THURSDAY, AUGUST 13 · 8AM – 5PM PDT
The California Endowment, 1000 Alameda St., Los Angeles CA
This year’s conference, From Harm to Healing: Dismantling Barriers to Reproductive Justice for Black Women and Girls, seeks to confront the continuum of reproductive harm endured by Black women and girls.
It is both a remembrance and a call to action acknowledging that Black women’s bodies have historically been used for extraction, experimentation, and control–from forced reproduction of our ancestors to the surgical experiments of J. Marion Sims and the non-consensual use of Henrietta Lacks’ cells. These harms continue today in maternal disparities, dismissal of Black women’s pain, and systemic barriers to reproductive autonomy.
At this year’s conference, we will hold space for truth-telling and collective healing. Together, we will exchange ideas, support one another, and develop practical steps to resist the very systems that exploit our bodies and reclaim time for joy and healing.
Agenda
Host
Jasolyn Marlisa Cynthia Harris, LCSW, M.Div. is a mother, partner, friend, root worker and multi-disciplinary healing artist.
As a Black queer femme, Jasolyn is dedicated to healing intergenerational familial wounds, specifically our maternal ancestral lineages.
Jasolyn is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker currently working part-time in private practice, specializing in the somatic psychotherapy modality, EMDR (Eye Movement, Desensitization, Reprocessing) and has been in the mental health field for 15 years.
Jasolyn has recently joined the illustrious Black Women For Wellness team in Los Angeles as one of the project evaluators. In addition to her multifaceted work in the mental health field, Jasolyn is a syncretic spiritualist, ceremonialist and clergy member rooted in Black American and African religious traditions of both Hoodoo and decolonized Christianity.
Jasolyn is an academically trained theologian who graduated with her 2nd masters degree in Divinity from Duke University and is a published contributing author of the book, Liberating Church: A 21st Century Hush Harbor Manifesto.
Jasolyn is the former Pastor of a radical Black and POC-centered, queer and trans-affirming Christian interdenominational church community, rooted in the Black Pentecostal Tradition.
Based in Los Angeles, Jasolyn is a newly passionate student and emerging vocal performer, learning the Italian Opera tradition, Bel Canto (translates to “beautiful singing”).
When she’s not co-parenting with her loving partner, she’s somewhere singing, line dancing, laughing hysterically, enjoying all of her daily beauty rituals and making quality memories with her dearest loved ones.
DJ
DJ Kemyuh is an LA Based, multi-hyphenate artist known in LA’s Black and queer underground spaces as a member of Black Bass Collective.
They are a rising star in the overall club and art scenes and intertwine different sonic textures of Black led dance music from club, techno, experimental sounds, footwork breaks & more.
You’ll find their sound and creative expression transcends formats & mediums, as they’re establishing their place in the world of Visual Arts.
Their work includes an emphasis on curating and coordinating emerging and established talent through the means of their joint venture, BBC Uncut, a media platform under Black Bass Collective.
The root of their work looks to educate, platform, and fundamentally shift the way we see multi-disciplinary artist and their capacity to be such. To them, dreams have no limits.
Registration, Breakfast, Opening Remarks
8:00 AM – 8:30 AM
Registration and Breakfast
8:30 AM – 9:00 AM
Welcome and Opening Remarks,
Morning Stretch
The Black Women’s Yoga Collective
The Black Women’s Yoga Collective (BWYC) is dedicated to making wellness more accessible for Black & Brown communities, while increasing representation for Black women in the wellness industry.
We create inclusive, intersectional, and culturally affirming spaces where people can rest, reconnect, and build lasting relationships with themselves and others.
Through yoga, meditation, retreats, and community programming, we welcome everyone from curious beginners to experienced practitioners.
BWYC currently offers virtual classes, domestic & international retreats as well as regular classes, and workshops in New York and Los Angeles, with plans to expand into more communities.
9:00 AM – 9:25 AM
Keynote Address
Keynote Speaker: Paris Hatcher
Paris Hatcher is the founder and director of Black Feminist Future, a national Black feminist organization that amplifies and builds the power of Black feminist leaders, organizations and movements. In this capacity, she also serves on the leadership team of the Movement for Black Lives.
Prior to her work with Black Feminist Future, Paris managed network strategies at Race Forward: The Center for Racial Justice Innovation, and worked as Principal at Rhombus Consulting Group, working to advance intersectional strategy toward queer liberation and racial, gender, and reproductive justice.
