The WBWI builds the knowledge, skills, and capacity of Black Women to become health equity advocates, leaders, and change agents within our own lives, our community, and across the state.


FRAMEWORK & PURPOSE

The Well Black Woman Institute is an innovative leadership development program that will serve as a springboard for participating fellows as they position themselves as leaders in the health equity and community justice fields. The core institute incorporates well-established power building, personal and collective empowerment, and capacity-building models to successfully prepare and activate women for social impact.

“Our politics initially sprang from the shared belief that Black women are inherently valuable. [...] Our politics evolve from a healthy love for ourselves, our sisters and our community which allows us to continue our struggle and work.”

THE COMBAHEE RIVER COLLECTIVE STATEMENT, APRIL 1977

Our work is grounded in a theory of change that centers Black women as the locus of power and impact to drive transformation both on the personal, community, and systems level.

Purpose of the Institute‍

  • To mobilize and equip Black women as informed health equity advocates in Wisconsin.
  • To bridge Black women leaders with system, community, and cross-sector partners to impact transformational change.
  • To build a statewide coalition of empowered Black women to advance health equity in Wisconsin.
  • To co-create new equitable systems, structures, and ways of being that transform Black women's health and well-being in Wisconsin.



INSTITUTE STRUCTURE & TIME COMMITMENT

The Well Black Woman Institute is an 8-month training experience organized for small learning cohorts of 10-15 Fellows each year. The program will be primarily virtual, with periodic in-person meet-ups.

The inaugural 2022 Fellow cohort engagement timeline is February 1, 2022 - September 30, 2022.

Time Commitment

WBWI Fellows are expected to invest 6-8 hours per month on the training and developmental experience. We encourage you to assess whether you will be able to commit this time consistently over the 8-month Institute program as you consider applying.
‍
The Institute training experience consists of:‍‍

  • One monthly 4-hour live virtual group training session on Thursdays from 9am-1pm
  • March 31, 2022
  • April 28, 2022
  • May 26, 2022
  • June 23, 2022
  • July 28, 2022
  • August 25, 2022
  • 2-3 hours of independent learning per month outside of live virtual training session (i.e.
    required supplemental readings, videos, and written reflection)
  • Periodic in-person meet-ups

WBWI facilitators and instructors are experts in the field of public health, education, civic engagement, and transformative leadership. The WBWI connects participating fellows with leaders, systems partners, and mentors to leverage our collective work and to co-design solutions that respond to health equity gaps.

Culminating Project

WBWI Fellows will complete a required culminating project to outline their plan of action in the months and years following the institute to amplify their impact on health equity in their communities. Fellows will be supported by staff and instructors to shape and develop their projects.

Post-Training Commitment

After completing the 8-month foundational training experience, WBWI Fellows are expected to remain engaged with the Institute for 2 years as mentors to new cohorts and as partners to inform, co-lead, and advocate alongside the Foundation on health equity efforts.



WHO SHOULD APPLY?

Black Women in Wisconsin who are passionate about driving change to improve health and well-being in their communities; and who are driven to collaborate with other Black Women and organizational partners for powerful collective action.


APPLY TODAY - DEADLINE, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2021

Applications for the inaugural WBWI cohort closed on Friday, December 17, 2021. Cohort 2 applications will open in November 2022.


QUESTIONS?

Please contact [email protected].

Course curriculum

  • 1

    Well Black Woman Institute Orientation

    • Welcome to the Well Black Woman Institute

    • Navigating The Course

    • Pre-Institute Self Assessment

    • Community Agreements

    • What is next?

