My Sister’s Keeper: The Value of Community and Permission for Self-Care ft. Zsanai Epps

Many of us struggle with granting ourselves the permission to care for ourselves in meaningful ways. Bubble baths, mani/pedis, and spa days are great but they’re merely the tip of the iceberg. Meaningful self-care is often found in the mundane. The foods that we typically feed ourselves, the amount of rest we allow ourselves, and the time we give ourselves to engage in leisure are all important parts of meaningful self-care. 

In what ways do you consistently show up for yourself? 

Black women, across all socioeconomic statuses, report higher levels of stress than our counterparts. Statistically, we also experience higher rates of cardiovascular disease, cancers, and autoimmune disease. The correlation between stress levels and grave illness should not be ignored. 

While many of the stressors we face are the result of racial and gender biases beyond our control, it’s important that we routinely incorporate practices to help mitigate those stressors. My conversation with Zsanai Epps- the Director of the My Sister’s Keeper and Positive Period programs at the Black Women’s Health Imperative organization– emphasized this importance.

In our conversation, we spoke about her work with the organization as well as her own experiences that make her so passionate about the health and wellness of Black women and girls. After losing her mother at a young age, Zsanai inherited the responsibility of raising her younger brother. At the ripe of 22, not only did she have to navigate grieving the loss of her mom but also learning how to be the primary caregiver to her then six-year-old brother. Used to being a “superwoman”, she tried to power through her loss and new role without any time off to process the ways in which her life was forever changed. It was through the advice and support of her colleagues at the Black Women’s Health Imperative, that she took time to grieve and adjust to her new life as a mother-figure. 

Outside of this podcast, I speak to people in leadership positions at nonprofit organizations but they rarely have any passion or any real connection to the people they serve. Zsanai is the total opposite. She is the EMBODIMENT of My Sister’s Keeper and is openly excited about the work she does. 

Our conversation explores giving ourselves permission to care for ourselves, the impact of systemic issues like racism/sexism, the importance of community, her work with My Sister’s Keeper and the Positive Period, and so much more. 

 What is the Black Women’s Health Imperative Organization?

Launched in 1981, BWHI is the first nonprofit organization created by Black women to help protect and advance the health and wellness of Black women and girls. Their goal is to increase the number of healthy Black women in the U.S. by 3 million in the coming year through their various programs and special initiatives. Zsanai contributes to these efforts by leading the Positive Period and My Sister’s Keeper programs. 

The Positive Period addresses and works to one day eradicate period poverty. Sadly, many women and school-aged girls across the United States are unable to access the menstrual products they need. Menstrual product insecurities among poor women and girls can lead to shame and even health complications. Since the pandemic, it has become an increasing concern in many communities.  Since last year, BMHI has worked with deeply impacted communities to distribute menstrual products. 

My Sister’s Keeper is a signature program of the Black Women’s Health Initiative (BWHI) whose mission is to empower young Black women ages 18-30 to be powerful advocates and leaders. Their core tenants are: 

• Understanding and applying the tenets of reproductive rights and reproductive justice;
• Sharing lived experiences through authentic storytelling;
• Training and engaging women in policy basics, advocacy, base-building and mobilization;
• Understanding and employing strategies for emotional wellness/self-care; and
• Creating anti-racism/sexism strategies to fight for reproductive justice.

The conversation with Ms. Epps delved into more about each of the programs mentioned above and how you can become involved. Tune into the episode below!

How to connect with the Black Women’s Health Imperative: 

Visit their website.

To support the Positive Period Program- click here!

Learn more about My Sister’s Keeper here!

Learn more about Change Your Lifestyle. Change your Life. (CYL2) here!

Follow BWHI on Instagram!

Be Well, Sis Partners:

Switch Research: use code BEWELLSIS20 for 20% off peer-reviewed Mental Health resources 

Athletic Greens: Redeem your offer of 1 free year of high quality Vitamin D + 5 free travel packs by visiting athleticgreens.com/bewellsis 

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