She provided technical assistance, group facilitation, and designed innovative cultural and policy campaigns that centered the power and expertise of Black women.
In 2005, Paris co-founded and was the Executive Director of SPARK Reproductive Justice NOW, a leading reproductive health, queer and trans-justice organization in the Southeast where she was born and has built her life. Her expertise and commitment is undeniable.
9:25 AM – 9:30 AM
Intermission
Featured Panel Discussion
9:30 AM – 10:15 AM
Featured Panel
From Harm to Healing: Black Women, Reproductive Justice, and Medical Bondage
For generations, Black women’s bodies have been sites of experimentation, control, neglect, and systemic violence within the American healthcare system.
From forced reproduction during slavery to present-day maternal health disparities, Black women continue to navigate a healthcare system shaped by racism, bias, and unequal treatment.
Inspired by the work of Deirdre Cooper Owens and her groundbreaking book Medical Bondage, this panel will explore the historical and ongoing impact of medical racism on Black women’s reproductive health and bodily autonomy.
Bringing together a mother, physician, therapist, and community voices, this conversation will examine maternal health disparities, medical mistrust, reproductive trauma, informed consent, advocacy, abortion and the continued fight for dignity and equitable healthcare for Black women.
Grounded in the framework of reproductive justice, this discussion will connect historical harm to present-day realities while exploring how to shift the narrative beyond survival to center joy, liberation, wellness, and healing for Black women.
The panel will uplift community accountability, transformative care, and collective pathways toward justice, restoration, and equitable healthcare.
Moderators: Lori Rodriguez, Education and Advocacy Coordinator, Sister Song
Panelists:
Danielle Toyou, Community Mother/ Advocate
Jessica Knott, LMFT
Joy Bradley, Alabama Women’s Health Center
Moderator: Lori Rodriguez, Education and Advocacy Coordinator, Sister Song
Lori Rodriguez (she/they) is a queer writer, educator, and artist of indigenous Central American descent.
She works at the intersection of political organizing and education, art, and media. She has worked in the abortion and LGBTQ movements at the local, statewide, and national levels, and is now the education coordinator with SisterSong.
Her written work and photography have been published by various small presses, and she is a contributor on a forthcoming Reproductive Futurism anthology edited by Loretta Ross.
She is a bicycle mechanic, sailor, and motorcyclist, and works on political/transportation/art projects in her spare time.
Panelist: Danielle Toyou, Community Mother/ Advocate
Danielle Toyou is a devoted mom, podcaster, and writer from Chicago. She hosts the heartfelt podcast I’m Talkin To You, I’m Talkin To Me Too, where she shares raw, soulful “mirror moments”: vulnerable reflections on healing, releasing past traumas, motherhood, resilience, and embracing authenticity as a Black woman.
Through intimate episodes drawn from her own journey, Danielle creates spaces for honest self-talk, emotional liberation, and redefining worth.
Her writing echoes these themes in essays and narratives that connect deeply with listeners seeking courage, clarity, and community.
With a warm, relatable voice rooted in real-life experiences, Danielle is passionate about uplifting others through storytelling and vulnerability.
Panelist: Jessica Knott, LMFT
Jessica Knott, LMFT, is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, entrepreneur, speaker, and community advocate dedicated to helping individuals heal, grow, and thrive.
As a cancer survivor and mother, she brings both professional expertise and lived experience to conversations surrounding mental health, medical trauma, self-advocacy, and wellness.
Jessica is the founder of KEO Care and the nonprofit initiatives Smile You’re Alive and Let The Girls Talk. Her work focuses on empowering underserved communities, promoting emotional well-being, and advancing equitable access to care and resources.
Panelist: Dr. Joy Bradley, Alabama Women’s Health Center
Dr. Lilanta Joy Bradley is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Community Medicine
and Population Health at the University of Alabama (UA). This Atlanta, GA native completed her doctorate in Health Promotion and Behavior from the University of Georgia, with a certificate in Interdisciplinary Qualitative Studies. She also has a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Louisiana at Monroe. Dr. Bradley was a
fellow of RWJF’s Interdisciplinary Research Leaders Program where her team addressed structural racism and community wellbeing. Her overarching research agenda is to co-
create liberatory health solutions with communities of color.
10:15 AM – 10:30 AM
Refreshment Break
Morning Breakout Sessions
10:30 AM – 11:45 AM
Beauty Justice
All About Love: Celebrating Black Beauty
Informed by the CROWN Act and Bell Hooks’ “All About Love”, this conversation will challenge the Eurocentric beauty standards and harmful social norms Black women and girls have been subjected to inter-generationally; explore Beauty Justice; and celebrate the beauty and diversity of our hair.
