Health Equity Jazz

Mommy, I miss you. But I always find your signs, wherever I am.

Need a preview of my newsletter?

Here you go… in July I talked about affirmative action and shared my personal experience with it. I also made some other comments around why I believe the time was ripe for the Supreme Court decision.

If you still haven’t made your way to my newsletter, now is your chance to catch up and sign-up to make sure I’m in your inbox on Monday, August 21st.

Subscribing is easy. Just go to healthequityjazz.beehiiv.com (linked in my bio) and subscribe today. If you’re feeling generous you can also sign up for my paid subscription there!

If you’re a subscriber, tell the people why they should join our community.

Did you miss me? 🤔🤔

Becoming Dr. Health Equity Jazz was not in your inboxes on the first Monday of the month! And you want to know why?

I’m human and life has been life-ing. But I’m back and I’m working on a special issue to catch you up on school, life, and the beautiful experience I had this past weekend.

If you are new here and haven’t made your way to my newsletter, now is your chance to catch up and sign-up to make sure I’m in your inbox on August 21st.

Subscribing is easy. Just go to healthequityjazz.beehiiv.com (linked in my bio) and subscribe today. If you’re feeling generous you can also sign up for my paid subscription there!

If you’re a subscriber, tell the people why they should join our community.

I am humbled and honored to have received not only one award this past weekend during the inaugural conference, but a second surprise award that left me pinching myself to see if I was living a dream.

My first award, Black Health Connect’s inaugural 40 Under 40, put me among a cohort full of disruptors, leaders, and space-takers. I was in awe while learning about the work and good trouble my fellow awardees do in the community, healthcare, and everyday life. Thank you for not only your vision, but also your ex*****on for a wonderful weekend full of love, laughs, and Black freedom. ✊🏾

My second award, which left me speechless, was for the inaugural NOW HEALTH EQUITY award presented by . The NOW Award is presented to community leaders who are making a real-time impact on advancing community-based health equity. Recipients of the award have made significant strides in three distinct areas including building trust between community members and health systems; amplifying community stories; and helping to influence better health-related decision making among community members. Thank you for seeing me in a way that only another fearless Black woman can. Thank you to the entire team at Acclinate for making me feel special all weekend, well before I even knew what you were up to. 😉

Y’all, I don’t do the work I do for the recognition. I do it because I love my community and striving for health equity gets me up everyday ready for the hard and usually thankless work ahead. To receive my flowers while still here on earth… it means the world to me, and I would be remiss if I didn’t take the time to bask in the glow of this past weekend.

More in the comments…

Allow me to reintroduce myself...

Hello, everyone! It's been some time since we last connected, and I'm thrilled to be back here with all of you.

During my absence, life has been filled with various experiences, growth, and self-discovery. I've explored new interests, faced challenges, and cherished every moment of this transformative journey.

But what I've missed the most is each one of you. Your support, engagement, and friendship have always been a positive force in my life. I'm looking forward to reconnecting and sharing new knowledge and adventures with all of you.

Moving forward, expect a diverse range of content from HEJ – from reflections and meaningful conversations about health equity and all that jazz to travel stories and creative endeavors. This space belongs to all of us; together, we can learn, grow, and create valuable connections.

So, if you're interested in more inspiration, laughter, and genuine moments, hit that follow button, and let's continue this journey together! Feel free to drop a comment below and tell me what you've been up to – I'm all ears!

Allow me to reintroduce myself...

Hello, everyone! It's been some time since we last connected, and I'm thrilled to be back here with all of you.

During my absence, life has been filled with various experiences, growth, and self-discovery. I've explored new interests, faced challenges, and cherished every moment of this transformative journey.

But what I've missed the most is each one of you. Your support, engagement, and friendship have always been a positive force in my life. I'm looking forward to reconnecting and sharing new knowledge and adventures with all of you.

Moving forward, expect a diverse range of content from HEJ – from reflections and meaningful conversations about health equity and all that jazz to travel stories and creative endeavors. This space belongs to all of us; together, we can learn, grow, and create valuable connections.

So, if you're interested in more inspiration, laughter, and genuine moments, hit that follow button, and let's continue this journey together! Feel free to drop a comment below and tell me what you've been up to – I'm all ears!

Today is Black Women's Equal Pay Day! It's a stark reminder of the persisting wage gap that Black women continue to face in the workforce. This year, Black women have had to work approximately 208 additional days to earn what their white male counterparts made in 2022. This wage gap is not only unjust but also highlights the systemic disparities that need urgent attention.

“Black women are typically paid only 67 cents for every dollar paid to white men, and the wage gap actually increases to 65 cents on the dollar for Black women who hold doctorate degrees compared to white men with the same education. This adds up to a loss of $53,334 a year, and more than $2.1 million over the course of a 40-year career, according to the National Women’s Law Center.”

