Every year since its conception, Black History Month has conveyed a theme that connects to important topics and brings awareness to specific issues impacting the Black community — and this year is no exception. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, public health has been top of mind, so it’s no surprise that the 2022 theme for Black History Month, Black Health & Wellness, aligns with health and healthcare. From Henrietta Lacks, whose immortalized HeLa cells are widely considered one of the most important cell lines in medical history, to Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, who performed the world’s first successful open-heart surgery in 1893, the history of Black individuals in the medical sciences can help us better understand the social and economic determinants of health.
As Maven Wave and Atos sought ways to take action and give back to our communities, we wanted to keep this year’s theme in mind. For that reason, the Atos North America African-American Affinity group is sponsoring a virtual blood drive on February 14 – 28 as part of the American Red Cross’ Sleeves Up Campaign.
Other Ways to Celebrate Black History Month
In addition to sponsoring the virtual blood drive, here is a list of other organizations to support:
- Westhab: Westhab is transforming communities by developing quality, affordable housing and delivering the services that people and neighborhoods need to thrive.
- Brave Space Alliance: Brave Space Alliance is the first Black-led, trans-led LGBTQ+ center located on Chicago’s south side and provides resources, programming, and services for LGBTQ+ individuals on the south and west sides of the city.
- Black Girls Code: Black girls all over the world are changing the face of technology. Black Girls Code is committed to training 1 million girls by 2040 to lead, innovate, and create in science, tech, engineering, and math.
- Eat Okra: Their mission is to connect foodies to Black restaurants and culinary events while amplifying the dining experience for and by Black communities.
We hope you’ll join us in celebrating Black History Month by getting involved however you can. For more information on Black History Month events and for further reading, please visit the Association for the Study of African American Life and History’s website.
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