Workshop Chair: Arnedra Jordan
Moderator: Professor D. Wendy Greene, J.D., L.L.M
Moderator: Professor D. Wendy Greene
The daughter of American civil rights activists, Professor Doris
“Wendy” Greene is a trailblazing U.S. anti-discrimination law scholar,
teacher, and advocate who has devoted her professional life’s work to advancing racial, color, and gender equity in workplaces, schools,
public accommodations, and beyond.
She is the first (and only)
tenured African American woman law professor at Drexel University
Thomas R. Kline School of Law and the Director of the Kline Law
Center for Law, Policy, and Social Action.
Professor Greene’s award-
winning publications and public advocacy have generated civil rights
protections for countless individuals who experience discrimination in
various spheres.
A visionary scholar-activist, Professor Greene’s scholarship sheds light on how notions of
identity shape the scope of civil rights protections—and often leave people unprotected by law
when their civil rights are violated.
Professor Greene has illuminated this state of affairs most
notably in her portfolio of publications examining what she has coined as “grooming codes
discrimination”: a legal construct that is now recognized in civil rights discourse, theory, and
praxis.
Her internationally recognized body of work—which puts forth viable theories and interventions to redress grooming codes discrimination and its harms—have inspired: academic
and social justice movements; influential corporate and public policymaking; as well as
groundbreaking enforcement stances of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
(EEOC), state and local civil rights enforcement agencies, federal courts, administrative law judges, and civil rights organizations domestically and abroad.
Workshop Chair: Arnedra Jordan
Arnedra Jordan serves as the Director of Programs at Black Women for Wellness (BWW), where she oversees a wide range of initiatives dedicated to advancing health, wellness, and justice for Black women and girls.
With over fifteen years of experience in community organizing, program development, and advocacy, she brings both vision and hands-on leadership to the role.
Arnedra manages departments that include Beauty Justice, Breast Health/Keep in Touch, Food Justice, and the Reproductive Justice Conference, ensuring programs are impactful, collaborative, and responsive to community needs.
Known for her ability to build strong partnerships, secure funding, and mentor emerging leaders, Arnedra also fills gaps across departments when additional oversight is needed, strengthening BWW’s overall organizational capacity.
Grown & Sexy
Housing Opportunities Mean Everything: Domestic Violence, Housing, and the Cost of Inaction Film Screening
This session will begin with the showing of Housing Opportunities Mean Everything: Domestic Violence, Housing, and the Cost of Inaction, a documentary. After the documentary showing, we will have a panel discussion and end with an audience discussion.
The documentary shares the stories of survivors who became homeless after leaving their homes in search of safety for themselves and their families, and a true look at what that decision, and those to follow, were like.
Participants will learn about what it really takes for survivors of domestic violence to leave an unsafe situation, the systemic challenges they face in pursuing safety, and the programs that make a life-changing difference.
This documentary and community discussion addresses not only the deep connection between the state’s homelessness crisis and domestic violence, but also what is needed to support and address this unique intersection.
This workshop will connect personal stories to systems: housing policy, survivor safety, economic violence, and institutional failure.
Moderator: Candace Reece
Panelists: TBA
Speaker: Fannie Robinson
Ms. Fannie Robinson is a resident of Los Angeles, California where she is the founder and executive director of MOTH Foundation, a women and girls nonprofit. Fannie Robinson is also a domestic violence survivor and is passionate about advocating for women and children and ascertaining a safe and family-oriented environment for their
healing.
Ms. Robinson worked in Corporate America in Human Resources for decades before turning her sights to the nonprofit sector full time. Ms. Fannie Robinson earned her education in the state of Illinois, holding a Bachelor of
Science in Business and an MBA in Business Administration with concentrations in Human Resources and Marketing. She completed her studies at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, IL. Fannie spent over 25 years in Corporate America within the entertainment industry, serving in various Human Resources roles, including HR Coordinator, HR Generalist, HR Manager, and HR Director, at companies such as Entertainment Partners and Central
Casting before dedicating herself full time to her nonprofit work.