As a society, we must take collective action to bridge this gap. Companies need to promote pay transparency, foster diverse and inclusive workplaces, and ensure fair compensation for all employees. Governments must enact policies that protect against pay discrimination and hold accountable those who perpetuate such inequities.

The road ahead is long, but with recognition and amplification of Black voices we can strive towards economic justice together. ✊🏾

I am very excited to share my inclusion in Black Health Connect’s inaugural 40 Under 40 cohort.

To be among this cohort full of disruptors, leaders, and space-takers is an extreme honor and one I do not take lightly. Working at the intersections of public health, health equity, and healthcare as a Black woman is at times lonely and discouraging, but I know it is where my heart lies and my passions blossom. I appreciate recognitions and celebrations of my work to remind me that the grind is well worth it!

Thank you for the award and recognition. I can’t wait to celebrate and meet with everyone during the inaugural Black Health Connect Conference in Washington, DC on August 11-13th. If you want to celebrate with us, tickets are still available at https://www.blackhealthconnect.com/blackhealthcon.

It's almost the first Monday of a new month!

And you know what that means? A new issue of Becoming Dr. Health Equity Jazz!

If you haven't made your way to my newsletter, now is your chance to catch up and ensure I'm diving into your inbox on Monday morning. Subscribing is easy. Just go to: https://HealthEquityJazz.beehiiv.com and subscribe today. All of my previous issues are available for free!

Still not sold? July's issue will discuss how to do a 6 month review of your year, where I am in classes, and provide some behind the scenes into what my next year of the DrPH will look like. You won't want to miss this one!

🌍🗳️ Help Shape the Ultimate Adventure! Take Our Survey and Join the Journey! ✨✈️

Attention fellow adventurers! We're in the process of planning an incredible trip that will be an experience of a lifetime, and we need YOUR input to make it truly extraordinary!

But first, let's get to know your preferences, interests, and travel aspirations. We've created a short survey to gather valuable insights from our amazing community of travelers (that's you!). Your input will guide us in crafting an unforgettable itinerary that caters to your desires and ensures an adventure tailored just for you.

🚀 Click the link in our bio or visit https://my.trovatrip.com/public/l/survey/jasmine-leonard to access the survey. It will only take a few minutes to complete, and your responses will play a crucial role in shaping this epic journey. From destination choices to activity preferences, we want to hear it all!

By participating in the survey, not only will you help design an incredible trip, but you'll also have the opportunity to be among the first to receive exclusive updates, early booking privileges, and special offers. It's our way of expressing gratitude for your valuable input and being a part of this exciting adventure from the start!

Tag your fellow travel enthusiasts who would love to have a say in this journey and share this post with your network. The more voices we hear, the better we can create an unforgettable experience together. Let's shape this adventure and make it truly exceptional!

Thank you for being an essential part of our travel community. We can't wait to embark on this incredible journey with you! 🌍✨

HEJ is officially on vacation!

Why am I posting this? Well because if you’re anything like me, you don’t know how to take a vacation and have probably been overworking yourself for years. I can’t tell you the last time I went on a real vacation, but here I am. Finally leaning into what I celebrate my friends for always making time for - rest and relaxation.

Another reason I’m telling you all I’m on vacation, is to be a bit more transparent about what it looks like to be intentional about creating the life you want. This year, I put multiple trips on my vision board and made myself stay committed to the idea of them, even if it made me uncomfortable. You see, I don’t like spending money on myself. Other people? No problem. Me? Do I really need to? Now, I know the answer is YES! And I didn’t get there myself, it took therapy, radical friendship, and immense growth to embrace the idea that I DESERVE my heart’s desire and I am WORTHY of it all.

Lastly, It is Mental Health Awareness Month after all. What better way to honor it than to end it taking a spacious vacation for myself? So for the next week, I’m on vacation. If you’re a close friend you already know where I am and will get to follow along. For the rest of you, if you’re interested, I suggest signing up for the paid version of my newsletter where I will be documenting my travels and adventures. If that’s not for you, my free newsletter will get the health equity ties to travel in the next drop on June 5!

See ya next week!

9 MORE DAYS TO GET YOUR SHIRT!

Get your “worthy” shirt now while you can!

——

You are worthy.

As part of my fundraising for the American Foundation for Su***de Prevention (AFSP) Out of the Darkness Overnight Walk, I have updated my definition of “worthy” to reflect how valuable each and every life is. As y’all know “worthy” was my 2023 word of the year, and it couldn’t be more perfect as a definition to wear and display for the AFSP walk.

If you are interested in donating to my walk, I have two options: this exclusive HEJ merch created through and/or direct donation through my fundraising page.

HEJ Exclusive “Worthy” Collection: https://www.bonfire.com/hej-exclusive-worthy/

Overnight Walk Page: https://www.theovernight.org/participant/HealthEquityJazz

Always remember. You are not alone. If you are in crisis, please text TALK to 741741 or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255).