Program Description: The Melanated Health Forum is a space designed for adult LGBTQ+, Black folx to discuss issues that impact the conditions and environments where we are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and more. These topics have real impacts on our health and our ability to thrive. It is packed with transformative, real conversations and discussions from professionals who also identify as Black and in the LGBTQ+ community. Lunch is available and free for the first 60 people to register.

At the intersection of being both LGBTQ+ and Black, our community gets talked about quite a bit. And, there are often conversations about us, and sometimes for us, but often not by us. Come join us for this one-of-a-kind event with the support of our community partners where you will also meet some other great members in the Black, LGBTQ+ community.

Purpose: We believe to fully and adequately support the wellness of Black folx who identify as members within the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer-plus community (LGBTQ+), we must first help address the social determinants impacting their health and wellness.

Vision Statement: We believe Black, queer folx should have unnecessary barriers eliminated that impact our ability to live a fulfilling life.

Mission Statement: The MELANATED HEALTH FORUM was created to provide a space for Black, queer folx to be addressed about non-medical factors as it relates specifically to our own health from professionals within our same, intersecting demographic. It’s also an opportunity for our brave allies to grow their knowledge-base. This is addressed by having an individual speak about one of their professional intersecting identities within the social determinants of health (SDoH; economic stability, education access and quality, health care access and quality, neighborhood and built environment, and social and community context).