As a survivor of domestic violence, her personal experience fuels a deep and unwavering passion for advocating on behalf of the victims she serves. MOTH Foundation is dedicated to serving some of the most vulnerable members of the community, including victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, child abuse, and those who are sick, disabled, or economically disadvantaged, while also actively working to prevent youth violence. MOTH also assists disadvantaged youth, mothers navigating child custody cases, and individuals seeking to avoid recidivism.
Ms. Robinson organizes and participates in numerous outreach events throughout Los Angeles County, connecting residents with critical resources ranging from back-to-school support for all educational levels to workforce readiness programs, financial literacy training, and employment assistance. An accomplished grant writer, Fannie
has successfully secured over $1.2 million in federal loans and grants for both nonprofit and for-profit
organizations.
Her leadership and advocacy have led to her serving as a keynote speaker for multiple fundraising events, galas, and community outreach initiatives. In addition to leading MOTH, Fannie is the president of the National Council of
Negro Women View Park Section, an organization committed to empowering underprivileged communities through its core four pillars: Social Justice, Education, Health Equity, and Economic Empowerment.
She also serves on the Board of Directors for We Raise Our Children Inc. (WeROC), a violence prevention nonprofit dedicated to supporting youth in urban and marginalized areas of Los Angeles County. Fannie’s collaborative spirit
has fostered partnerships with numerous organizations across Los Angeles, bringing vital resources to individuals who might otherwise go without.
Her tireless commitment to advocacy and community service has earned her awards, certificates, and public
commendations from Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell’s Office, Mayor Karen Bass’ Office, and various legislative and community organizations. Driven by a mission to create lasting change, Fannie Robinson continues to be a powerful
force for hope, equity, and empowerment in communities too often overlooked.
Speaker: Torron "Tumi" Shakir
Torron “Tumi” Shakir is a crisis counselor, peer support volunteer, intuitive life coach, and communication professional dedicated to advancing healing, resilience, and community.
As a sexual assault survivor, she draws on her lived experience and crisis intervention background to advocate for trauma-informed care, reproductive justice, and the well-being of Black women and girls.
Through speaking and service, Tumi creates space for honest conversations that foster healing, empowerment, and hope while encouraging others to transform pain into purpose.
Speaker: Jametra “Mimi” Allen
Jametra “Mimi” Allen is a passionate and experienced community doula and the proud owner of SoAmazing Doula. With over five years of dedicated service, Mimi received her training from the International Doula Institute and is Medi-Cal approved, allowing her to provide care and support to families across her community.
Deeply committed to her work, Mimi has served more than 200 families, offering compassionate, personalized care. In addition to her doula services, she is also trained in hospice care for infants, bringing comfort, resources, and guidance to families navigating some of life’s most tender moments.
Mimi is known for her dedication, warmth, and professionalism. She forms strong bonds with her clients and adopted families, ensuring they feel empowered and supported throughout their journey. Her love for her work shines through in every interaction, making a lasting impact on the lives she touches.
In recognition of her advocacy and service, Mimi was honored as a “Fierce Auntie” by Black Women for Wellness, a testament to her powerful role as a nurturer, leader, and champion for Black maternal and infant health.
Moderator: Candace Reece
Candace Reece is the Founder of Kandake Living and Creator of Reclaim Your Crown™, a transformational empowerment movement helping women rebuild after domestic violence, trauma, and toxic relationships.
As a Certified Domestic Violence Advocate, speaker, empowerment coach, and survivor, she uses her lived experience to help women reclaim their worth, confidence, voice, and identity.
Through coaching, workshops, and community healing experiences, Candace creates safe spaces where women are reminded that they are not broken, they are priceless.
Civic Engagement
Beyond the Vote: Civic Engagement as Collective Resistance and Restoration
This session centers on the electoral process as a critical site of resistance and transformation in the fight for reproductive justice for Black women and girls.
In alignment with the conference theme, Harm to Healing, we recognize that the same systems responsible for historic and ongoing reproductive harm are reinforced through policy decisions shaped by who votes, who organizes, and who holds power.
Moderators: TBA
Panelists: TBA
Youth & Young Adult
Youth Organizing for Safety, Care, and Reproductive Justice
The workshop will explore how youth organizing can serve as a pathway from institutional harm toward collective healing and community power.
Drawing from Kahlila’s experience organizing to defund school police and reinvest in Black students, she will help participants examine how policing, criminalization, inadequate health resources, and other systemic barriers shape young people’s safety, bodily autonomy, educational experiences, and ability to determine their own futures.
The session will highlight how reproductive justice extends beyond reproductive healthcare to include the right of young people to grow up in safe and supportive communities, access the resources they need to thrive, and participate in decisions affecting their bodies, schools, families, and futures.
