Empowering Black Women with MS & Lupus:

Following the success of our pilot program that served 50 Black women with MS in Atlanta, Georgia, Empowering Black Women with MS & Lupus is expanding through strategic partnerships with local health systems including Shepherd Center and Wellstar Health System. This 4-module, virtual program aims to offer culturally relevant mental health support and practical self-advocacy tools for Black women living with either MS or Lupus — two complex autoimmune diseases that disproportionately impact this community and are often accompanied by delays in diagnosis, inconsistent care, and emotional burnout.

The program will offer guided, virtual group sessions facilitated by healthcare providers in MS and Lupus alongside licensed mental health professionals. Through peer connection, emotional wellness tools, and system navigation strategies, the program equips participants with the confidence and clarity to take charge of their care journeys.

By focusing on both wellness and self-advocacy, the program helps participants strengthen communication with healthcare providers, improve mental resilience, and feel less alone in their chronic illness experience — all while reinforcing trust between patients and the health systems that serve them.

This program aims to:

  • Support emotional wellness and reduce stress, anxiety, and isolation

  • Equip participants with tools for navigating healthcare systems, treatment options, and care plans

  • Enhance provider trust and patient engagement within participating health system communities

  • Create a digital support network of Black women living with chronic illness