The Black Women’s Institute for Health (BWIH) is a national, Black-led
organization transforming the conditions that harm Black women and girls across
every social determinant of health in Canada.
Through our three pillars: Systemic Change, Advocacy, and Liberation Through
Knowledge and Care, we use research, policy, and community-rooted programs to
drive equity and build power.
We exist to make Black women visible, valued, and well.
Our Vision
A future where Black women and girls are not just surviving, but thriving, living lives marked by health, safety, joy, and sovereignty. A world where our truths are data, our leadership is valued, our care systems are built for us, by us and health is for all Black women and girls.
Our Vision
A future where Black women and girls are not just surviving, but thriving, living lives marked by health, safety, joy, and sovereignty. A world where our truths are data, our leadership is valued, our care systems are built for us, by us and health is for all Black women and girls.
Our Mission
Our Mission
Our Three Pillars of Impact
Systemic Change
- We drive systems-level transformation by uncovering the roots of inequity, building strategy, and offering solutions that center Black women.
- This is where our research, data, and recommendations live
- This is where we map the landscape and name the harm
- This is where change begins, from the inside out
Advocacy
- We push institutions and governments to listen, shift, and act.
- Policy recommendations and legislative advocacy Public education, media, and narrative change
- Amplifying Black women’s voices and lived experiences
Liberation Through Knowledge and Care
- We create healing-centred, culturally grounded programs that support Black women and girls in reclaiming what systems have tried to take: our wellness, our wisdom, and our right to lead ourselves.
- This is not about building capacity.
- This is about restoring sovereignty.
- About making space for Black women and girls to learn, heal, grow, and thrive on their own terms.
- Through mental health supports, maternal care programs, health literacy, leadership workshops, and intergenerational learning,
- We offer Liberation Through Knowledge and Care.
Our Goals
At the Black Women’s Institute for Health, we are working to:
End health disparities affecting Black women and girls by transforming the systems that create harm—across healthcare, education, housing, employment, and justice.
Generate and lead community-driven research that reflects Black women’s lived experiences and becomes the foundation for policy, funding, and structural change.
Advocate for legislative and institutional change that protects and promotes the wellbeing of Black women and girls in Canada.
Create culturally grounded, healing-centred programs that meet the needs of Black women and girls—from maternal health and mental wellness to youth empowerment and economic security.
Restore knowledge, power, and sovereignty to Black communities through storytelling, education, and intergenerational learning.
Build a national infrastructure that supports Black women’s leadership in health, policy, advocacy, and care, because we deserve to lead the systems that affect our lives.
About the Black Women’s Institute for Health
Sisterhood at Our Heart
At the Black Women’s Institute for Health, we believe in the power of unity and sisterhood. We invite you to join our vibrant community of Black women who uplift and support one another.
By becoming a part of our sisterhood, you will gain a network of like-minded individuals who understand your experiences and challenges. Together, we strive to empower each other, celebrate our successes, and navigate the complexities of healthcare as Black women. Our community provides a safe and inclusive space where you can share your stories, access valuable resources, and engage in meaningful conversations.
Whether you are seeking information, seeking solace, or simply want to connect with others who share your journey, our sisterhood welcomes you with open arms. Join us today and let’s forge a path towards better health and well-being together.
Unveiling the Crisis, Uniting for Change
What We Are Doing: Confronting a Silent Crisis
At the Black Women’s Institute for Health (BWIH), we see health differently. It’s more than doctor visits; it’s about the full spectrum of living – physical, mental, and spiritual wellness.
We’re here to change the narrative with our Africentric, holistic approach.
Who We Are: A Collective with a Crucial Mission
Why BWIH? Because Our Lives Depend On It
Our Work
Transforming Health Outcomes for Black Women and Girls
See All Our Programs
Here’s How We We Work to Make a Difference
We work with one singular goal to amplify and change the health and social outcomes and experiences of Black women and girls. For too long Black women have long stood as pillars for others, often neglecting our own needs. We can’t afford to do that any longer. The Black Women’s Institute for Health works to centre and prioritize our needs, our outcomes our experiences and work towards the changes we need.
BWIH is not just an organization but a movement—a movement ignited by Black women, for Black women.
As a non-profit organization, we are dedicated to advocating for the health and survival of Black women and girls, focusing on all social determinants of health and mobilizing for tangible change within policy and legislation..