Through interactive discussion and organizing activities, youth will identify the issues affecting their communities, recognize their own knowledge and power, and develop strategies for moving from individual experiences of harm toward collective advocacy, healing, and systems change.
Moderators: TBA
Panelists: TBA
Panelist: Kahlila Williams
Kahlila Williams is a youth organizer, researcher, and doctoral student in K–12 Education Policy at the University of Southern California.
A former foster youth and longtime education justice advocate, Kahlila began organizing as a student with Students Deserve, where she helped lead efforts to defund school police and reinvest resources into Black students, school communities, and systems of care.
Her work examines how young people organize against institutional harm and build safer, more healing-centered futures through collective action.
Kahlila’s research interests include educational equity, abolitionist school safety, restorative justice, youth organizing, and the experiences of Black and foster youth within schools. She has contributed to policy advocacy, participatory research, and community-based initiatives across Los Angeles.
Maternal Health
The Weight We Carry: How Stress Lands in a Black Woman's Body — and How We Heal
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Eboni January, MD FACOG
Dr. Eboni January — “Dr. EJ” — is a board-certified OB-GYN, surgeon, bestselling author, and nationally recognized leader in maternal health, preventative wellness, and healthcare equity.
Licensed across 15 states, she translates complex women’s health science into empowering, actionable knowledge for women, families, and underserved communities.
A proud native of East St. Louis, she serves as Clinical Associate Professor at Roseman University College of Medicine, founded the Daniel January Foundation, and is a Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award recipient.
She is also a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, reflecting a lifelong commitment to service, sisterhood, and leadership.
Men’s Workshop
Black Men’s Reproductive & Health Justice: From Harm to Healing
This track highlights the health realities of Black men as a critical part of reproductive justice and community wellbeing. It explores the impact of systemic inequities, cultural expectations, and barriers to care on Black men’s physical, sexual, reproductive, and mental health.
Participants will engage in dialogue on stigma, prevention, healing, and access to care, while examining how supporting Black men’s wellness strengthens families, relationships, and communities.
This is a space to name harm, normalize care, and advance collective healing.
Moderators: TBA
Panelists: TBA
Keynote Speaker: Dr. William King
Dr. William King is a board-certified physician and HIV specialist with over 25 years of experience.
Raised in South LA, he returned to serve his community with care that’s inclusive, expert, and judgment-free, right where it’s needed most.
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Vincent Anthony
Dr. Vincent Anthony is board certified in Internal Medicine and Nephrology and has committed himself to building a streamlined operations process in order to provide high quality and efficient patient care. He has deep expertise in areas of medicine such as Hypertension and Diabetes.
Dr. Anthony is also passionate about bringing a greater awareness to individuals on how critically important kidney function is to our overall health.
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Lunch and Community Networking,
Afternoon Stretch Break
The Black Women’s Yoga Collective
Public Policy Session
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Reproductive Justice
Reproductive Justice and the State of Black Women’s Health Abortion, Policy, and the Fight for Bodily Autonomy
Abortion access is a fundamental component of reproductive justice and bodily autonomy. The reproductive justice movement was created by Black women who recognized that the legal right to abortion means little without the ability to obtain safe, affordable, timely, and culturally responsive care.
Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, abortion bans and restrictions have created increasingly dangerous barriers for Black women, who already experience racial discrimination within the healthcare system, higher rates of maternal mortality, economic inequality, and limited access to reproductive healthcare.
These policies can force people to travel long distances, delay care, endure financial hardship, or continue pregnancies against their wishes. Black women, low-income communities, young people, and individuals living in states with abortion bans are disproportionately affected.
This panel will examine the current state of abortion access and the policies shaping Black women’s reproductive freedom. Panelists will discuss abortion bans, criminalization, medication abortion, interstate travel for care, misinformation, financial and logistical barriers, and the political forces threatening bodily autonomy.
The conversation will also explore the leadership of Black women in the fight to protect abortion access and identify the policy, advocacy, funding, and community-based solutions needed to ensure that every person can make decisions about their body, pregnancy, family, and future without government interference.
Moderators: TBA
Panelist: Dr. DeShawn Taylor, MD
Panelist: Dr. DeShawn Taylor, MD
DeShawn Taylor, MD, MSc (she/her) is an award-winning physician, scholar, clinic founder, and nationally recognized Reproductive Justice advocate.
