Breaking silence around Black women’s reproductive health: A conversation with Lilly Marcelin – Environmental Defense Fund
Community activist Lilly Marcelin has dedicated her career to addressing racial and social inequities. In 2012, she founded and is now the Executive Director of the Boston-based organization, Resilient Sisterhood Project (RSP). The organization’s mission is to educate and empower women of African descent about common, but rarely discussed, diseases of the reproductive system that disproportionately affect them through workshops, trainings, empowerment circles, and community edu…….
Community activist Lilly Marcelin has dedicated her career to addressing racial and social inequities. In 2012, she founded and is now the Executive Director of the Boston-based organization, Resilient Sisterhood Project (RSP). The organization’s mission is to educate and empower women of African descent about common, but rarely discussed, diseases of the reproductive system that disproportionately affect them through workshops, trainings, empowerment circles, and community education and outreach programs. Ms. Marcelin ensures RSP’s work is done in partnership with – rather than on behalf of – Black women in order to address deeply rooted systemic racism.
I recently spoke with Lilly Marcelin to learn more about her advocacy around Black women’s reproductive health, including the importance of involving and centering Black women in this work.
This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity and approved by Lilly Marcelin.
Jennifer Ortega: How did your journey in Black women’s reproductive health work begin?
Lilly Marcelin: My journey in Black women’s reproductive health started over three decades ago when I began working with women of various ethnicities and racial backgrounds, and in particular, women of African descent, who faced gender-based violence, domestic and sexual assault, human trafficking, labor exploitation, immigration problems, and so much more. Over time in my interactions with them, I noticed a common thread – that some of the women were also dealing with many diseases of the reproductive system. That awareness piqued my curiosity and concern.
JO: What led to the creation of RSP versus addressing these issues through existing programs?
LM: Many factors led to the creation of RSP. It was becoming clear to me that these health issues might be impacting many other women in the Black community. I wondered about family members, friends, and peers – did they too struggle with these health concerns? Drawing on our rich oral and cultural tradition as Black folks, I invited close family members, friends, and colleagues to gather in circles and speak one-on-one about their experiences in dealing with diseases that included uterine fibroids, endometriosis, infertility, polycystic ovarian syndrome, breast, cervical, endometrial, ovarian cancers, and more. Indeed, the women spoke openly, and I gathered a sense of breaking a profound silence. Each story was unique, and yet, I heard some persistent, recurring themes having to do with complexities relating to these health issues.
JO: A goal of RSP is to address and dismantle the silence, secrecy, and inaction around reproductive diseases in the Black community. What are the unique advantages of addressing these issues through a community-based approach?
LM: There are many unique advantages to addressing these issues through a community-based approach – certainly too many to be named …….
