Healthline Media has taken a very noteworthy step in support of the health of Black trans women with the launch of Black Trans Women’s Wellness and Mental Health Grants. In partnership with the Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective (BEAM) the new grant program will award three grants of up to $10,000 each to Black trans women-led projects supporting this marginalized group.
Healthline Media previously invested $100,000 in BEAM’s Black Wellness Innovation Fund to create a series of innovative Black-led wellness programs. The recent grants are a portion of that investment and were established to sustainably address unmet mental healthcare needs within Black communities. The organization’s grand vision is to build a national movement dedicated to the healing, wellness, and liberation of marginalized communities.
“Over the last 10 years it’s become more evident to the general public that dominant mental health interventions were not built with Black people in mind. This fund fills that gap by supporting innovative culture-based mental health interventions that invite Black communities across the country to heal on our own terms,” said Yolo Akili Robinson, Founder and Executive Director of BEAM.
Advocating for the health of Black trans-women is timely as they now experience the highest levels of violence and distress of any group—raising anxiety, depression, and suicidality to high levels. The grant program puts a focus on the disparities in mental health resources that includes supporting Black trans women-led projects that contribute to better mental health of Black trans women.
“At Healthline Media, we are passionate about addressing disparities in access to health and wellness,” said Laurie Dewan, VP of Brand Insights and Communications at Healthline Media. “Through our partnership with BEAM and the Black Trans Women’s Wellness and Mental Health Grants, we are furthering our vision of a stronger, healthier world by centering Black trans women innovators and making direct investments in the well-being of Black trans women.”
The three grant winners will be chosen by a panel of accomplished leaders in the Black trans community, including:
- Dominique Morgan, Executive Director, Black and Pink Inc.
- Aaryn Lang, Writer, Public Speaker & Media Personality
- Valerie Spencer, Capacity Building & Social Services Specialist
- Aryah Lester, Deputy Director, Transgender Strategy Center
Applications for the grants to Black trans women-led projects are now being accepted. The winners will be announced in January 2022.