As an OB-GYN and provider of abortion and gender-affirming care, she leverages decades of clinical experience to advance reproductive and sexual health access through direct service, education, and policy advocacy.
As founder and CEO of Desert Star Institute for Family Planning and Health Justice MD, Dr. Taylor cultivates equitable healthcare access for marginalized communities.
Her latest work, Beyond Choice: An Essential Workbook for Personal and Community Transformation Through Reproductive Justice, is essential reading for those deeply invested in social progress and change.
Panelist: Kaylan Tanner
Kaylan Tanner is a reproductive justice policy strategist dedicated to advancing equitable policies that ensure all people have the resources, autonomy, and support to make decisions about their bodies, families, and futures.
As Deputy Director of State Strategies at All* Above All, she leads advocacy efforts with partners across the country to advance reproductive justice through state policy, coalition building, and grassroots organizing.
She has helped shape policy strategies in states across the country, with a particular focus on protecting access to emergency abortion care and removing barriers to reproductive healthcare.
Before joining All* Above All, Kaylan served on Capitol Hill as a Health Legislative Assistant, where she worked on healthcare policy and gained firsthand experience navigating the federal legislative process.
A graduate of Dillard University and George Washington University, Kaylan was recently recognized by ESSENCE as one of its Next Gen 10 honorees for her leadership and advocacy.
She is passionate about developing the next generation of leaders and ensuring communities most impacted by policy are at the center of the decisions that shape their lives.
Moderator: Tiffany Bailey
2:00 PM – 2:15 PM
Break
Breakout Sessions
2:15 PM – 3:15 PM
Global Health
Expanding Reproductive Justice Through Menstrual Regulation: Global Applications, Autonomy, and Patient-Centered Care
Historically and across cultures, people at risk of unwanted pregnancy have used a range of methods to bring on a late period without confirming pregnancy.
These methods have been described using a range of terms, including menstrual regulation, menstrual extraction, and more recently in the United States, “period pills.”
Menstrual regulation aligns with reproductive justice principles by enabling individuals to make decisions early in a potential pregnancy, on their own terms, and with the level of information they choose.
This panel will highlight global practices with menstrual regulation, featuring examples from Latin America, Asia, and Africa.
Panelists will also discuss successes in integrating menstrual regulation with pills into formal healthcare systems in.
Moderators: TBA
Panelists: TBA
Environmental Justice
No Drilling Where We're Living: Envisioning the Future of the Inglewood Oil Field
There are over 7,000 active and idle oil wells across LA, and the Inglewood Oil Field in South LA is the largest urban oil field in the nation.
These wells are mostly located in Black and Brown communities, and operations at these sites release toxic chemicals that cause negative health impacts, including reproductive harm.
This session will offer health education and information about the history of oil drilling in LA, as well as create space for collective healing through storytelling and community visioning.
Moderators: Stephany Cartney
Panelists: Bhavana, Lisa, Deja McCullum
Moderator: Tianna Shaw-Wakeman
Tianna Shaw-Wakeman is an environmental and racial justice activist. She holds a Bachelor’s in Psychology and a Master’s in Social Entrepreneurship from the University of Southern California where she graduated as the first Black University Valedictorian in USC’s 140+ year history for the Class of 2021.
Currently, Tianna serves as the Environmental Justice Program Director for non-profit Black Women for Wellness (BWW) where she works to advance the health and well-being of Black women and girls by engaging in community-focused research, empowerment, and advocacy.
Through her work at BWW, she is actively engaged in efforts to address environmental inequities pushed on communities of color in South LA – in particular the reality that Black people are overexposed & underprotected from toxic pollution in their built environment.
Tianna has been recognized by Good Morning America, as a Coming Clean Movement Leader, and she’s spoken at the Summit of America’s, the LA Times Book Festival, the LA Green Business Council, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM), the LA World Affairs Council, the Hollywood Climate Summit, and as a guest lecturer at USC, UC Berkeley, U Riverside, and Occidental College.
Previously, she served on the Mayor’s Youth Council for Climate Action, was nominated to the LA City Climate Emergency Mobilization Commission, and she was a board member for the LA League of Conservation Voters.
Tianna’s efforts come from a belief that we can all be liberated to enjoy thriving lives free from the oppression of white supremacy and capitalism, but only if we prioritize intersectionality and raise the voices of those most harmed to find solutions.
