share and exchange wisdom. Now we can create a place of health.”
This new space will be a catalyst for further growth for the organization, which has already expanded its programs into the areas of financial literacy, mental health, and expanding educational and promotional opportunities.
“Our commitment to serving Black women requires us to continue to expand our programs and services, and to grow a talented team of people who can do that work every day,” Peyton-Care said. said. “The last decade has been a progressive journey in realizing our commitment to empowering a generation of affluent Black women. We are fortunate to continue to support our community during a global pandemic. Your support has allowed us to continue to grow.”
As each member of our team expressed, what the Foundation can do with community support will truly change the future of Black women and families in Madison.
Taking Black Women’s Wellness into Their Own Hands
FFBWW is a return on investment for the community in every way. The Foundation’s operations span cities, counties, and states, and space is needed to accommodate increased capacity. Mr Doyle emphasized that this is an investment worth making.
“An investment in Black women is an investment in Madison County and Dane County,” he said. “An investment in the Black Women’s Wellness Foundation creates a ripple effect and the network that comes with it is truly an investment in this community and our collective.”
This is not the first time the foundation has reached out to the community to help with expansion, as it also supported the goal of maintaining a physical location. A gift from the Mary Burke Fund for Girls and Women. The $150,000 the foundation is currently seeking will be used to maintain its presence in the new location and provide what it needs to provide optimal space for the women it serves.
“No matter what field you are in or what level of employment you are, I am grateful to have such a great team that comes together so well,” Hale gleefully reported. “Our team is a great team. We are grateful for this opportunity, but we can definitely use the support from our community to help us stay here.”
To further incentivize community support, Mary Burke has offered to donate $50,000 to a $150,000 goal to help keep Black women healthy. The community’s support back then has paid off, and the possibilities for expansion now are endless as the team gets accustomed to its new location.
“This space is a beautiful, physical representation of the love and respect we deliver in this work, and the community of safety, support, and desire we have built for Black women.” Peyton-Care He finally stated. “The non-Black women who come into our space don’t want to leave…We are committed to not only the communities we serve, but also to the people who work and empower our foundation. We value health and wellness, and it’s great to be able to say to our employees, “This beautiful space is as much for us as it is for our community.” ”
The Black Women’s Health Foundation’s call may come in the form of donations and support, but the answer will depend on whether communities are prepared to take Black women’s health into their own hands.
For more information about FFBWW, please visit Visit the website here.Also, search for this year’s information and register Click here for Black Women’s Wellness Day.