    • Meet Our WBWI Program Staff
  • 2

    Module 1: Claiming Our Power through Storytelling

    • Lesson 1 Introduction

    • Lesson 1: The Foundation's Story - Video

    • Lesson 1 Assignment: The Foundation's Story Reflection

    • Lesson 2: The Wisconsin Story: Fighting for Our Lives

    • Lesson 2 - Video Message: Disrupting Disparities, Shifting Old Narratives about Black Women

    • Lesson 2: Required readings on the Wisconsin Story

    • Lesson 3: Exploring and Defining Power - A Note on Our Framing of Power

    • Lesson 3: Exploring and Defining Power Presentation

    • Lesson 3 Assignment: Reflection Questions on Power

    • Lesson 3 Assignment Prep for March 31: Telling Your Story

    • Congratulations - You've completed Module 1
  • 3

    Module 2 - History of Black Women's Health in the US & WI

    • Lesson 1 Introduction

    • Lesson 1: Black Women's Health History in the US

    • Lesson 1 Assignment: Reflection on Black Women's Health History in the US

    • Lesson 2:1: Video - Medical Malfeasance & Black Women - The US Medical System is Still Haunted by Slavery - Video

    • Lesson 2:2: Video - Medical Malfeasance & Black Women - The Story of Henrietta Lacks

    • Lesson 3: Article Reading - Racism, African American Women, and Their Sexual and Reproductive Health

    • Lesson 3 Assignment: Article Reading Reflection Questions

    • Lesson 4: Poetry as Healing: Leslé - 'Our Foremothers'

    • Congratulations - You've completed Module 2!

    • Meet Our Module 2 Facilitator

  • 4

    Module 3 - Health Equity 101

    • Lesson 1, VIDEO #1: What is Health Equity?

    • Lesson 1 Video #1 Reflection Assignment: What is Health Equity?

    • Lesson 2 VIDEO #2: Securing Health Equity and Addressing Racism in Health with Dr. Camara Jones

    • Lesson 2 Video #2 Reflection Assignment: Securing Health Equity

    • Lesson 3, Video #3: The Health Equity Curb Cut Effect

    • Lesson 3 Reflection Assignment: The Curb Cut Effect

    • Congratulations - You've completed Module 3

    • Meet our Module 3 Facilitator

  • 5

    Module 4 - Leadership Principles

    • Lesson 1: Module 4 Introduction - Leadership Principles for Health Equity Advocates

    • Lesson 2: Black Women Leading - Voices from the Health Equity Landscape

    • Lesson 2 Reflection Assignment: Black Women Leading - Voices from the Health Equity Landscape

    • Lesson 3 - 'Work of Leaders' DiSC Assessment

    • Meet Our Module 4 Guest Speakers: Angela Lang & TR Williams

    • Congratulations - You've completed Module 4

    • Module 4 Evaluation

    • WBWI Module 4 Workshop PPT
  • 6

    Module 5 - An Introduction to Advocacy and Organizing

    • Introduction to Module 5: Advocacy & Organizing and Our Guest Facilitator, Sarah Noble

    • Lesson 1: Defining Advocacy and Organizing

    • Lesson 2, Part 1 Videos: What is Reproductive Justice?

    • Lesson 2, Part 2: Intersectionality - A Powerful Concept for Advocacy thru the Reproductive Justice Lens

    • Lesson 3: A Case Study - Understanding Organizing through Film - Chicken Run

    • Lesson 4: Reading - Five Characteristics of A Change Agent

    • Lesson 5: Video - Toni Morrison discusses Blackness at the Center

    • Lesson 6: Video - The Miracle of Morning by Amanda Gorman

    • Module 5 Reflection Assignment

    • Congratulations - You've completed Module 5

    • Module 5 Evaluation
  • 7

    Module 6 - Step into Leadership

    • Introduction to Module 6 - Putting It All Together

    • Assignment #1 - Culminating Powerpoint & Oral Presentation - Due August 24th, by 11:59pm

    • Assignment #2: Reflection Questions

    • Assignment #3: Video Reflection (2 minute recording)

    • Post-Institute Self Assessment
  • 8

    Year 2 Experience Overview

    • Recorded Year 2 Experience Introduction PPT

    • Year 2 Experience Understanding Review