Youth Track
Her Body, Her Mind, Her Voice: From Silence to Self-Advocacy & Purpose
For many Black girls, conversations about reproductive health and mental health can be surrounded by shame, cultural stigma, misinformation, and silence. Reproductive justice is not only about access to reproductive healthcare, but it is also about having the knowledge, autonomy, resources, safety, and support to make informed decisions about your body and your future!
This youth-centered workshop explores the connection between reproductive wellness, mental health, self-advocacy, and purpose, creating a culturally responsive space for young women to talk openly about the issues that can shape their lives, including body autonomy, consent, sexual health, periods, pregnancy, abortion, relationships, and emotional well-being.
Through reflection, honest conversation, and practical tools, participants will explore six principles:
Know Your Body → Understand Your Mind → Protect Your Wellness → Use Your Voice → Make Informed Choices → Live With Purpose.
The session will empower girls to recognize that their bodies, voices, mental health, and futures belong to them—and that having access to information, supportive resources, and safe spaces to ask questions is essential to reproductive justice and liberation.
Panelist: Jazmyn Davis, M.A., Ph.D.(c)
Jazmyn Davis, M.A., Ph.D. Candidate is a mental health and women’s wellness advocate, wellness educator, and founder of Pretty Grls With Purpose (PGP), an organization dedicated to creating intentional spaces where girls and women can prioritize their mental, emotional, physical, and overall well-being.
A proud Spelman College alumna, Jazmyn majored in Biology and Economics on the pre-medical track, initially pursuing her goal of becoming an OB-GYN. While her professional path eventually shifted, her passion for women’s health and reproductive wellness remained deeply rooted in her work.
Jazmyn is currently pursuing advanced training in clinical psychology, with a focus on trauma and the ways culture, relationships, identity, and life experiences shape mental and emotional health. She is also completing the final requirements toward her doula certification.
Her passion lies at the intersection of women’s health, reproductive health, mental health, and holistic wellness, with a particular commitment to improving access to safe, supported, and empowering birth experiences for Black women. She is passionate about creating spaces where women and girls can have honest, culturally responsive conversations about the topics they are often taught to keep silent.
Through Pretty Grls With Purpose, Jazmyn develops programs, workshops, wellness experiences, and community initiatives designed to help girls and women strengthen self-worth, emotional intelligence, healthy boundaries, self-advocacy, and overall wellness. Her work centers shame-free conversations that empower women and girls to better understand themselves, their bodies, their emotions, and their needs.
Jazmyn believes that wellness is not simply about surviving; it is about creating the space, language, resources, and community necessary for women and girls to thrive.
Men’s Track
Black Men’s Health | Prevention, Care & Long-Term Wellness
The health of Black men is deeply connected to the well-being of Black families and communities. This session moves from awareness to action, bringing together medical professionals and health experts to discuss prevention, early intervention, and long-term wellness.
Participants will learn about the health conditions that disproportionately impact Black men—including hypertension, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, prostate health, mental health, and sexual health—and explore screenings, lifestyle strategies, and resources that support healthier outcomes.
Grounded in reproductive justice, this conversation highlights how investing in Black men’s health strengthens families, communities, and future generations.
Moderators: TBA
Panelists: TBA
LGBTQIA+
Healing for the Long Run: HIV, Reproductive Justice, and Long-term Wellness
This two-part session features an educational presentation that explores topics on HIV prevention, sexual health education, and wellness through open dialogue, designed to foster community engagement and promote available resources.
Following the presentation, panelists will uncover what long-term wellness looks like, reduce stigma around HIV, and center the lived experiences of our most vulnerable community members.
The conversation will also uplift Black queer joy as a radical act of healing, resistance, and community care, honoring the ways joy, pleasure, and connection sustain our communities in the face of systemic harm.
Moderator: Asia Bryant-Wilkerson
Panelists: Luckie Alexander, Mallery Johnson
Keynote Speaker: Miguel Garcia, Community Liaison with Gilead Sciences
Miguel Garcia is a Community Liaison with Gilead Sciences, supporting community engagement efforts across Southern California. In his role, Miguel collaborates with healthcare providers, community-based organizations, public health partners, and advocacy groups to help facilitate educational programs and community discussions related to HIV prevention, sexual health, and health equity.
He is passionate about fostering meaningful partnerships and supporting efforts that improve access to health education and services.
Healthysexual is an educational, non-promotional presentation focused on promoting sexual health and wellness through open dialogue, awareness, and access to prevention resources.
The session will explore topics such as HIV prevention, PrEP awareness, sexual health education, reducing stigma, and empowering individuals to make informed decisions about their health.
