Dr. D. Rica Wilson, Founder and Executive Director of Brown Girl Wellness, proudly accepted the grant check presented by Doug Hemmig, Johns Hopkins Health Plans Senior Marketing Specialist, at their company holiday event.

There are many ways to take on health inequity in our communities. In December, Johns Hopkins Health Plans awarded a $20,000 grant to Brown Girl Wellness, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering women and youth in historically underserved communities.

Brown Girl Wellness addresses critical challenges such as illiteracy, food insecurity and health and educational disparities by providing enriching wellness experiences and outreach services. The grant will help fund the Brown Girl Wellness Empowerment Experience, an annual initiative designed to foster healing and personal growth and empower young women to take charge of their well-being.

A key focus of the Brown Girl Wellness Empowerment Experience is addressing social determinants of health, which includes factors such as financial stability, education, access to food and more. African American women aged 18 and older are disproportionately affected by a range of health challenges, including high blood pressure, depression, heart disease and diabetes. Additionally, these women often face other challenges such as poverty and unemployment.

Taking on the challenges that many of our members face on a daily basis is a key part of helping our communities achieve their best health. Johns Hopkins Health Plans is proud to share in Brown Girl Wellness’ goal of fostering a community that is equitable, resilient and thriving. Learn about some of our many community grants.