Black Women’s Health Imperative

The Black Women's Health Imperative, formerly the National Black Women's Health Project (NBWHP), is an American organization founded in 1983 by Byllye Avery. This organization focuses on improving the health and well-being of low-income African American women through self-help groups and advocacy networks. Avery's work, which began after her husband's death, aimed to address the high stress levels experienced by Black women due to poverty, crime, violence, and racism. The organization has grown into an international network, establishing the first Center for Black Women's Wellness and producing films on Black women's perspectives on sexuality and reproduction. The Black Women's Health Imperative has been instrumental in empowering thousands of African American women to take control of their healthcare.1