The presentation is designed to foster community engagement and increase awareness of available resources that support overall sexual well-being.
Maternal Health
Speaking Truth to Power Black Voices
This session provides a practical, empowering overview of maternal health, focusing on what women need to know across the prenatal, postpartum, and long-term health journey.
Participants will learn about the most common and preventable risks impacting maternal health, including hormonal changes, chronic conditions, mental health, stress, sleep, and postpartum recovery. The session will highlight key warning signs women should never ignore, along with daily habits and preventive strategies that improve outcomes for both mother and child.
In addition, the session will briefly examine how disparities in access to care, bias, and social factors can impact maternal outcomes, equipping attendees with a broader understanding of how to advocate for themselves and support healthier communities.
Moderators: TBA
Panelists: TBA
3:15 PM – 3:30 PM
Break
Power Talks
3:30 PM – 4:00 PM
Lauren Johnson
Tori Mitchenor & Charles White (All for Kids) – Mental Health and Black Women
4:00 PM – 4:15 PM
Closing Remarks
4:15 PM – 4:30 PM
Community Networking and Departure
Sponsors
Thank you to the organizations making this year’s reproductive justice conference possible.
Our Team
Jan Robinson Flint - Executive Director
Black Women for Wellness, a woman-centered community-based organization that educates Black women and girls about reproductive justice issues, is led by Executive Director Janette Robinson Flint.
She is also a member of the Los Angeles Coalition for Reproductive Justice, the California Coalition for Reproductive Freedom, and In Our Own Voice, a national coalition of Black women advocating for reproductive justice.
Arnedra Jordan - Director
Arnedra Jordan is the Project Manager at Black Women for Wellness, overseeing the Beauty Justice Initiative.
With over fifteen years of experience in the breast health field, Arnedra has dedicated her career to advocating for the health and well-being of Black women and girls.
Her work involves providing education on environmental health, beauty justice, and breast health education, where she focuses on addressing harmful ingredients in beauty products and promoting comprehensive breast cancer awareness and prevention strategies.
Erika Gist, MPH - Program Analyst
Ms. Gist serves as the Program Analyst at Black Women for Wellness, where she plays a key role in developing and executing comprehensive program analysis reports that support improved curricula, effective program management, and adherence to grant deliverables.
With a deep commitment to reproductive justice, she also co-chairs BWW’s annual Reproductive Justice Conference–a yearly convening that brings together community members, educators, advocates, health professionals and doulas to discuss the state of reproductive rights, reproductive health, reproductive justice and the overall well being of Black women and girls.
With over 20 years of dedicated service to BWW, Ms. Gist brings a wealth of knowledge and a passionate commitment to advocating for the well-being of Black women and girls.
Asia Bryant-Wilkerson
As a chef with more than seven years of experience, she has developed a passion for assisting African Americans in overcoming the barriers that prevent them from living a healthy lifestyle.
She seeks to remove all barriers to wellness by working with the Kitchen Divas and National Diabetes Prevention programs, increasing nutritional awareness, providing demonstrations of flavorful cooking, encouraging physical activity, and providing various healing modalities along the way.
Ari Grant - Comms Coordinator
Hailing from Washington D.C., Ariel Grant is a marketing maven that produces dynamic results. A graduate of The University of Oklahoma, Ariel currently serves as the Communication Coordinator for Black Women for Wellness.
Ariel’s experience working in various industries equips her with a rich perspective that is unmatched.
She has worked directly on marketing and communications teams with established organizations including INROADS, Women In Film, UNCF, The National Academies Press, and the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) Oklahoma City Thunder to name a few.
A. Ja'Nea James - Environmental & Beauty Justice Support Specialist
Adia “Ja’Nea” James is a third year medical student and a PRIME LEAD-ABC Scholar at the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine.
She was born and raised in Sweet Home Alabama, where her grandmother, a retired nurse, played a significant role in her upbringing and passion for community-based healthcare.
Ja’Nea graduated from Pomona College with a B.A. in Gender and Women’s Studies on the pre-medical track. After college, she dedicated two years to Black Women for Wellness as the lead program coordinator for the Sisters in Motion Program.
Her research interests include Black women’s health, gender dynamics in the Black community, and Black healing traditions and rituals. Outside of her studies and advocacy work, Ja’Nea loves to read, bike, kayak, longboard, skate, crochet, and FaceTime her baby cousins down South.
