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Health Equity, Advocacy, Research, and Development

Black Mental Health Village builds Black community power by closing gaps in access to culturally responsive mental health care and leading community-driven public health initiatives. Grounded in a health justice lens, we confront systemic inequities and uplift communities of color through programming, advocacy, community-led research, education, and holistic support for healing and wellness.​

Race

A specious classification of human beings created by White Europeans that assigns human worth and social status using “White” as the model of humanity and the height of human achievement for the purpose of establishing and maintaining privilege and power.

Power

Having legitimate access to systems sanctioned by the authority of the state.

Racism

Race prejudice plus power.

Public Health Network and Coalition Building

​We are building our public health networks and coalitions to advance health equity in Black communities. Learn more about the coalitions we partner with and the advocacy, research, and community-led work happening through our Health Justice initiatives.​

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Networks

  • TN Black Therapists

  • Holistic Providers

  • Artist and Art Organizations

  • Faith-Based Institutions

  • Community-Based Organization

  • Mental & Public Health Organization

  • Youth-Serving Organization

  • Elder-Serving Organization

  • Historically Black Colleges and UniversitiesHigher Learning Institutions

  • Public Library & Community Centers

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Coalitions 

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Join us in this work, sign up to receive public health updates, coalition opportunities, and action alerts, or reach out if you’d like to collaborate on a health justice project.​

Health Justice Coalition

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The Health Justice Coalition brings together passionate advocates, community partners, and decision-makers to dismantle health disparities and create systemic change. We work at the intersection of policy, research, and grassroots advocacy to empower communities of color with the tools and knowledge needed to fight for equitable healthcare access. Together, we're building a future where health justice is a reality for all.

  • Advocate for policy changes that eliminate health disparities

  • Access research-backed strategies for community health transformation

  • Connect with leaders, organizations, and community members committed to health equity

  • Support harm reduction initiatives including naloxone, contraceptives, and essential health supplies

  • Participate in networking events and collaborative projects

What We Do

Education

Educating our people on the policies that impact our health and well-being. 

Collabration

Bridging the silos of stakeholders in community-based organizations, government, and private businesses while elevating the voices and empowering communities that are directly impacted.

Elevate and Empower

Cultivating the political power of Black, Indigenous, and other people of color to shape health policy, because our communities aren’t looking for a voice, just a mic and the organizers to amplify it.

Health Justice Leadership Lab

List of Trainings 

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Pathways to Health Justice 

Overview: The Pathways to Health Justice Training, developed by The Center for Black Health Equity, and refined by Black Mental Health Village is designed to empower community participants to build capacity, develop infrastructure, and create equity-centered change. The program is grounded in Dr. Robert G. Robinson's Community Development Model (CDM), which emphasizes a community-driven strategy to address health disparities and systemic issues.

Participants will engage in virtual or in-person sessions, discussions, assignments, and hands-on activities. The curriculum is structured to ensure that participants leave with a clear, actionable plan to address health disparities in their community. The training includes four main sessions following a kick-off session, with additional learning occurring between sessions through webinars, technical assistance calls, and self-paced learning.

Objective: The training aims to support community partners in developing and implementing a strategic action plan to advocate for systems and environmental change. Participants will complete key elements designed to demonstrate their plan to decision-makers who have the authority to implement and enforce the proposed changes.

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Next Training in 2026. Please register to be notified. 

HEALTH DISPARITIES 

DIFFERENCES IN HEALTH STATUS AMONG DISTINCT SEGMENTS OF THE POPULATION INCLUDING DIFFERENCES THAT OCCUR BY GENDER, RACE OR ETHNICITY, EDUCATION OR INCOME, DISABILITY, OR LIVING IN VARIOUS GEOGRAPHIC LOCALITIES 

HEALTH INEQUITIES

DISPARITIES IN HEALTH THAT ARE A RESULT OF SYSTEMIC, AVOIDABLE, AND UNJUST SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC POLICIES AND PRACTICES THAT CREATE BARRIERS TO OPPORTUNITY

Health Justice Advocacy

The roots of racism in health and health care reach back to the founding of this country’s medical and political systems. The cumulative effects of this history continue to shape the health of individuals, communities, and institutions today. Our Health Justice work is designed to contextualize the racial health disparities that exist in the United States. We refute white supremacist myths that health disparities are passive outcomes or the result of biological differences between so-called “racial” groups. Instead, we name structural racism and racism in medicine as the violent forces producing health disparities in the United States, and we are building our communities’ capacity and power to fight back.

Some of Our Our Health Justice Policy Priorities​​

We organize around interconnected policy issues that shape Black mental health and overall community well-being.

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  • Non-partisan civic engagement

  • Mental health parity and access

  • Substance use and harm reduction

    • Vaping, Tobacco, and menthol

  • Food justice

  • Housing justice

  • Education justice

  • Environmental justice

  • Reproductive justice

  • Economic justice

  • Criminal legal system reform 

  • Youth justice

  • Elder justice

  • Disability justice​

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Learn more and join our Health Justice Coalition to take action on these priorities.

Community Health Research Institute

Active Projects 

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  • Tobacco and Menthol 

  • Bridging Mental & Physical Health - A Community-Based Assessment of Lifestyle Medicine Awareness

Harm Reduction Resource Distribution

List of Resources  

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  • Condoms 

  • Emergency Contraceptives 

  • Naloxone

  • Harm Reduction Supplies

Health Justice Resources

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Are you uninsured? Our Partners at myObamacare will help you with insurance enrollment. 

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Email

operations@bmhv.org

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